An Impassioned Defense: Why you should consider cutting Goran Dragic some slack.

(This is my first ever sports related article. Go easy on me?)

Around the end of last season, I happened to catch a special on NBA TV called "Promised Land: Omri Casspi - NBA Pioneer." If you didn't see it, they followed Omri Casspi's rookie year as the first Israeli-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. I was mesmerized throughout the entire show. It was an incredible story and after watching it, Casspi instantly became my favorite non-Suns player in the NBA.

DiM, how on Earth is this relevant?

There was one particular moment in the show when Omri Casspi was discussing a rough patch in his rookie year and he said something that really made an impression on me. It could almost be called a turning point in how I view the NBA and it's players as a fan. If you've ever seen the movie Fever Pitch, it's similar to the point in the movie when Jimmy Fallon's character sees the Red Sox players at a bar after a bad loss, just eating dinner. I don't remember exactly what he said, but Omri Casspi said something along the lines of 'I was getting sick of playing basketball every night. It just wasn't as fun anymore.' And thinking about this statement now, that's when it hit me.

Maybe Goran is just tired.

The Offseason

On May 29, the Suns were defeated by the Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. After averaging 13.2 minutes in 55 games his rookie season in Phoenix, Goran Dragic had just completed a very successful, unexpected season and playoff run. Considering that Goran's first year in the NBA was not consistent and brought his confidence down, in my opinion, I would say that you could count last season as his first real season since he in comparison averaged 18 minutes in 80 games and played in every playoff game.

I don't know exactly what he was up to in June, but I have been able to gather that he went back to Slovenia.

In July, apart from visiting the Las Vegas Summer League, Goran had a triple-double and was the MVP as he led Slovenia to win the Boris Stankovic Cup in China. This went from July 28th to August 1st. The FIBA World Championships began on August 28th in Turkey and Slovenia remained in the tournament until September 11th. He was back in Phoenix for informal workouts by September 22nd. Training Camp began September 28th. Preseason began October 5th. And well, you know what's happened since then. That's a lot of basketball. I mean, a LOT of basketball.

So far this season, Goran has averaged 7.7 points and 3.1 assists. We were warned in the offseason by Mr. Alex Laugan not to get our expectations up to high and I at some point issued a warning statement as well. We are all familiar with the confidence issues Goran struggles with. It is what has held him back from being consistently excellent. He was constantly going all offseason. Playing for Slovenia and then coming right back and starting with the Suns again. I understand that it is his job. But then, it is, also, his job. I heard Gregg Popovich say something yesterday about how basketball is his career, not his everyday life. While I understand that players are passionate about the game, for someone not used to playing this much basketball, I can imagine that it would get extremely exhausting. Not to mention, he has had issues with minor ankle and knee injuries. He has not had the experience in the league that the other Suns have had.  I don't see the same fire and excitement in his eyes this season when he enters the game. I think it's very possible, just as I stated above with what Omri Casspi said, that Goran is just a little burned out on playing basketball right now. And honestly, I don't blame him.

So, he stepped on a piece of glass.

I can't lie. When I first saw the headline about this, I felt a little frustrated. Why isn't he more careful? Doesn't he have slippers? Who's sweeping his floors? I love watching Goran play. I think he is one of the most important pieces to the success of the Phoenix Suns. And no matter how handsome he looks in a suit, I would much rather see him on the court. But then I stopped myself. As bad as it is that he had to get 9 stitches in his left foot and as sad as I feel for him, I think him stepping on glass could be a blessing in a really ugly disguise. Perhaps what he's really needed all along is a little break. I am by no means saying that he should have sat out of games. Rather, that this not serious injury came at an opportune moment. We are coming up on the All-Star break. The team is finally looking like they are going to pull it together. With Zabian Dowdell playing well enough to at least hold us over for the time being, we can afford to let Goran take this much needed rest and get completely better and get his head back in the game.

People are very quick to say the Suns should sign Zabian Dowdell to a contract. Don't get me wrong. I'm rooting for the guy. I read that SI article, I know his story. I sincerely hope he makes it in the NBA one day. But we've only seen him play limited minutes in 2 games.

It's possible that we were spoiled by Goran's dramatic increase in play last season and expected it again this season. He will get there again. But it's unfair of us as fans to expect so much of him when he's already given us almost everything he's got.

We all know what he's capable of. Remember that next time you want to say that he's ruining the play of our team.

Mark my words, there's going to be a point this season, sooner than later, when Goran steps out on the court with 2:00 minutes left in the first quarter, and instantly brings that energy that we're used to. And when he does, the other team will be trembling in their shoes with one thought on their mind. "The Dragon is here. And there is nothing you can do to stop him."