61 Wins, 21 Losses, .494 Field Goal Percentage (1st), .399 Three Point Percentage (1st), .808 Free Throw Percentage (1st), 110.2 Points Per Game (1st), 0 Championships.
It's a shame that in the end, that final, pesky statistic is the only one that matters. The 06/07 Phoenix Suns assembled one of the most exciting seasons the NBA has seen in quite some time. But for 3 or 4 games when Steve Nash and Shawn Marion were plagued with injuries, the team treated its audiences night in and night out to a masterful offensive obliteration of its opponents. With their blazing speed, uncanny chemistry, and international style, I've said all season that the Suns are the sports equivalent of the Brazilian national soccer team. It's a tragedy that they got some tough breaks in the playoffs and weren't able to secure a championship. Had they gotten over that hump, they would have proven dozens of naysayers wrong, and would have earned the respect that is long overdue. But, thanks to some questionable rules and league officials who allow themselves to be controlled by their own institutions it will always remain a "what if...?".
Alas, it is not my intention to post a bitter rant, but these are the thoughts on the forefront of my mind, and I have to get it out if I want to expel my blogger's block. My intention is to pay tribute to this team of skilled athletes who provided so much joy for so many fans.
These are some of the players and performances that stood out during the regular season and into the playoffs:
- Amare Stoudemire - An amazing recovery from microfracture knee surgery. He said the right things in all of his interviews and played with passion all season long. The man is a beast on the court and was possibly the strongest, most agile finisher in the league. A real asset in playoff style basketball. 15 straight 20-point postseason games is an awesome stat. He seemed truly poised to win a championship this year but also showed great maturity and understanding when things didn't go his way.
- Leandrinho Barbosa - The Brazilian Blur had a breakout season and was the 3rd leading scorer on the Suns. Hit his first game winner against the Chicago Bulls on the road and had one of the best game-winning reactions I've ever seen, unphased as his teammates mobbed him. Well-deserved 6th Man of the Year award. His older brother, Arturo, disciplined him as a Brazilian youth to make it to the NBA.
- Shawn Marion - The underrated $15 million man. Put together another great season and was an integral part of the team's success. We appreciate you and your praying mantis shot, Marion. Hope you can stick around another year.
- Steve Nash - One of the coolest and greatest athletes of all time. Some athletes are gifted, some are skilled, and others just think they are gifted or skilled, but still play sports, so technically they are still athletes, while others concede that they are neither gifted nor skilled, but still consider themselves athletes, or in some cases not. Steve Nash has incredible skill. He made countless, jaw-dropping feeds to his teammates and was the ultimate teammate. He is enormously skilled with both hands, and has an unbelievable sense of balance which allows him to shift his weight in the air and still get off virtually the same shot he would get if he were set on the floor. He is a gritty competitor and a sports hero of mine. No matter what it takes, I hope he gets a championship before his career is over.
- Tom Leander - The Suns announcer whose cheesy lines and cheerful personality never grew tiresome. "Rises to the 10th floor", "Elevates and detonates", "a tasty dish", "straight but strong", "a thing of beauty", etc. He and color man, "EJ" Eddie Johnson were always enjoyable to listen to, especially the time when EJ (a long time NBA veteran) asked Tom to explain what a "baby hook" (a common shot) was.
- (12/7/07) Phoenix 161, New Jersey 157 (OT) - An amazing game that went to double overtime thanks to an unreal fadeaway 3-pointer from Nash at the end of regulation. This game featured an unforgettable battle between two of the premier pointguards of this era. Nash ended up with 42 points, and Jason Kidd had 38 points, 14 boards, and 14 assists.
- (3/14/07) Phoenix 129 - Dallas 127 (OT) - Another double OT battle and another Nash 3-pointer to send it into the first OT. Nash posted 32 points, 8 boards, and 16 assists and outdueled his former teammate, Dirk Nowitzki, in a battle that should have given Nash the upperhand in the battle for MVP, but ultimately did not. Amare Stoudemire was an impressive 16-19 from the field and put up 41 points.
Sorry you couldn't win it all Suns, but for what it's worth, I don't blame you. In fact, I embrace your style of play and I hope you have the guts to stick with it until you do win the title. "Joga Bonito".
2 comments:
I liked the feeling portrayed that it was just common knowledge that the NBA screwed the suns over and no more has to be said.
I would like to pay tribute to the phoenix suns, and what better place to do it than on twainfectas blogspot. It was a great season, and lets not think of their death in vain, in their fall we can see how truly gay the spurs are, especially horry.
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