This is the year the Suns make a run for the title.
Some links of note:
www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/
www.hoopshype.com/salaries/phoenix.htm
mb3.scout.com/bphoenixsuns
www.nba.com/suns/news/200...index.html
No excuses, this is the year that the Suns have to make their run at the title. Our team is built for it, we have all of the missing pieces, and provided that everyone plays as expected we should win about 65 games this season. There is no reason, under the assumtion that everyone is healthy, that we shouldn't make a strong run for the title.
By position:
PG: Steve Nash, Marcus Banks
The best point guard in the league coming off back to back MVP seasons. Nash's health is always an issue but this year it look like he might have some help. We picked up Marcus Banks. I'm really excited about Banks, he looks like exactly what we needed to spell Nash. Banks is a defensive stopper.
SG: Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa
Raja might lose this spot to Leandro early in the season. Barbosa is coming off a summer playing some great basketball for Brazill. Raja nursed that calf injury all summer long. He's bound to be a little rusty. Still, you have to like what the Suns have at this position. Barbosa might be the fastest player in the league, and Raja is a tough nosed defender.
SF: Shawn Marion, James Jones. Eric Piakowski
James Jones will probably see time at the 2 also, but I'll list him here because he is Shawn's backup. Marion should be able to move back to the 3 this season, which might actually increase his production. Marion does best when he can play off the ball and in the Suns position that's exactly what the 3 does. James Jones is questionable because he's such a streaky player. Reports from camp have "Pike" working into our system just fine, so maybe we will see more production out of him than what was once thought.
C/PF: Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, Kurt Thomas
These 3 are the biggest question of the team. How will Amare and Boris play together? Will Amare return to the same form that we saw in 05? How will the aging Kurt Thomas play coming off a foot injury? Amare insists that he will be back at 100% by the start of the season. If that's the case the rest of the league better watch out.
Bench: Jumaine Jones, Devin White, Sean Marks, Pat Burke
I don't know a whole lot about these 4 except for Pat Burke. Burke is a typical 12th man big man on the team who is pretty much there for Amare/Shawn to practice dunking on and to fill in if 5-6 guys get hurt.
Some links of note:
www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/
www.hoopshype.com/salaries/phoenix.htm
mb3.scout.com/bphoenixsuns
www.nba.com/suns/news/200...index.html
No excuses, this is the year that the Suns have to make their run at the title. Our team is built for it, we have all of the missing pieces, and provided that everyone plays as expected we should win about 65 games this season. There is no reason, under the assumtion that everyone is healthy, that we shouldn't make a strong run for the title.
By position:
PG: Steve Nash, Marcus Banks
The best point guard in the league coming off back to back MVP seasons. Nash's health is always an issue but this year it look like he might have some help. We picked up Marcus Banks. I'm really excited about Banks, he looks like exactly what we needed to spell Nash. Banks is a defensive stopper.
SG: Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa
Raja might lose this spot to Leandro early in the season. Barbosa is coming off a summer playing some great basketball for Brazill. Raja nursed that calf injury all summer long. He's bound to be a little rusty. Still, you have to like what the Suns have at this position. Barbosa might be the fastest player in the league, and Raja is a tough nosed defender.
SF: Shawn Marion, James Jones. Eric Piakowski
James Jones will probably see time at the 2 also, but I'll list him here because he is Shawn's backup. Marion should be able to move back to the 3 this season, which might actually increase his production. Marion does best when he can play off the ball and in the Suns position that's exactly what the 3 does. James Jones is questionable because he's such a streaky player. Reports from camp have "Pike" working into our system just fine, so maybe we will see more production out of him than what was once thought.
C/PF: Amare Stoudemire, Boris Diaw, Kurt Thomas
These 3 are the biggest question of the team. How will Amare and Boris play together? Will Amare return to the same form that we saw in 05? How will the aging Kurt Thomas play coming off a foot injury? Amare insists that he will be back at 100% by the start of the season. If that's the case the rest of the league better watch out.
Bench: Jumaine Jones, Devin White, Sean Marks, Pat Burke
I don't know a whole lot about these 4 except for Pat Burke. Burke is a typical 12th man big man on the team who is pretty much there for Amare/Shawn to practice dunking on and to fill in if 5-6 guys get hurt.
Yeah, he's not known for being a dirty player either right? 
Ask the Pistons last year. The NBA season is long, and every team will go through a bad streak. The Suns aren't any different.