30 Teams in 30 Days: Phoenix Suns

2007-2008 in Review

Record: 55-27
Western Conference Seed: 5
Playoff Results: Lost to SA in Western Conference Quarterfinals (4-1)

Summer of 2008

Key Additions: Terry Porter (via coaching change), Robin Lopez (via draft), Matt Barnes (via free agency), Goran Dragic (via draft), Sean Singletary (via trade), Louis Amundson (via free agency).

Key Losses: Mike D’Antoni (via coaching change), Gordan Giricek (via free agency – left for Europe), Brian Skinner (via free agency), D.J. Strawberry (via trade), Sean Marks (via free agency).

Goodbye Mike D’Antoni. The Phoenix Suns are no longer married to the transition guru unable to spit out a sentence containing the word “defense.” In fact, reports suggest that D’Antoni refused to include more of a defensive emphasis with the 2008 Suns.

Replacing D’Antoni is former player Terry Porter, who holds a 71-93 (.433) career coaching record, all with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003-2005. In his only postseason experience as a coach, the 2004 Porter-led Bucks fell to the Detroit Pistons in the first round, 4-1.

Porter may not be the most-established coach on the market, but he certainly brings more of a defensive mindset than D’Antoni.

General Manager Steve Kerr also brought in players to help push Phoenix in the right direction defensively. With the 15th overall pick in June’s draft, the Suns selected Stanford big man Robin Lopez, who is thought of as an Anderson Varejao-like energy player. The seven-foot rookie can step in and give Phoenix much-needed frontcourt depth off the bench with his size, length, rebounding, and shot altering.

About three weeks later, the team signed veteran free agent Matt Barnes—who could start at small forward over Grant Hill—to a one-year veteran’s minimum deal. Phoenix will be the sixth-year forward’s fifth team since being drafted in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft.

Despite the journeyman tag, however, Barnes is known for his toughness, defensive mentality, and hard versatility. He can even shoot it a little, as well. As a starter in 18 games for Golden State last season, Barnes held averages of over 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game while shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.

With the moves made this past summer, it looks as though Phoenix is headed in the right direction concerning the defensive side of the ball.

Depth Chart

C: Shaquille O'Neal / Robin Lopez
PF: Amare Stoudemire / Boris Diaw / Louis Amundson
SF: Grant Hill / Matt Barnes / Alando Tucker
SG: Raja Bell / Leandro Barbosa
PG: Steve Nash / Goran Dragic / Sean Singletary

Biggest Strength: Offensive Weaponry

This is a team that is in the three-point shooting record books, can put up 110-plus points with regularity, and can hurt you offensively from literally every area on the floor.

When you’ve got “The Diesel” inside, shooters like Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa, one of the league’s most prolific and versatile scorers in Amare Stoudemire, and the ultra-efficient Steve Nash running the show, you’ve got more than enough tools to absolutely demolish opposing defenses.

Biggest Weakness: Defense

Phoenix can score with the best of them, but they have not been able to get necessary stops in crucial moments of ballgames, on account of the tiresome year-round tempo at which they’ve played.

By the end of games, especially in the postseason, fatigue has played a large role in Phoenix’s recent lack of advancement. With the likes of Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal, and Grant Hill, creeping up on the final stages of their respective careers, it may be difficult to ameliorate this deficiency.

X-Factor: Terry Porter

Coach Porter has a lot in front of him, and he’s got very little time to produce a winner. He’s got to somehow learn his new club, tweak the team’s style and pace, establish a defensive emphasis, get his players to respond to those demands, earn respect, and manage legs—all in a matter of months.

For the average NBA coach, the task at hand is nearly impossible and even unfair—especially for a guy like Porter who has just two years of head-coaching experience, and has yet to lead a team beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Good luck, Terry.

What to Expect in 2008-2009

Phoenix should still be one of the top five or six teams in the Western Conference, but if last season’s first-round showing was any indication, this team’s window is closing at a freakish pace—if it hasn't already.

Whether they win the title or not, however, look for Amare Stoudemire to potentially find himself in the MVP running this season. Post-All-Star break in 2008, “STAT” put up 28.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. If he can come anywhere close to that kind of production, it’s going to be difficult to keep the three-time All-Star out of the discussion as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Predicted Standings

50-32
Second in Pacific Division
Sixth in Western Conference

Coming Soon: Portland Trail Blazers