NBA Primetime: Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Season Preview

Phoenix Suns

Last Season's Record: 54-28 (.659), Third in West

2010-11 Season Record Prediction: 43-39 (.524)

Team Strengths 

The Phoenix Suns shook up their roster a bit this offseason, acquiring forward Hedo Turkoglu via trade, and Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick in free agency.

Head coach Alvin Gentry described Turkoglu as a multiple-position player, stating that he could play basically every position on the court.

The Suns will be at their best during the season when Turkoglu is facilitating the offense and distributing the rock to Phoenix's sharpshooters (with Nash sometimes playing the 2 spot). 

Phoenix shot an outstanding 41.2 percent from three-point territory last season (the highest shooting percentage in a season since the '96-'97 NBA season) and will produce similar averages in that department this year.

Putting points on the board will not be a problem for the Suns (lead the league in PPG for the last two seasons), but they'll have to figure out a way to defend efficiently on the other end of the floor.

Team Weaknesses

After falling short to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last season, it's safe to say that the Phoenix Suns will not get another shot at redemption this season.

Losing Amar'e Stoudemire was a major blow this offseason and while "STAT" wasn't the best defender in the paint for the Suns, he grabbed nine RPG and just around one BPG for the team last season.

Without Stoudemire the Suns go from legitimate contenders in the West to a team that will fight for a seventh or eighth seed come playoff time (if lucky enough).

While Turkoglu and Childress are both solid pickups for Phoenix, their impact on the court simply won't match up to Stoudemire's. 

 

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