Preseason Preview

The Suns were one of the biggest surprises to start the season but have drastically cooled off. They started 14-3 but have since gone 11-15. They have gotten better than expected production out of Channing Frye and Jared Dudley, Steve Nash is playing like his former MVP self and Amar’e Stoudemire looks to be completely healthy. But the Suns are a perimeter-oriented team and are prone to big swings. Usually those swings are within single games but currently it’s over the course of many games. Alvin Gentry has started tinker with the starting lineup to break the slump. He has inserted Robin Lopez to add a more physical presence in place of Channing Frye and substituted Leandro Barbosa for Jason Richardson in an attempt to break Barbosa out of a slump.

They have had a brutal schedule so far but are still in sixth place in the West. They are a hot streak away from second (they’re just three and a half games behind the Mavs) or a cold streak away from eleventh place (just two games up on eleventh place).

Ready to Breakout vs. Reality: Channing Frye has fit well into the system but has struggled recently. Still, his numbers are up dramatically from the limited role he had in Portland. But those numbers might be decreasing as Gentry is turning to Robin Lopez in an attempt to improve the second worst defense in the league (based on points per game).

Over the Hill vs. Reality: I couldn’t have been more wrong labeling Steve Nash as over the hill. His numbers are strikingly similar to his back-to-back MVP seasons. He has been remarkable and durable all season.

Worst Moment: Any time they’re on TNT. They’ve lost 18 straight on the network. Granted, they play harder teams when they’re on TNT but 18 in a row is unreal.

Best Moment: December 28, they beat the Lakers 118-103. The Lakers had beat them twice prior to this match so the Suns needed this win to show they can compete with the best.

Best Case Scenario: They regain their mojo from the beginning of the season and finish in the top four in the West.

Worst Case Scenario: They hover around the fifth/sixth spot in the West past the trade deadline and then begin their decent. Jason Richardson becomes disgruntled for his diminished role and they fall towards the bottom of the West. Amar’e Stoudemire opts for free agency and the Suns get nothing for him in return.

NBA Midseason Reports