Channing Frye and Jared Dudley Fuel Suns Surge

by Seth Pollack on Feb 13, 2012 2:35 PM MST in Phoenix Suns News

It's not exactly a surprise, but when Jared Dudley and Channing Frye both play well the Suns are a formidable team. Not a championship team. Not even really a dangerous playoff team, but certainly a formidable opponent for the likes the Bucks, Bobcats, Kings and the occasional Hawks.

Over at SB Nation Arizona a bunch of the fellas do a weekly power ranking of the Suns roster. Needless to say, you can expect to find Steve Nash on top of the ranking until such time as he asks out of Phoenix, retires, or takes one too many blows to the head and is forced to miss some games.

Since neither of those three are likely to happen, we'll just assume that Nash will be on top for the foreseeable future.

After Nash, however, things get a bit more interesting. For the bulk of the season the number two slot has been held down by Marcin Gortat and his strings of double-doubles. This week, however, there's a new number two in town.

Check it out....although the headline and opening paragraph of this story should give you a hint.

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Still in my opinion

They are non-starter material. They are way too inconsistent and no star appearance. Not many NBA players that think: OMG, I have to play Frye/Dudley tonight, while a lot of PG’s have bad dreams before a game against Nash.

Alea iacta est!

by PolishHammer on Feb 13, 2012 5:44 PM MST reply actions

Dudley is a VERY solid starter

Frye, a quality bench 4.

Dudley gets no love. There is one ball, and a team needs 5 players who play defence and guys who hustle. Dudley is above average in everything except athleticism. Defence, rebounding, steals, TO, fouls, shooting, points per shot, everything.

Dudley is just getting no love from the fans anymore, and I don’t get it. He is better than many guys who have starter for contenders, and brings so much to this team.

by MMotherwell on Feb 13, 2012 6:12 PM MST up reply actions

Brian had some nice points below.

The other factor is Dudz couldn’t make a shot to start the year. He was one of the players killing this team with the inability to knock down a jumpshot. He’s returned to the Dudz we all know an love recently.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

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by Omaha Sun on Feb 13, 2012 7:15 PM MST up reply actions

You can get away with starting one or the other on a good team. But when they are 2 of your top 5 players, you’re in trouble.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

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by Omaha Sun on Feb 13, 2012 7:16 PM MST up reply actions

Exactly what I was going to say

One of the 2 could suffice, but we are asking too much of our role players is the true problem IMO.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 13, 2012 7:42 PM MST up reply actions

Dudley is just getting no love from the fans anymore, and I don’t get it.

I think it’s that fans see the lack of scoring/athleticism on the team and figure that combo usually comes from the shooting guard position.

The reality though is that there aren’t a plethora of high scoring 2 guards anymore like there used to be. Only 2 SG’s are scoring over 20 per game. Dudley is 15th or so in scoring per game at the SG. We lack a go-to scorer but that can come from any position.

BAMF goes HAM.

by brian13 on Feb 13, 2012 6:46 PM MST reply actions

I think we've all been waiting for this. I know I have.

Those two above all else are what killed us in the beginning of the season. They just could not hit open shots. That is why I was so confused. I expected the team to struggle, but I did not see that coming at all. It may have been wishful thinking, but I always believed their shots would return I waited to evaluate this team’s prospects until that point.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Feb 13, 2012 7:18 PM MST reply actions