Public should chill out on Suns
Nick Kosmider
It’s so heartbreaking to watch the Phoenix Suns play basketball this season. They play no defense, they have no team chemistry, and are just one of the downright worst teams in the NBA.
Wait, what was that? The Suns are in first place in the Western Conference?
Well, if you were never to look at the standings you would probably think Phoenix was at the bottom of the Association standings, because nobody in the Valley of the Sun, or the rest of the country for that matter, will get off of the back of Steve Nash and company.
Look I understand the frustration, I really do.
Here they are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the franchise and doing so without the company of a championship banner hanging from the rafters.
But Sun’s fans and critics alike, do yourself a favor and step away from the panic button.
As of Jan. 29 the Sun’s were 33-13 and in first place in the conference, yet they aren’t winning the right way?
Yes, there are things the Sun’s need to work on, namely consistent defensive play, but the same can be said for every team in the league.
The Sun’s themselves have criticized their own play at certain points throughout the season.
Nash has been quoted as saying that the team hasn’t played with enough energy on some nights.
Those remarks, though, are often followed by a well-played game which illustrates the Suns as one of the league’s most legitimate contenders.
Some of the member’s of the squad find the faux-drama surrounding US Airways Arena to be just down right amusing.
“We’re in first place,” Sun’s forward Shawn Marion said on Jan. 19. “Tell me again what’s higher than first place?”
It seems to me that Sun’s fans want to have their cake and eat it too.
After last season’s disappointing playoff exit courtesy of San Antonio, fans and reporters alike were outraged over the league’s decision to suspend Amare Stoudemire for leaving the bench and said that barring that event the Sun’s would have won the series.
Now on the flip side, we also like to say that this team hasn’t shown what it takes to beat the Spurs, who by the way are fifth in West and haven’t exactly been playing stellar ball.
You can’t have it both ways folks.
Allow me to shed some light on one big concern that fans have had this season: two losses to the league’s jester the Minnesota Timberwolves and one to the atrocious Miami Heat.
The good news? The Suns will not have to worry about playing either one of those teams in the playoffs because Shaq, and whoever actually plays for the Wolves, will be watching Phoenix’s championship run from their couches.
Listen, we all know the Sun’s are going to be one of the West’s top seeds come playoff time and will once again contend for an NBA Championship.
So can I propose that we actually enjoy the regular season?
Let Mike D’Antoni, who I suspect for some strange reason knows what he is doing, do the worrying about the Phoenix Suns.
I know I don’t get paid nearly enough to do so.
