SB Nation User Blog: TexSUN

Raja speaks too

TexSUN — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:09:53 -0000

Raja speaks too

Shaq isn't the only one who had something to say today.

Raja Bell spilled his guts to Bob Young of the Arizona Republic. There's a ton there, so be sure to visit the actual article, but here are a couple of tidbits that offer a player's perspective on the Porter situation.

"I knew there was going to be a focus on other things and that's why he was brought in but I thought there needed to be a bit of flexibility. That's just one guy's opinion, but I think it got to the point where there needed to be a change whether that was via a personnel move before the deadline or if you went the coaching route. One way or another they needed some fresh blood. It was unfortunate it was Terry. You hate to see anyone fired but I think for the team at that point, it seemed to be a good move. I wish him the best and his family."
[...]
"Terry and his staff didn't think me playing the way I was playing was helping them, and I agreed. At the end of the day if I couldn't do the things that make me who I am for the team, then they should get somebody who could help out better than I could."
[...]
"Basketball is fun. If you love to play and you're allowed to use your creativity and do some of the things you're good at, you're going to love to play. The situation in Charlotte was one I was able to do some of the things I like to do, so for me it is fun. It doesn't mean we have to score 120 a night and it doesn't mean I have to shoot 7-8 threes a game. But I'm having fun playing and that's really important when you do it for a living and you do it 100s of times over a season. You want to be able to have fun."

NOOOO!!!!

TexSUN — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:43:30 -0000

NOOOO!!!!

From Arizona Republic's Paul Coro's latest blog:

"It's my turn on the furlough rotation.".

I did a little digging and learned that the "furlough" in this case is likely of the involuntary and unpaid variety a la airlines. Not that Paul hasn't earned a well-deserved break, but it's a shame that we fans have to be deprived of his excellent coverage of our team just because of the economy. Here's wishing a restful and relaxing "all star" break for one of our favorite and most quoted journalists.

Suns Become the Warriors - Can Suns Fans Believe?

TexSUN — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:19:40 -0000

What a total buzzkill! In light of some of the rampant negativity around here lately, as well as a few reader complaints about said negativity, I was planning to spend my lunch hour today writing an inspiring, uplifting post on how awesome it was for the Suns to stand pat at the trade deadline. I even had the perfect title picked out - Once More Into the Breach, inspired by a comment yesterday about how this season now feels like one last stand for the Suns as currently constructed. But, now we hear that Amare is out for eight weeks, which means the Gentry Era--at least in its present form--is over before it ever really started. Where is Boris Diaw when we need him?

I'll start by saying major props to Robert Sarver for giving this team one last shot at glory before the likely overhaul to come in the summer. After so many missteps, I am proud of the way the trade deadline was handled. By choosing basketball over money and temporarily reinstating the run-and-gun philosophy, the Suns front office offered "D'Antoni system" fans like me a chance to bid goodbye to the Seven Seconds or Less era with dignity. That the plan has apparently backfired does not in any way change that.

But, now what?

Without Amare--or Diaw to step in a la 2005-06--the Suns are basically the Warriors of 2006-07. You remember them, right? The team that eeked its way into the playoffs, and brought down the 67-win, top-seeded Mavericks in the first round? The Suns even have two of the players from that team in Jason Richardson (who is now in danger of suffering a bloated stomach from all the Nash feeds he'll get to "eat") and Matt Barnes. What the Suns do not have is an arena full of fans so starved for any semblance of success that merely getting into the playoffs is reason enough to wear yellow "We Believe" shirts and cheer so loudly you can hear it 10 states over. It's completely understandable. Given the Suns recent past success, scrapping for an 8th seed is about as exciting as watching the Suns beat up on the undermanned Clippers--awesome only in an "our expectations are now so low we'll take anything" kind of a way. It's simply not possible at this time for Suns fans to be jazzed about merely getting invited to the show. And that is why I think this team is bound for the lottery this time. There's nothing left to accomplish that they haven't already done better, grander, and with far more excitement in 2005-06 (or in Richardson and Barnes' case, 2006-07).

Does that mean the Suns should now tank the season? There's certainly an argument for it, and I suspect that 90% of the teams in the league facing the exact circumstances the Suns are in--having a pick this year, but not next--would go for it in hopes of pulling a Portland and landing the next Greg Oden (which hasn't exactly worked out so well for the Blazers thus far, come to think of it). Personally, I hope the Suns continue their way into the breach. I hate tanking. It's against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Winning a championship this season was always a Hail Mary. Amare's absence doesn't change that. Here's hoping the Suns will fight like the Texans at the Alamo--certain to fail, but with a valiant effort that inspires the troops, and leads to greater things down the road.

I was getting in his face, but I wasn't trying to kiss him.

TexSUN — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:56:56 -0000

I was getting in his face, but I wasn't trying to kiss him.

Lou wasn't trying to kiss Randolph

That's nice to know.

Rebooting the system

TexSUN — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:27:29 -0000

Out with the new, in with the old.

Having suffered a complete system failure under coach Terry Porter's attempts to turn the Suns into the Pistons (I presume he meant the Pistons, pre-AI), the Suns will now attempt a mid-season reboot with a mere 31 games left, only 30 of which they'll have their full roster intact, thanks to this knucklehead. Clearly Phoenix Stan's dream system of defend first, run later isn't going to pan out. Whether that's the players' fault for not giving it a chance, the coach's fault for implementing it badly, or the Suns' management's fault for failing to follow through with the necessary changes to the roster is something that's been hashed to death in the comments on this site. Regardless, it seems the latest plan for the Suns is to revert back to their running ways of the recent past, and hope they can run fast enough to snag a spot in the playoffs.

As Stan (and Steve Nash) pointed out, it won't be as easy as it sounds. The Suns are missing three key pieces from when D'Antoni's system shined the brightest. With Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, and Boris Diaw now playing in other cities, Jason Richardson will need a crash course in D'Antoni Ball--without the benefit of D'Antoni himself leading the way. Shaq will have to settle for being The Big Roleplayer again. Nash will have to put that achy shoulder behind him, and get back to doing what he does. Everyone will have to check their egos and personal ambitions at the door, and focus on playing the best basketball they can. It won't be easy, but the Suns have met challenges before. Just maybe they can find it within themselves to do it again. In the interest of bringing some "bright" back to Bright Side of the Sun, I'll choose to think optimistically.

Here's what I hope to see in the final stretch of the season:

Run on makes and misses. I never bought into the "only run if you get a stop" philosophy. Why waste an opportunity to catch the opponent off guard, and maybe get an easy basket?
If (and only if) the fast break score isn't there, run the ball through Shaq in the half court. The big fella has played his heart out this year, and what has happened to this team is absolutely not his fault. He deserves to at least be the second option in regards to playmaking--and the Suns need him to be, now that Diaw has left town.
Rebound, rebound, rebound. Running game or not, the Suns can't use size as an excuse to get killed on the boards anymore. They'll never be a first-rate defensive team with Shaq, Amare, and Nash in the lineup, but there's no reason why they can't at least make good on the stops they do get by making sure the other team doesn't get a second shot. If you don't have the ball yourself, tap it to a teammate or box out the opponent so someone else can grab it. No excuses. Yes, I'm talking to YOU, Amare.
Play as though the game of basketball were actually fun. I maintain that any system can be successful as long as the players are on board with it, and are physically capable of carrying it out, but I'm willing to give the Suns the benefit of the doubt under the theory that maybe the Porter system failed because the pieces didn't fit the plan. Now that they're in a system they essentially voted for, there's no excuse for not bringing the effort every single night. Losing I can handle. Not even showing up makes me want to hurl small appliances at the TV.

Here's hoping the Suns can right the ship and finish out the season strong. Otherwise, the only "bright" around here will come from the Moron Meter overheating.

Did Alvin Gentry Save Amare?

TexSUN — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:40:45 -0000

Did Alvin Gentry Save Amare?

"Gentry, sources indicated, is dead set against moving Stoudemire and has made that clear to Phoenix management."

That's one genius point for trying to get off on the right foot with your star players.

I guess they're just really REALLY good friends

TexSUN — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:41:17 -0000

I guess they're just really REALLY good friends

Seems our favorite "rogue" ref Tim Donaghy was burning up the phone lines of fellow referee Scott Foster around the same time as the infamous betting scandal. According to the above link, he called Foster 134 times between October 2006 and April 2007, apparently more often than even his own family.

"The only person Donaghy called more often (150 times) was Thomas Martino, to whom Donaghy has said he provided picks to win games and who was the middleman between the former ref and a bookie named James Battista."

But apparently it was all innocent chit-chat:

"The government has said that they have found no evidence of criminal conduct aside from that of Mr. Donaghy. Once again, the only criminal conduct is that of Mr. Donaghy."

I guess they're just really, super-duper, best buddies.

Celebrity Soccer Pickup Game

TexSUN — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:14:50 -0000

Celebrity Soccer Pickup Game

Here is CNN.com's take on that celebrity soccer pickup game that Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and several other NBA and pro soccer players put together recently. Nash makes a brief appearance, and I think I spotted LB in there too.

What a Difference a Year Makes

TexSUN — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:26:26 -0000

The last time the Suns got eliminated by the Spurs in five games after falling into a 0-3 hole, it was in the 2005 Western Conference Finals. Steve Nash was the newly-crowned MVP, Mike D'Antoni was Coach of the Year, and the Suns were coming off a franchise-record-tying regular season that had rejuvenated not just the franchise, but also the league. It was sad seeing them so rudely sent home after such a great run, but there was also the feeling of pride at how much they had accomplished, and hope for a future that seemed as bright as..well..the sun.

The Suns were back in the Conference Finals again a year later, following a Cinderella season that included overcoming the loss of Amare to injury (not to mention Kurt Thomas), becoming just the eighth team ever to come back from a 1-3 deficit in the first round, and winning another thrilling 7-game series in the second round. When they were finally sent home, I, like many fans, actually shed tears. Yep, that's right. A grown woman shedding genuine tears for a bunch of millionaires over a silly game. Their heart and resilience had sucked me in so deeply that it felt like I was watching members of my own family be disappointed after coming so close to fulfilling a life dream. In my mind, that team will always be champions, even though they don't have the rings to show for it.

Then came last season when the Suns were once again knocking on the door only to have it rudely slammed shut by a cheap shot, and a couple of over-zealous young guys reacting to it. That single act made it personal again, and when it was over, there was rage followed by a bunch of overly-emotional blather by yours truly. I would say that I was slightly less disheartened than the year before, but I still devoted a disturbingly large amount of time to feeling down about something that had happened to a bunch of people I'd never met.

But this year? Nothing. No tears, no anger. I can't even muster up "emptiness". Maybe it's because I've become a little detached from things thanks to all the distractions going on in my personal life right now, but I also think maybe it goes deeper than that. Even when the Suns were sitting pretty at the top of the Western Conference earlier in the season, they always seemed like a team whose time had already passed. Maybe we didn't want to admit it. Maybe we didn't want to say it out loud. But the window on the Suns as currently constructed slammed shut the moment Robert Horry checked Steve Nash into the scorers table a year ago and Amare and Boris lept off the bench. Something died inside this team that day. Call it "hope", maybe. Whatever the case, the Suns haven't been the same since. You could see it in their inconsistent play this season. You could hear it in Shawn Marion's trade request, Amare's missed practice, and Steve Nash's seemingly making peace with the idea of never winning a ring. There seemed to be a feeling of almost going through the motions this year. I guess not even a big trade can cure an irrevocably broken heart.

To me, the end of this season feels a little like the end of a relationship that you knew was long over, and you finally had the courage to officially break it off. While there may still be a tinge of sadness somewhere in there, you're also looking forward to the next stage of your life and starting something new. That's how I feel about the Suns right now. Acceptance (finally!) for what did or didn't happen in all the years past, and eager anticipation at seeing what comes next. It's been a good run. But it ended a year ago, and now, hopefully, the front office can start building the next "era". With any luck, it will be half as much fun as the one we just witnessed.

And by the way, sometimes I hate being right!

All Good Things...

TexSUN — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:37:02 -0000

When the Suns' two-time MVP Steve Nash was asked about Amare's MVP-worthiness a few weeks ago, he graciously replied, "I pass the torch to STAT". It was such a typical Steve Nash thing to say, recognizing that by stepping out of the spotlight and allowing another teammate to shine, it makes the Suns a better team. In that same spirit, effective immediately, I am officially passing torch of Bright Side of the Sun administrator to Phoenix Stan, who has done an amazing job of running things in my absence. This site has been literally transformed this month. So much fun and energy has been injected that I am literally in awe. It makes me feel 100% confident that I am leaving you all in good hands.

But before I officially enter "retirement", I suppose a brief explanation is in order. There were a lot of reasons for this decision, but the most important one is simply that I don't have time to do it anymore. Work has suddenly gotten very busy, and I'm expecting it to be that way for the next several months. It's just no longer realistic to continue trying to blog about a team that's effectively based in the Pacific time zone. Trying to keep up with both early morning workdays and late night "play" would mean doing neither very well. And so, for the sake of the team (both this one and the one I'm a part of at work), it is time to remove myself from the driver's seat of this bandwagon, take a nice passenger seat by the window, and just enjoy the view.

I would like to end by thanking Bright Side of the Sun founder Dan Hilton and SBN for the opportunity, and you the readers for making it so much fun. I'd also like to send a special shout-out to Matt at Hardwood Paroxysm, who's been enormously helpful both in regularly linking to my drivel, and as a sounding board when I needed advice. The hardest part of this decision by far was the feeling I'd be letting down our readers and all the people who have encouraged and supported me these past several months. My consolation is knowing that this is a rare win-win situation for everybody involved. Phoenix Stan truly has a special gift for sports blogging. I knew he would be good at it when I invited him on board to help out, but he has been far, far more than just "good at it". He's also a resident of Phoenix and a life-long fan of the Suns franchise--that's a perspective a recent, remote-based fan such as myself can never bring. This is one of those times where what works best for me also happens to be what works best for the blog. It's going to be a blast around here heading into what's sure to be the most entertaining playoffs in years. Even though I won't be posting as much, you can bet I'll be reading daily. For those who want to reach me via e-mail, my new address will be sbntexsun (at) gmail.com. Thanks again everyone, and best of luck to the Suns as we head into the second season.

Update [2008-4-18 18:56:38 by Phoenix Stan]:

Please join me in giving TexSun a BIG Hand!

I have been extremely fortunate to step into this opportunity and am grateful to TexSun and Dan before her for building this fantastic community! It's all you people! It's all you!