I composed this on Monday, April 28, 2008.
The Phoenix Suns have dug themselves into a hole. Sure, they came ever so close to winning the first two games of this series, but the bottom line is that they didn't play good enough basketball to defeat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. I have narrowed it down to 2 key reasons for the let down.
1. The Shawn Marion/Marcus Banks - Shaquille O' Neal Trade
I will be found going back to February 6, 2008 as a day of notorious infamy in Suns history very often. But the Suns were looking to get better defense and rebounding. I just have a hard time believing that by getting rid of your best defender and leading rebounder. I will say that Shaquille O' Neal has, for the most part, done his job. However, he cannot replace the 100% energy, hustle, and intensity that Shawn Marion brought every night.
Now, many people will say that Shawn Marion created chemistry problems within the locker room. I will not say whether this is true or not because I do not know. Shawn wasn't happy doing all that he did for the team and being stuck with the title of "Third Best Player on Team" and "(At Best) Third Most Valuable Player on Team". And, personally, I don't blame him. Also, if there were major chemistry problems, I would venture to guess that they were between Shawn and Amare Stoudemire. I don't know that for sure, but I say it because I could see Amare not being happy that Shawn was always filling the stat sheet. Always getting the big rebounds, steals, and blocks and never getting his due credit. And it became obvious that that's where it was after the trade. Amare finally decided to start playing to his potential. He is the most unprofessional athlete in Phoenix in the last 12 years. I think that Shawn Marion had every right to call his contract with the Phoenix Suns a "bad marriage".
Furthermore, something that is often overlooked is that Marcus Banks was shipped to Miami as well. Sure, he wasn't what D'Antoni thought he was. But, what Mike D'Antoni wants is a replica of Steve Nash. And if you don't play up to Steve's level on your first try, you're through. Marcus Banks is an extremely athletic guard that can get to the basket, pass the ball pretty well, and plays lock-down defense. The defense is something that Steve Nash has never been able to do. Marcus Banks had some good potential. And I'm sure that if he was given a chance, he would've been able to stop Tony Parker.
If the trade hadn't happened, the Suns would've won more regular season games and had a better seed with, most possibly, home court advantage. Thus, they may have been propelled into an easier playoff schedule. I don't know about you, but I'd rather win more games than have a chemically balanced locker room.
2. Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni is a great guy. He has a sense of humor, and everybody loves a guy with a sense of humor. However, he just cannot succeed as a head coach in the National Basketball Association. This will be the 4th consecutive year that his team will burn up and die in the postseason. His stubborness has cost him at least 2 NBA championships.
In the '04-'05 season, the Suns were new and nobody knew what to do with them. They rocked the league for a 62-20 record, completed a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, and knocked the Mavericks out In Game 6 in Dallas before getting humbled by none other than the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. San Antonio 4. Phoenix 1. (I will say that if Jerry Stackhouse hadn't given Joe Johnson a cheap shot and broke his face, things may have been different. And the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies still haven't won a playoff game as a franchise.) 
Then comes the '05-'06 season and Amare Stoudemire decides not to play. No worries. The Suns stayed more than steady and ended 54-28. In the first round, the Lakers got a 3-1 advantage before Phoenix fought back to win the series including gritting out an epic Game 6 overtime victory. The second round saw the Clippers taking the Suns to the brink and Raja Bell making the shot that will define his career. Phoenix 4. Los Angeles 3. After fighting their way to the Western Conference Finals, they once more suffered injury. This time Raja Bell got hurt. I have no idea how much effect this may have had, but the Suns were sent packing. Dallas 4. Phoenix 2.
'06-'07 rolls around and Amare Stoudemire decides that he misses the game and starts playing again. They finished 61-21. Then, they met with the Spurs in the second round. The Suns didn't deserve to win this series. Their coach wouldn't let them. In Game 1, Steve Nash was saving the Suns behinds again and then got a bloody nose. Now, if Mike D'Antoni had maybe played his bench a little during the season, they may have been slightly prepared to step up and hit the big shots. But, that of course didn't happen. Then, Game 5 when Amare and Boris were suspended. Boris shouldn't have been suspended. I can understand Amare, but not Boris. The 6 guys that played for the Suns that night gave it absolutely everything they had. But by the time the 4th quarter rolled around, they were extremely raplapla
(Excuse my French). So, the Spurs got the better of them and went on to win the series.
This season has been the same thing. D'Antoni refuses to play his bench and refuses to give himself a chance to develop confidence in his bench guys. They are quality basketball players. You don't get to the NBA without being pretty dang good at basketball. But, D'Antoni still goes with the same old story every night which makes game planning against the Suns ever so easy. Some people just will not learn from past mistakes.
Bottom Line
The Phoenix Suns will never experience ultimate success the way things are being run in their organization right now. Something has to and, I think, will happen in the offseason to address these issues and more.
The Phoenix Suns have dug themselves into a hole. Sure, they came ever so close to winning the first two games of this series, but the bottom line is that they didn't play good enough basketball to defeat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. I have narrowed it down to 2 key reasons for the let down.
1. The Shawn Marion/Marcus Banks - Shaquille O' Neal Trade
I will be found going back to February 6, 2008 as a day of notorious infamy in Suns history very often. But the Suns were looking to get better defense and rebounding. I just have a hard time believing that by getting rid of your best defender and leading rebounder. I will say that Shaquille O' Neal has, for the most part, done his job. However, he cannot replace the 100% energy, hustle, and intensity that Shawn Marion brought every night.
Now, many people will say that Shawn Marion created chemistry problems within the locker room. I will not say whether this is true or not because I do not know. Shawn wasn't happy doing all that he did for the team and being stuck with the title of "Third Best Player on Team" and "(At Best) Third Most Valuable Player on Team". And, personally, I don't blame him. Also, if there were major chemistry problems, I would venture to guess that they were between Shawn and Amare Stoudemire. I don't know that for sure, but I say it because I could see Amare not being happy that Shawn was always filling the stat sheet. Always getting the big rebounds, steals, and blocks and never getting his due credit. And it became obvious that that's where it was after the trade. Amare finally decided to start playing to his potential. He is the most unprofessional athlete in Phoenix in the last 12 years. I think that Shawn Marion had every right to call his contract with the Phoenix Suns a "bad marriage".
Furthermore, something that is often overlooked is that Marcus Banks was shipped to Miami as well. Sure, he wasn't what D'Antoni thought he was. But, what Mike D'Antoni wants is a replica of Steve Nash. And if you don't play up to Steve's level on your first try, you're through. Marcus Banks is an extremely athletic guard that can get to the basket, pass the ball pretty well, and plays lock-down defense. The defense is something that Steve Nash has never been able to do. Marcus Banks had some good potential. And I'm sure that if he was given a chance, he would've been able to stop Tony Parker.
If the trade hadn't happened, the Suns would've won more regular season games and had a better seed with, most possibly, home court advantage. Thus, they may have been propelled into an easier playoff schedule. I don't know about you, but I'd rather win more games than have a chemically balanced locker room.
2. Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni is a great guy. He has a sense of humor, and everybody loves a guy with a sense of humor. However, he just cannot succeed as a head coach in the National Basketball Association. This will be the 4th consecutive year that his team will burn up and die in the postseason. His stubborness has cost him at least 2 NBA championships.
In the '04-'05 season, the Suns were new and nobody knew what to do with them. They rocked the league for a 62-20 record, completed a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, and knocked the Mavericks out In Game 6 in Dallas before getting humbled by none other than the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. San Antonio 4. Phoenix 1. (I will say that if Jerry Stackhouse hadn't given Joe Johnson a cheap shot and broke his face, things may have been different. And the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies still haven't won a playoff game as a franchise.) Then comes the '05-'06 season and Amare Stoudemire decides not to play. No worries. The Suns stayed more than steady and ended 54-28. In the first round, the Lakers got a 3-1 advantage before Phoenix fought back to win the series including gritting out an epic Game 6 overtime victory. The second round saw the Clippers taking the Suns to the brink and Raja Bell making the shot that will define his career. Phoenix 4. Los Angeles 3. After fighting their way to the Western Conference Finals, they once more suffered injury. This time Raja Bell got hurt. I have no idea how much effect this may have had, but the Suns were sent packing. Dallas 4. Phoenix 2.
'06-'07 rolls around and Amare Stoudemire decides that he misses the game and starts playing again. They finished 61-21. Then, they met with the Spurs in the second round. The Suns didn't deserve to win this series. Their coach wouldn't let them. In Game 1, Steve Nash was saving the Suns behinds again and then got a bloody nose. Now, if Mike D'Antoni had maybe played his bench a little during the season, they may have been slightly prepared to step up and hit the big shots. But, that of course didn't happen. Then, Game 5 when Amare and Boris were suspended. Boris shouldn't have been suspended. I can understand Amare, but not Boris. The 6 guys that played for the Suns that night gave it absolutely everything they had. But by the time the 4th quarter rolled around, they were extremely raplapla
(Excuse my French). So, the Spurs got the better of them and went on to win the series.
This season has been the same thing. D'Antoni refuses to play his bench and refuses to give himself a chance to develop confidence in his bench guys. They are quality basketball players. You don't get to the NBA without being pretty dang good at basketball. But, D'Antoni still goes with the same old story every night which makes game planning against the Suns ever so easy. Some people just will not learn from past mistakes.
Bottom Line
The Phoenix Suns will never experience ultimate success the way things are being run in their organization right now. Something has to and, I think, will happen in the offseason to address these issues and more.
