Phoenix Suns' Rays: Nash, Gortat Leading Phoenix To Playoff Contention
This has been a much-delayed third part of my periodic column on the 2010-11 Phoenix Suns' season. More than at any other time in the recent past, this season has seen a series of ups and downs. As an ardent fan, it pleases me to no end to say that the tide is now at a crest—the team is settled and has figured its way into a synergistic combination with complementary components.
There are quite a few things to rejoice at about the current team and a few things that are huge concerns as well. What follows is my view on the four most crucial aspects of today's Phoenix Suns; subsequently, I have also provided my semi-educated, semi-fanatic guesstimate on the team's win-loss projection the rest of the way.
1. Nash’s Shooting Woes
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No. 13 is still the team’s MVP and is one of the top three point guards in the league. His ability to spoon-feed his big men off of the pick-and-roll is amazing. The number of 'bigs' whose careers he has redefined—Steven Hunter, Jake Voskuhl, Boris Diaw, Robin Lopez—keeps adding-up as we can safely add Hakim Warrick and Marcin Gortat to that list. More on Gortat later, but suffice is it to say that he ought to pay at least 20 percent of his next paycheck to Nash.
Having said all that, we are seeing Nash in one of his worst shooting slumps of the time he has spent in Phoenix. Over the last seven games, he has shot 34 percent from the field, including an alarming 12 percent (2/17) from three-point land.
Much of his slump can be attributed to his health worries, as he appears to be hampered by a tender groin. But I do also think that he is getting more physically "worked' by opposing guards this season than ever before. Nash has always had trouble guarding the Rondos, Parkers and Deron Williams of the world; that trend has been evident as usual. But troubling signs are when you have the likes of Kyle Lowry, Jose Calderon and Beno Udrih trumping you.
It could be a defined plan by opposing teams, or it might finally be the first signs of age. Maybe a bit of both. All in all, Nash, while still being the nerve wire that runs through the Phoenix system, is undoubtedly at a stage where he needs more backup help than in previous seasons. In that regard, Aaron Brooks is, without a doubt, a positive step.
2. Tough Going without Frye
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Hakim Warrick made fans forget about Channing Frye at least for one night, with his career-best performance yesterday against the Rockets. While he consistently delivered throughout the game and was clutch especially in the last few minutes with a few mid-range jumpers, it might be overzealous and incorrect to hoist him as an adequate Frye replacement.
Warrick’s defence is rather porous, and for a power forward, his rebounding numbers are pathetic. Also, his inability to stretch the floor will be enervating for the Suns, who have thrived on Frye’s ability to take his defender to the three-point line, thus enabling Nash, Gortat, Hill, Dudley, etc to play inside. On top of his three-point shooting, Frye has been an absolute revelation on D and rebounding, particularly in the last month or so. Over that time frame, he has averaged almost nine boards per game, which has been an incredible uptick for someone with career averages of five rebounds per game.
Frye will surely be missed, and the Suns better hope that he is back within the next two weeks, as has been stated. Beyond that, any prolonged absence might mean curtains to the Suns’ chances of getting into the playoffs.
3. Gortat – 2nd Best Center in West
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The Suns have always been able to spring surprising results with their trades/pick-ups. Boris Diaw was being treated like crap in Atlanta before being salvaged by Phoenix. Joe Johnson was undervalued in Boston prior to blossoming during that magical season with the “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns. More recently, the Suns have been able to revitalize the brand equity of Raja Bell, Grant Hill, Jared Dudley, James Jones and even the aforementioned Hakim Warrick.
But no one has managed quite the ripples being created by Marcin Gortat. The Polish Hammer has been otherworldly in Phoenix and is flourishing as a result of extended playing time, an open offense and most importantly, being at the receiving end of a pick-and-roll executed by a genius at point guard. This might sound blasphemous, but at times, his ability to roll and finish and also to get timely boards at the offensive and defensive end, almost tallies with what Amar'e used to bring to the table.
I have been following the Suns for the last 20 years and can safely say that Gortat has been the premier center the team has had over that span. He is a true five and combines the tenet of eating up space with some ballet-like grace on offense. In fact, at this time, I cannot honestly think of two better players at his position in the conference—the Lakers’ Gasol might be the only clear-cut better option than Scorchin' Marcin.
4. Grant Hill Is All-World in Defense
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Phoenix is not, and will never be, a great team defense. They have too many gaping holes—in scheme and in individual ability—to enable the kind of physically-intimidating presence displayed by the likes of Boston, San Antonio and LA. Still, within this predominantly porous set-up, there are individual stars and none more so than Grant Hill.
Hill is playing an individual defender role for the Suns similar to what Marion, Bell and Joe Johnson use to be tagged with in prior seasons. Like Marion, Hill enjoys clamping down his man; unlike Marion, though, Hill appears to be as happy holding down his opponent to a 10-point outing as he would be to light up 30 on offense. Marion was prone to sulk if the points were not forthcoming. Grant Hill looks to be above and beyond the desire to be an offensive juggernaut at this stage of his career.
In the last two weeks, Hill has had primary defensive responsibility on the following stellar performers—Kevin Martin, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams (while with Utah). Here are the results:
- Kevin Martin --- 17 points (on 5/16 shooting)
- Kevin Durant ---18 (3/14)
- Paul Pierce --- 16
- Joe Johnson --- 12 (5/13)
- Deron Williams --- 11 (2/11)
Now if this is not top-class defense, I am not sure what is. On top of his lockdown ability, Hill has shown tremendous knack for finding the loose ball, digging out clogged rebounds in crunch time and even spiking a few blocks here and there. All in all, notwithstanding the team’s mediocre display on D, Grant Hill deserves to be commended as one of the league’s elite at his position
5. Predictions
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Channing Frye’s injury is a big blow to an otherwise enthralling phase of the season for the Suns, as the team has finally been able to figure out roles, matchups and the significant task of identifying the “best-five-on-the-floor” factor (by the way, my take on the team’s best five-man unit is Nash-Carter-Hill-Frye-Gortat). Nash has been his usual brilliant self as the opera conductor, Hill and Gortat are providing some bruise-inducing D, the bench is rock-and-rolling again and even Vince Carter is in attendance more than ever!
Based on all that, my forecast is that the Suns will stay afloat during Frye’s absence (assuming three weeks here) with a 7-5 record and then push to full throttle with a 6-2 show the rest of the way to finish at 46-36; which, ultimately, will get them the seventh-seed in the West and a first-round ticket to play the Dallas Mavericks.
Go Suns!
