Phoenix Suns: 10 New Year's Resolutions for Steve Nash and Co.
The Phoenix Suns are currently 11-12 and falling, fast. There are many things wrong and the organization needs to have a couple resolutions for the New Year.
From getting Turkoglu involved more and shooting more efficiently to trading for Jason Thompson, here are a list of 10 things the Phoenix Suns must start working on when the calendar flips to 2011.
What's the most important thing the team needs to do to pick itself back up? Read on to find out.
No. 10: Get Back Their Swagger
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Last year, teams dreaded the night they would play the surprising Suns and this year they look forward to having a chance to score on the defensively lacking Suns. Maybe if the Suns are lucky everyone will write them off and they could be the team they were last season.
Even though STAT is gone, the team still has talent and needs to start playing like it. Maybe even a surprise appearance by ex-NFL coach Herm Edwards telling the Suns, “You play to win the game.” Whatever happens, it needs to happen fast.
No. 9: Involve Turkoglu More, If He Isn't Traded
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Turkoglu was supposed to be a key factor to the Suns success this season but so far he has been almost the opposite. He’s scoring just under 10 points per game with around four rebounds per game and about two assists per game.
This is not enough production for someone getting paid over $10 million. He needs to be around 15 points, five or six rebounds, and four or five assists per game in order for the Suns to be more successful.
No. 8: Moniter Robin Lopez's Minutes Carefully
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He is easily the biggest player on the team and the Suns cannot afford to have him hurt again. Without him the Suns are very small, starting Channing Frye at center. No offense to Frye because he is a solid player but he can’t play center in the NBA, he is not physical enough.
He is a power forward and should play at his natural position. Robin gives the Suns a reliable rebounder and a solid defender down low, something the Suns lack immensely.
No. 7: Play Goran Dragic More and Steve Nash Less
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I know what you’re saying right now, he didn’t just say that? Did he? Yes I said it and here’s why, Dragic is 24 years old and Steve Nash is 36 years old and needs rest. It isn’t healthy for him to have to carry the load in games when J-Rich or other top scorers aren’t playing well. Yes he is having a fantastic season right now but he’s playing almost 34 minutes a game. That a lot of minutes for younger players but even more for a 36 year old veteran.
No. 6: Shoot More Efficiently
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The key to the Suns game is three-pointers. They are shooting around 23 a game and making about nine a game, for any other team in the league nine threes a game is amazing but for the Suns the number of made threes needs to rise. For the Suns to be really effective there needs to be more made threes made in order to set up some kind of post game.
No. 5: Play Defense
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The Suns are the worst defensive team in the NBA, giving up 109.9 points per game and 49% opposing field goal percentage. This is flat out terrible. And the worst thing is they are scoring fewer points (108.8) than they are giving up. That is not a sign of a good team.
No. 4: Trade For Jason Thompson
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The 6’11 power forward on the Kings is the kind of player the Suns need right now, long and physical. He would improve the team drastically. As mentioned previously, he could easily fit into the Suns system and flourish. He would start at power forward with Robin Lopez, when Lopez returns from injury.
No. 3: Trade Hedo Turkoglu
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He is part of a log jam of wing players on the Suns and is playing the worst out of them. Although his contract is undesirable, there has to be a team that wouldn’t mind the services of a 6’10" small forward. Maybe the Kings could be a possibility, a deal with power forward Jason Thompson would be extremely favorable for the Suns. Really any deal where the Suns get a reliable big in exchange for Turk should be considered.
No. 2: Find a Post Presence
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Robin Lopez, Channing Frye, Earl Barron and Hakim Warrick. Those are the bigs the Suns have on the roster. That will not get it done in the West with bigs like Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph and Dirk Nowitzki. And that’s only players from playoff teams.
No. 1: Consistency
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One night the Suns are on fire and the next they lose to teams they should beat. They win two in a row and then lose three. There has to be some consistency in order to make the playoffs in the competitive western conference, 50 wins is practically a must to get in the playoffs and at this rate the Suns wouldn’t be close.
In Conclusion
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Basically the Suns need to do something, whether it's the Turkoglu Trade or trading for Jason Thompson, something needs to get done or else they won't make the playoffs.
