The Phoenix Suns have suddenly turned themselves into serious contenders with impressive showings in the first two games with the San Antonio Spurs.
They have always had the fast-paced, run the floor and score quickly and often mindset, but the Suns never had the true depth or the toughness needed to beat a slow, smack you in the mouth team like the Spurs.
However, the 2009-10 Suns are different. They have the depth and the toughness. They have the talent and the experienced. In the previous three years, Steve Nash averaged 35 minutes per game. He only had to play 32 minutes per game this season.
The few minutes of extra rest gives his older legs a chance to be fresh deep into the postseason, which has been a problem in year’s past.
The Suns are loaded with four starters who can reach double-digit points every game, including Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson, Grant Hill and Nash. They also have a bench who can step in and give the starters key rest before the final stretch of games.
Channing Frye and Jared Dudley can score when Nash and Stoudemire are out of the game, and Leandro Barbosa does a great job with the little things not calculated in the stat-line, grabbing lose balls, forcing tough shots, etc.
These are the reasons why the Spurs aren’t pushing them this time. These are the reasons why the Suns have a chance to give the Los Angeles Lakers a tough series.
And, if the Suns can be fresh for a long series against the Lakers, they have a slightly better depth than the Lakers, who have older players starting and Lamar Odom off the bench.
What a statement the Suns could make if they erase the bad memories from previous postseasons and make the Finals. I am sure they would have ‘Los Suns’ on the minds of every NBA fan.
