Yes I know it's a bit late in the game, but if anyone would like to join me I'll be Papago Brewing Co (McDowell & Scottsdale) at 2pm to watch the game.  For those of you who don't know me I'll be wearing a purple dbacks shirt with a purple dbacks hat.

Also for those who haven't been Papago has one of the best tap selections in the state for craft ales.  Just a fun fact there for you to chew on

If anyone is interested at all just post here to let me know.

Mark your calendars fellow Suns fans, we're going to have ourselves a Bright Side of the Sun Night!!!!

Well actually we're going to piggyback off of the event PlanetOrange.net will be hosting that night....a minor detail.

Either way Seth and myself will do our damndest to rally enough of you Brightsiders to make our presence known.  We'll be a vast legion amidst the teeming masses of bloggers!!!  Or at least a far larger group than the one that showed up last year to the event Seth organized.  How many of you went to that besides me anyway?

So come on and show your support!  Mark that calendar and don't you dare forget to go this time!

Stayed tuned for more information as we get closer to the date.

Ok guys we do need more recruits for the fantasy league.  As it stands we have five teams.  Five though, just aint gonna cut it.  Eight, ten or twelve though....that would be far better.

I beg you to enlist today for the glory of the Suns empire!!!!

 http://basketball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/brightside

The league name is Brightside

Password: nash13

the id #: 80586

The draft will be the 18th at 8pm

Join now please!!!  Or at least think of joining.

Gentlemen, like my previous post on this topic I once again ask you if you want to partake in the joy of fantasy basketball?

Yet unlike my last post I urge all of you to voice your opinion on this matter.  Or perhaps you are all content with going to the Purple Palace or watching the TV?  Of course there is nothing wrong with that, but more is always better right?  Until it's too much.

Let it be known what you all think of a Bright Side of the Sun league.  NOW!!!

As perhaps a few of you recall several of us Brightside members did join a yahoo fantasy bball league last season.  I have to say that despite my inexperience in the realm of fantasy basketball, that I did indeed have a fun time.  Especially when my pickup of Kevin Martin paid off in spades.

With that in mind I was wondering if  anyone was interested in repeating that venture again?  Perhaps we can create a bigger and better league this year?

Well lets put it to a vote first to get the ball rolling.

Ed note: You spend 5 hours in the car and look what happens...I am bumping this up and also editing the post down to a quick quote and link to the EV Trib...-P Stan

I just found this out through our brethren on phxsuns.net.  i have to say that I am happy about this signing.  About time we land a decent free agent!

here's the news

Suns sign free agent Matt Barnes
Jerry Brown, Tribune

The sixth-year NBA veteran signed for the league’s veteran minimum contract ($1.2 million, about $400,000 of which is paid by league funds) and will immediately step into the rotation as either a starter or bench player on the wing. He will be in Phoenix to take his physical on Monday morning and is expected to finalize his deal afterward.

and here's how you can identify him which is still subtle compared to this....

INTERNET WARNING - THIS MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE MATT BARNES' TATTOOS. Judge at your own risk.

Continue reading this post »

ed note: Bumping up to the front page as our unofficial Summer League game thread. -TS

Kinda surprised that no one has a post going for the Suns first summer league game against the Rockets.  Of course the Summer League rarely tells us anything at all, in fact I think the Knicks went undefeated last year in Vegas and that didnt do them any good when it mattered.

Overall though I'm curious to see whether or not DJ and Tucker have developed any outside shooting and look forward seeing what Lopez looks like on the floor.  Hell we might actually get to see these rooks play this year unlike last, and yes I still consider Tucker and DJ rooks since they hardly had more than a couple min. of playing time for the scant amount of games they were in.

I believe you can watch the game streaming on NBA.com, if not there is always the box score to follow.

I was just wondering if any of you guys have been experiencing login problems with the new Firefox like I have.  I'm having to use Safari now to login.   Anyhow if any of you guys know what to do please let me know.

Arg need more dang words!!!!  BTW.  Hurray for the Lakers losing in epic fashion, made last night alot better after a horrific Dback game.  Ok almost got all the words needed yay.  Go SUNS!!!

Well there will be no fairy tale ending for the Suns this year.  The dark clouds of despair have moved in over Suns land and so they shall stay until hope once again blossoms.  I very much fear that the Nash era has just died tonight and that a long period of rebuilding has just begun.  It weighs heavily on my heart to have just said that but I fear it to be true.  

Things shall start to change very soon in AWA.  Coach D will probably be fired,  and movable pieces like Barbosa, Bell or Diaw may be shipped off for draft picks or...something.   We will probably not know vengeance or glory for several years to come and the waiting will see many casual fans leave the ranks of the Suns.  Tough times lie ahead for the Suns and their fans.  We must pray that the cap space could perhaps land us someone who could finally lead us to the promised land, or that our draft fortunes may change or maybe we'll finally just have things go our way.  Either way though I feel that tonight another chapter in the Suns' sad history was brought to a tear filled close.  We'll still get our spot in the playoffs like we almost always do, but the hope for something greater is gone for now.

Mark my words though.  We will have our time in the sun, we will know glory and we will have our revenge! 

LONG LIVE THE SUNS!

Well it seems to me that besides the Suns finally playing like they should, having Diaw start was huge.  Not only does that make the starting five bigger,  it also adds another fabulous passer as well.  And with that in mind, when Diaw wants to, can burn by just about anyone guarding him at the 3 spot.  So Boris starting may just have put a whole new wrinkle in the series.  Well as long as he plays like Emperor Napoleon (minus the size part)  and not General Joffre.  That is to say he should play smart and aggressive and not stupid and lazy.

So do you think Diaw should start in the next game (God willing it will be several games)?

Well I've been mulling the idea around my head of some photoshop pics of our glorious Suns.  Something to the effect of putting Nash's head on Conan the Barbarian, or Band of Brothers as the Suns  team and so on.  Sure you may be asking yourself while reading this "Meh...what for?"  Well my friends it should be done for the soul purpose of being  epic.    

Phoenix Suns	vs.	LA Lakers
37-16		36-17
7:00 PM Mountain / 9:00 PM Eastern
TV: FSN AZ HD, ESPN
Probable starters:
Steve Nash	PG	Derek Fisher
Raja Bell	SG	Kobe Bryant
Grant Hill	SF	Vladimir Radmanovic
Amare Stoudemire	PF	Lamar Odom
Shaquille O'Neal	C	Pau Gasol

[Since we already had a good discussion going in this diary, I decided to make it the official game thread, with a tad of editing to bring it up to date and into our usual game thread format. Thanks, Turumbar, for giving us an early start on this! For those who are just coming back to the site after the All-Star break, don't miss our three All-Star break special features here, here, and here. -TexSUN]

The Wait Has Almost Ended

Well fellow fans, in just a few days hours we shall finally begin to catch a glimpse of just how worthwhile the Shaq trade was.

Granted one game won't tell us much. Hell, it probably won't be for another month where we'll get the complete picture of this trade. Regardless though, starting Wednesday today we shall finally get some kind of rough idea of what Shaq shall be like as a Sun.

In truth I am both excited and scared out of my mind. This is the kind of deal that could have a huge impact either way. And I am sure praying that that impact is positive, even if only on a small scale.

I'm still having trouble believing that this trade has even gone down. Let's hope that we can start to praise this deal.

[Update by TexSUN 10:36 MT]: Live blogging tonight? You betcha! Check the comments after tip-off.

Well I just got back from a party.  And being that I am in LA quite a few Lakers fans felt like talking shit and building up the Lakers playoffs chances.

Quite frankly i'm worried.  With Bynum, Pau and Kobe  playing this Laker team has the potential of being deadly.  Now maybe that's just me succumbing to hundreds of Laker maniacs blabbering about the glory of their team, but it's hard not to worry.

All that matters now for the Suns is how they'll respond after the All Star break.  Will Shaq be atleast ok?  Will Diaw continue to improve?  Will the Suns improve against western opponents?

All these questions and more will be answered in the last half of the season.  And with that we shall know for certain if we truly need to fear the Lakers, or any other west team, in the playoffs.

I know it's early but so is the game.  So who ever is to be on top of the pre-game thread I suggest we post it since the game shall be rather early.

Just a thought.

BTW
Suns have no right to even think of losing to Chicago, considering how much they have totally failed at life this year.  I mean we worry about problems with are team, but they have some real serious issues to contend with.

Sure the Suns have a great record in a very tough conference.  Yet as this year goes on does anyone see any kind of toughness in this team?  Any will to win?  Anything at all that might suggest that they are moving in the right direction and getting stronger?  I would say no.  The rose tinted glasses of years past seem to have cracked to fallen off.  No longer do the Suns seem to play with passion, even on the games you know they should.  Rumors of locker room turmoil, the stubbornness of D'Antoni, the lack of balls with Diaw and other such problems seem to plague this team at every turn.  The sky isnt falling but it seems to be coming closer and closer to that point.

This team needs focus and needs it fast.  Locker room angst and on court problems must be resolves, for this team is quickly running out of time to set things right.  Sure the fans may be placing far too much pressure on the Suns but after years of only coming close to a ring, we have grown weary of anything less that Championship level basketball.  And truthfully this team has all the tools to take it to the next level.

There is hope.  I believe the Suns are masters of their own destiny, they just have to realize that and set themselves right.  And to make it right a leader must emerge on this team if they are to have any hope of success.  For they sorely need something to focus them as a team, because they sure don't seem to be playing as a team.

I know this is not worthy of being on the diary page, but I needed some ideas.
I would like to know what you guys felt was a good bar to go to prior to a Suns game.  Preferably next to the stadium.  Also preferably one that wont break the bank.
You input on this matter shall be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[Editor's Note: I'll post the recap tomorrow evening, but in the meantime, here's a place to discuss the win.]

"I came, I saw, I conquered." So said Gaius Julius Caesar upon being asked by the Senate about his victories in the East.

The Suns win last night was amazing. We finally saw a team that looked like they had the stuff it took to win. Of course it was minus Parker, but we lacked any serious contribution from Marion so one could say it somewhat balanced out. I'm convinced that Hill and a aggressive Diaw could make all the difference this year. Of course Diaw must find consistency and Hill must stay healthy. But if we can have those two things we may just have what it takes. Maybe.
The road to revenge is long and very arduous, but perhaps it shall be ours.  This is the sign of hope we need.  And this is the game, the win, the Suns needed to kick-start their will to win.

Well as long as the glorious Suns play their game and dont come out flat we should have a W.  In fact as @&#^ed up as the Knicks are now we have the chance to blow them out in epic fashion, perhaps greater so than what the Celtics visited upon them a few days ago.  Nash should be able to abuse their D every posession.  Marion and STAT should also own the painted area tonight both on O and D.  Not to mention it should be raining from beyond the arc all night long.

I shouldnt get ahead of myself though.  Underestimating your opponent can spell disaster, even when they fail at life like the Knicks.  

My prediction....
Suns play some kick ass ball and crush the very souls of the Knicks.  I also predict there will be a DJ sighting in this game.

Let me know what you guys feel about this game.

Well since Sun Tzu is so cool I decided to keep this weekly diary going.  I'll be in Greece this next week so I'll be unabled to comment on your comments.  Enjoy!

"I have heard in war haste can be folly, but I have never seen delay that was wise."

"The skillfull stategists defeats the enemy without doing battle, captures the city without laying siege, overthrows the enemy state without protacted war."

here's one more which can be seen as D'Antoni related or Nash related, you choose.

"The general is the prop of the nation.  When the prop is solid, the nation is strong.  When the prop is flawed, the nation is weak."

So says the great Master Sun.  I hope you are all a bit wiser now from reading this.  

I thought it wise to start a weekly diary with various excerpts from the Art of War.  Perhaps this will do well to prepare us for the Season of Vengeance that shall begin in October.  

"The Skillful Warrior of old won easy victories,

The Victories of the Skillful Warrior are not extraordinary victories; they bring neither fame for wisdom nor merit for valor,

His victories are flawless; his victory is flawless because it is inevitable; he vanquishes an already defeated enemy."

    Sun Tzu

If you havent read the Art of War I really suggest you do so.  It is a tome filled with great words of wisdom that can be applied to many aspects of life (despite what the title suggests).  

Please feel free to comment how you feel this quote relates to the Suns.

Hey guys I think I may have a very very cool idea for a t-shirt for this comming season.  I see it as follows....

                        PHOENIX SUNS
                          2007-2008

                          THE SEASON
                                  OF
                                  V

btw the V is the V for Vendetta symbol.  I'm thinking either orange shirt with white letters or purple shirt and orange letter.

OK for discusion purposes please tell me what you think of this shirt idea or how it can me motified.  Or you can just come up with your own idea.  
Secondly please let me know how someone can get such a shirt design from paper and into reality.  Maybe we can turn this into a Bright Side of the Sun members shirts or something.  

GO SUNS!!!!

I sure did like the Suns theme this year.  "Eyes on the Prize" was the perfect way to get the team and fans reved up for the season.  But after this heartbreaking and very very bitter ending what should our theme be next season?  

Well with how angry I still am, as I'm sure most of you are, I'll be bold and say that we should have some kind of revenge theme.  I'm thinking like something out of the Count of Monte Cristo, that kind of vengeful angel theme.  In that I mean the Suns should be righteous and symbols of good while at the same time bringers of swift vengence.  So maybe the new theme shall be "Justice Shall be Served."  So please dont confuse this new theme with some kind of bloody cold hard revenge, think more of Justice.

Please though let me know what the Suns theme should be going into next season.  Be creative.

Thats right gentlemen, the Suns will return the favor on Monday.  Why you ask?  Because they have to.  It's that simple.  I mean look at game 2, the Suns won because they had to win.  I'm predicting the same shall be true for this coming game.  I know we havent won a playoff game in SA in.....eons, but that shall indeed change.  

Seriously though can you imagin Nash having 2 bad game in a row?  Reality would probably shatter were that to happen.  STAT will sure as hell be extra nice to the refs, in hopes of staying in the game for a bit longer than a handful of minutes.  And if Diaw plays as agressive as he did last night then I like our odds.  Have faith gentlemen, the Suns are far far away from being beaten.

Let me know what you guys think of the impending and vastly important Game 4.

Start of this series I wasnt even begining to pounder the thought of a sweep.  For one I was convinced that the Lakers would step up and at least make it tough enough where we lose one game.  I mean they usually do step up their game when we play them.  Thus I was thinking of a 5 to 6 game series with the Suns taking the W.  

But then came game 2.

We all know how brutal the beating was we gave them.  Epic, Monolithic and Titanic thrashing.  I mean it was like Bruce Lee taking on a Karate Brown Belt.....no contest.  Suddenly where there had been vague hope for the Lakers after game 1, all hope was lost after Tuesday night.  Even the Lakers themselves have addmited numerous times that they are demoralized now.  I'm almost convinced that Kobe is gunna try and harp on that ancle roll he did, if only to disasociate himself from any further losses.

So the question I pose to you my fellow fans is this.  Have any of you begun to think sweep yet?  I know I know, even thinking it could jinx it.  Yet if we win tonight how many of you will become true believers of the sweep?  As I alluded to though, the Suns have got to win tonight to ensure that the Lakers wont get any silly ideas of resistance.  Getting out of this series nice and early will be key, lets hope we continue anihilating the Lakers and get out by Sunday.

GO SUNSSSS!!!!!!!  

Well my playlist for the playoffs is as follow: (in order)

Eruption/ Van Halen
We Will Rock Your/ Queen
Princes of the Universe/ Queen
Frankenstein/ Gary Hoey
Mean Street/ Van Halen
Passchendale/ Iron Maiden
Kickstart My Heart/ Motley Crue
Where Eagles Dare/ Iron Maiden
Dont Stop Me Now/ Queen
Still of the Night/ Whitesnake
Operation  Ground and Pount/ Dragonforce
Welcome to the Jungle/ Guns and Roses
The Trooper/ Iron Maiden
Die for Metal/ Manowar
Wild Side/ Motley Crue
Modern Day Cowboy/ Tesla
(from this song forward are only played after victory is assured.)
Another One Bites the Dust/ Queen  
Dancing in the Street/ Van Halen
We Are the Chamions/ Queen

Well lemme know if you guys have a favourite Suns playlist or perhaps just a single song that gets you pumped.

Well I noticed that a bunch of the Golden State of Mind fans had gotten together to watch games.  So I was wondering if perhaps we should plan such said gettogethers as well?  What do you guys think?  Pick some bar to meet up at maybe, as i'm sure that not all of us will be able to seccure tickets.  Lemme know what u guys think, could be fun.