The Phoenix Suns Magical Disappearing, Reappearing Bench

Once upon a time, in a land not-so-far away, Mike D'Antoni systematically eradicated the average Suns fan's expectation of a rotation deeper than 7 players. Soon after, Coach D departed for "greener" pastures, wherein he was faced with a starting lineup so devoid of talent, he probably spent sleepless nights longing for the glory days of Marcus "Cap Killer" Banks.

Replacement head coach Terry Porter continued the tradition of subjugating and minimizing the contributions of his pine riders, reducing back-up point guard Goran Dragic to a quivering, frightened turnover machine and pigeon-holing now-starting-center Robin Lopez as 6 fouls wrapped up in a 7-foot, wild-haired package.

Before too long, Suns GM Steve Kerr realized the folly which was General Porter, gave him the old, "Thanks but no thanks," sent him on his way, then promoted assistant coach Alvin Gentry. This made the bench very happy. Goran was finally able to be his smiling, three-point-shooting, fast-break-leading, lane-crashing self; Robin was set free to swat shots, dunk balls, look angry, and smash skulls in the paint; and Jared Dudley morphed into the Suns' super-sub, pestering the opposition's star player defensively, hitting the occasional dagger three, and making the headband a locker room fashion staple.

This new, effective bench was a strange proposition for a Suns team that had spent years running its starters into the ground, playing 40 minutes a night. The second unit -- rounded out by energy guy Lou Amundson and the best perimeter center ever, Channing Frye -- helped push a team with low expectations and an aging starting line-up into the 3-seed of the Western Conference Playoffs, facing the Portland Trailblazers in the first round.

Given the health (or lack thereof) of the Portland Trailblazers, many pundits expected the Suns' subs, which had developed into one of the best reserve corps in the league, to steamroll the depleted Blazer secondary and provide a huge advantage for Phoenix. This seemed like a reasonable expectation.

Then the bench promptly disappeared for the first four games.

Sniper Frye shot what seemed like 0-for-4,509,399 and somehow grabbed negative-14 rebounds. (Ok, not entirely accurate: 9-for-30 shooting, including 4-for-21 from three, although with a surprisingly decent 6.25 RPG.)

Duds -- while remaining effective defensively, guarding mainly Andre Miller and Brandon Roy -- also went cadaver-cold, shooting 2-for-12 from three and 5-for-18 overall.

The Slovenian Dragon accumulated only 6 points and 1 assist per game, after averaging 7.5 points and 4.2 assists after the All-Star break.

Sweet Lou, while effective in limited minutes in games 1 and 2, produced only 3 points and 2 rebounds over games 3 and 4.

Alvin Gentry admits to tightening the leash on his subs, in particular limiting Dudley to 20 MPG (down from 24 MPG during the regular season), Dragic to 12 MPG (down from 18 MPG), and Amundson to 7.8 (down from 14.8 MPG). "I said to that second unit that I've got to try to give them a little more time, enough time to find themselves a little bit," Gentry admitted after the game 4 loss.

Gentry kept his word, letting the trio loose on the court in game 5 -- Dudley for 23 minutes, Dragic for 20 minutes, and Amundson for 19 minutes -- and the reserves, along with Frye, paid their coach back for his trust.

Frye, with a +32, and Dudley, with a +36, were staggeringly effective, contributing 8 three pointers on 57% shooting. Dragic gave Nash plenty of rest in the blowout, tallying 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in his most extended minutes of the series. Amundson's performance wasn't mind-blowing, but he provided an efficient 2 points and 4 rebounds, allowing Amare Stoudemire to rest.

In a maybe unexpected turn of events, Leandro Barbosa has been the vegetable oil running the Suns' clean-burning engine during this series after being largely unavailable or ineffective for most of the season. Though perhaps LB doesn't fit into the Suns' big picture as much as years past, he's managed 8.6 points a game in limited action to give the team one of its only reliable bench contributors over the first four games.

Hopefully game 5 served as a coming out party for the reserves in the playoffs, and they'll continue to wreak havoc on opposing benches. It's definitely a surreal feeling as a Suns fan to trust the team's second-five, to have back-ups who are more than just flesh-and-blood victory cigars or white flags, who can step onto the court and effectively hold serve or, as we've seen before, even turn the tide of a game that was heading in a darker direction.

If the Suns are going to survive in the second round (provided they get there), Dragic, Dudley, Frye, Amundson, and Barbosa are going to have to play with the sort of pride and efficiency they'd come to be known for during the season. Hopefully Planet Purple -- to steal a phase -- has risen again, ready to help the Phoenix Suns plow towards a deep playoff run, which is effectively impossible without our troops in roster spots 6 thru 10.

Some quotes from today's practice:

Goran Dragic

On getting extended playing time in game 5 and adjusting to the playoffs:

I have to prove a lot of things and I think so, yesterday was a pretty good game for me.

[It took] a few games to adjust. Still, I would say I was not nervous. Just I didn't feel right playing ... I don't know, the game was a little tough, a little bit different. But still, now that I've adjusted that, I feel more comfortable and everything.

Assistant Coach Igor Kokoskov

On the bench's need to be ready, no matter what their minutes:

Everybody's gotta be ready and be prepared for maybe playing some minutes ... This is huge because they know they are part of the team, they're part of the rotation and very important pieces of the winning games.

On the balance between using veterans and developing the bench in the playoffs:

The playoffs is a time to use a more experienced guy who understands what is controlling the pace and really keeping yourself under control. You know, we also know we have to live with some mistakes and nobody was born with experience and experience ... the only way you’re going to get experience is if you play them and live with some mistakes and keep coaching them.

On Coach Gentry's tutelage of his young players:

They’re fortunate because Coach Gentry is an experienced coach and knows how to handle this kind of situation, not putting extra pressure on them ... but still coaching.

On taking an individual player's minutes into account:

Really, we get to the point where it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter as long as the team is playing well.

Right now, it's all about winning games. And that’s how we judge about their performance right now. It's really ... it's ... primary is team success.

Coach Alvin Gentry

On getting too antsy to put the starters back in:

I pulled those guys a little bit too early in the previous games. You know, they've been the type of team that uh ... that second unit has been the type of team where when I leave them out there, they kind of find a way to get some things done. And I’ve been pretty quick with the hook in taking them out.

On trusting the bench more:

I just think I gotta believe in those guys a little bit more, you know, even in playoff situations, because they’ve been a real key to the success of our team this year.