Offseason Preview: Phoenix Suns

by David Pincus
2006-06-27

No one in his or her right mind thought that Phoenix could rebound from Amare Stoudemire’s injury. They had just lost Richardson and Johnson in the offseason and now they were without their leading scorer. However the Suns not only found a way to make the postseason, but they managed to get all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

It became clear several months in that Steve Nash was going to be named the MVP. Six players had career-highs, and Nash himself was having his best season. Phoenix easily clinched the Pacific Division and a playoff spot.

However their title contentions were once again in jeopardy when Stoudemire’s comeback lasted three games before injuring himself again. Kurt Thomas also missed the final month of the year and played only a few minutes in the playoffs. The team signed Tim Thomas, who had been released from the Bulls earlier in the year.

Phoenix struggled to put away both the LA Lakers and Clippers, but finished it in a pair of Game 7’s. Tim Thomas turned out to be a crucial part of the team, as James Jones and Eddie House weren’t providing off the bench.

Though it was not to be. The Suns had very little depth, which worked badly with their run-and-gun offense. When their next opponent was Dallas, it was clear they had run out of gas. Despite an 18-point lead, Phoenix would fall in Game 6 and their resilient season was over.

For most Phoenix fans, this season means only one thing: that they’re going to be better next year. Phoenix lead the League in PPG, FG% and assists, and that was without their leading scorer.

Needs:

A healthy Amare Stoudemire

Every moment of Phoenix’s season was filled with the hope of Amare’s return. When he was healthy a year ago, he showed signs of greatness. He was Phoenix’s leading scorer and a dominant one at that.

If they can successfully bring back Stoudemire at 100%, they should be able to contend for the Western Conference again. But the problem is that Amare has a history of knee problems. Stoudemire was at his best when he was explosive and driving to the basket. When a player gets knee problems, especially a bigman, his ability to penetrate is always in jeopardy.

Mike D’Antoni has to make sure that Stoudemire doesn’t step onto the court without him being 100% healthy. Look at what happened with the Chicago Cubs and their prize pitchers; if sitting out even another year makes Stoudemire completely healthy (like with Zydrunas Ilgauskas) then it has to be done.

With the contract extension the Suns gave him last year, Stoudemire is stuck on the team for the next six years. If he spends those six years like Ken Griffey Jr. or Grant Hill, the Suns will have been ripped off.

More depth

With Eddie House and James Jones ineffective, and Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas injured, the Suns were five-deep in their round against the Mavericks. Even if the Suns get those four guys back, they don’t have a backup set of players like Dallas and San Antonio does to go to incase of injuries.

The first field of depth they can improve on is their age. Brian Grant, Kurt Thomas couldn’t get into the game because they can’t run or hit threes. A Vlad Radmanovic or Keith Van Horn would solve that and give them more size.

Phoenix’s starting Center last year was Boris Diaw at 6’8. Dirk Nowitzki and Elton Brand dominated the Suns in the postseason. Even Kwame Brown had marginal success against the Suns. Part of that was the Suns’ lack of defense (which can’t be helped if Phoenix wants to keep on scoring) but mostly it was a major height advantage.

The Suns should look for a Danny Granger-ish player in the upcoming draft who adds some height and can run the floor as well. The Suns should also look to re-sign Tim Thomas, who is a free-agent this offseason. He was a giant contributor and fit in perfectly with the team.

Phoenix just needs to keep the Nash-Bell-Marion-Stoudemire core intact. As long as they keep that, and just tweak it a little bit, they should be able to make the Finals next season.