The Suns are only 2.5 games out of the 8th seed and 3 games out of the 7th seed and with 40 games to go, there is obviously PLENTY of time to get into the playoffs.... however, the teams in 7th and 8th seed are the Blazers and Lakers and the teams in 8-10th place are Utah, Memphis, and Minnesota so now 2.5 games feels like 5.5 games

IDK how you guys feel but when the suns won, i get happy since wins are fun and i look into the playoff situation as only a couple of games out BUT then i look at the teams ahead and look into this years mock drafts and i just really want a top 5 pick....

I honestly think if we were to trade our valuables and tank the season for a top 5 pick, THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR, because everyone will remember this season as the lockout shortened season that messed up everybody rather then the one the suns screwed up on...

March 20-April 25 (end of season) schedule is BRUTAL!!! Check this out

• March 20 ... at Miami
• March 21 ... at Orlando
• March 23 ... at Indiana
• March 25 ... at Cleveland
• March 27 ... vs. San Antonio
• March 28 ... at LA Clippers
• April 1 ... vs. New Orleans
• April 3 ... at Sacramento
• April 4 ... at Utah
• April 6 ... at Denver
• April 7 ... vs. LA Lakers
• April 9 ... at Minnesota
• April 11 ... at Memphis
• April 13 ... at Houston
• April 14 ... at San Antonio
• April 16 ... vs. Portland
• April 18 ... vs. Oklahoma City
• April 19 ... vs. LA Clippers
• April 21 ... vs. Denver
• April 24 ... at Utah
• April 25 ... vs. San Antonio

I WANT YOUR GUYS OPINION?!?!?!

What it says is the player evaluation and team building metrics in the NBA are worn out, predictable, conventional, monotonous and far too often they are executed by apparently dull witted executives and coaches stuck in a rut when evaluating players.

Kobe Bryant yesterday "“When a player is playing that well, he doesn’t come out of nowhere. It seems like he comes out of nowhere. Go back and take a look, and the skill level was probably there from the beginning; it’s just that we didn’t notice it.” NYT

LA Times:Jeremy Lin was there for the taking ...Lakers discussed signing the guard when he was a free agent, before he was signed and released by Houston. Mike Brown didn't know anything about Lin, who scored 38 points Friday night.....

Lin was compared to Steve Nash by the ESPN commentators and others this week, including Bynum. Lin is about the size of Steve, shoots well like Nash, penetrates well, has what one ESPN commentator said was 'court vision' which allows him to avoid traps and find good passing opportunities. He clearly has basketball smarts and has the basics down.Yet, no, he doesn't do tomahawk dunks.

Lin is not super-physically gifted. He cannot fly through the air, or hang for jumpers like a Derrick Rose. And yet, he is the first player in the NBA in 30 years to score 28 points or more, and 8 assists in his first game as a starter, against the Utah Jazz last Saturday. Isiah Thomas performed a similar feat in his debue in October, 1981.

Of course, we don't know how long Lin will last, but the Knicks aren't going to let him go like the Rockets or the Kings. Magic Johnson said last night at half-time in the NY-LA game that Lin 'was for real'. Magic doesn't say that about every rookie. We also know guys who get compared to Steve Nash don't come along every year. What we do know, is that one heck of a promising point guard was passed up in the NBA draft, was dropped from at least two teams, and almost by luck was given a chance to shine with the NY Knicks. Why was he passed up so often? Just because he was from the Ivy League, which has not had a player drafted since 1995? Just because he was Asian-American, and there are none playing guard in the NBA?

Or is it just because guys who can't two hand dunk, guys who are not big or gifted physically, are glossed over, even for the point guard position in the NBA? The fact that a lot of NBA point guards, like the SUNS Telfair, Brown and Price fit the physical ability specs OK, yet (1) can't shoot well or reliably (2) don't have the court vision to avoid dribbling into traps or hopeless walls of bodies (3) cannot run offenses effectively....does not keep teams like the SUNS from signing them up and suffering the consequences.

Although there is almost certainly no one with the potential of Jeremy LIn out there on a BB court somewhere right now, his experiences would seem to be a wake up call that the metrics for recruiting point guards should expand to include players who make up in BB basics, shooting, passing, court vision and smarts what they may lack in the realm of outstanding physical equipment. Young players like that can make a very big difference for a team, although the chance that they would outscore Kobe in a shootout their first game against the Lakers is a pretty steep hill to climb.

.

My Story:

I started liking the Suns when I was in 6th grade. Shaq had been traded to the Suns (or FA I forgot which one), and I liked Shaq alot because I did a third grade project about him. I kinda followed wherever Shaq went because I was not a big basketball fan. In sixth grade, I started loving the Suns, which brought me to the NBA. Since Then I have been a diehard Suns fan, loving Amar'e, Shaq, and later, Nash. I am obsessed with Nash right now, he has been an inspiration to all Suns fans. I know a lot about the NBA also, because I follow it intensly. All my friends all make fun of me because I'm a Suns fan, and I live in RedNation. I just tell them I've been one for a while and I will stick with this team no matter what happens.

Our Story:

Everyone who goes on this site is a true fan. All the other "win or nothing" fans already abandoned the Suns and went to a contending team. We are the real fans who stick with the Suns through tough times, even when we think there will never be light ahead, there always will be. The Sun never dies. (until a couple billion years)

I wrote this post to show how we need to stick with the Suns no matter what happens, all of us are disappointed in the Sun's performance this year, and we feel like Nash's talent is being wasted in Phoenix and hes not getting any younger. I feel that soon we will establish dominance again and we will eventually win a championship. That time may not be next year, but we should all still have hope, because the Suns are OUR team and the Sun will rise again.

Poll

What kind of Suns fan are you.

• Sticks through tough times and stays with the Suns no matter what.
• If we really suck the next few years, will abandon the Suns for a contending team.
• Going to leave the Suns if we don't make the playoffs this year.

  26 votes | Results

Hi Guys! My name's Lynton and I'm an exchange student studying here for the semester, in Miami. As a long time suns fans (Charles/KJ era originally) its always been my dream to go to a home game. Well as a gift from my girlfriend - IM COMING TO PHX to see the SUNS v the Lakers on april 7th. Anyway, the point of my post wasnt to gloat, I wanted to know if u guys have like pre game parties or anything like that? (im over 21). Also are there any particular bars which are best to go to before/after the game? I really wanna get amongst it! I haven't booked accomodation yet - anyone know of any cheap places near by the arena?? Hopefully i can meet some of u guys at the game!! Thanks guys!

"NO RETREAT! NO SURRENDER! THIS IS SPARTA LAW! And by Spartan law, we will stand and fight... and die."

"O-kay. We see where you're going with this. But hear us out. What if, like, instead of fighting to win, you like, lose some battles, so you're more effective later?"

"WHO ARE YOU?!? Who are these Cretins? Why aren't you dressed in battle armor?"

"Oh, we don't actually fight with you. We more like cheer from the sidelines. See those logs all tied up and webbed together beside the battlefield? We sit there and sort of tell you what you should do."

"THE PERSIANS ARE ALREADY HERE! We've made a giant wall out of boulders and their bodies! Why do you want us to not fight our hardest?"

"You see, there's some fine up and coming young fighters, and if you lose a lot, you would get first pick! So by strategically having some of your best warriors hide in that water tank over there part of the time, you could throw a few battles, BUT next year pick up some young stud who has a 7' wingspan!"

Continue reading this post »

Hi, I noticed a lot of people still have very big hopes for this summers’ free agency, so I decided to take an in depth look at the Suns cap situation.

For the 2012-13 season, the Suns will have 6 players under contract at a total of 30,712,000 which leaves $27,288,000 in cap space but that giant amount will not be the amount the Suns can spend.

The Suns are currently drafting at 11 in the draft and the salary for last year’s 11th pick was 1,772,100, a report a few days ago suggested the Suns would pay Steve Nash $8-10m this summer, so let’s say the Suns pay him $9m, the Suns’ cap space is already down to $16,515,900.

And then we have Aaron Brooks, when he returns from China next month, the only way he can sign for about 25 of the NBA teams is if the Suns renounce him. If he is going to leave the Suns, he will likely have to sit out the rest of the season when the Suns make him a new qualifying offer and teams will have more cap space, still I will be very surprised if Aaron Brooks is not a Sun, the Suns need a PG who can split minutes with Nash over the next 2 years and he should be that man. How much will he cost? That’s debateable, but around $5.75m a year will be likely be enough to secure him for 4 years, I will be very surprised if he signs for less than that.

At $5.75m for Brooks, the Suns cap space would be down to $10,765,900, that $27m cap room isn’t looking so great now is it. They will also have the MLE available if it is needed.

The Suns will have much less cap space in 2013 if they spend money now because they have no one coming off the salary til 2014 when Marcin Gortat and Hakim Warrick’s contracts worth a combined $12,687,200 in the final year end.

The Suns are currently committed to 4 guys through at least 2015 if Childress and Frye pick up their player options. Obviously the Suns still have the amnesty clause, my guess is that Hakim Warrick is the guy who it will be used on sometime in the next 2 years, he is the only guy who has no future with the team long term.

Obviously trades can happen between now and free agency that may alter the Suns’ cap situation but if the front office continue to do what they say they will; rebuild with Nash, stay competitive and be good enough when Nash retires to not lose a beat and continue to improve. $10m cap space seems a lot more realistic than $20-30m.

Who will the Suns pursue you may ask, well it depends on the draft. If the Suns draft Beal or Lamb they will probably pursue someone like Batum, Beasley or Landry. If they draft Thomas Robinson, Perry Jones or MKG then they will probably pursue someone like Nick Young, OJ Mayo or possibly Barbosa on a short term deal.

Just don’t expect the Suns to sign 2-3 RFA’s and spend a ridiculous amount of money because the FO will be wary of losing all future financial flexibility. Who do you want to sign in free agency? Let us know in the comments.

Poll

Who do would you like to sign in free agency?

• Michael Beasley
• Nick Young
• OJ Mayo
• Carl Landry
• Jeff Green
• DJ Augustin
• Leandro Barbosa
• Nicolas Batum

  84 votes | Results

Looks like possibly the next Steve Nash? Check

Young? Check

Unrestricted FA? Check

Franchise Cashcow? Check

He would get the Suns some attention, all assuming he can keep up starter quality play.

Knicks do not hold bird rights? Check, the Knicks can offer him their MLE at most.

He is currently 2nd in PER in the league and averages 25/8/4 in the last 3. Lets say his production drops to 12/6 for the rest of the year what would you offer?

The Phoenix Suns have won 3 games in a row and are 3 games out of the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs...

Our next 3 games come against the Rockets at home, The Kings in Sac-Town, The warriors at the oracle... those are ALL winnable games and could bump our win streak up to 6

We know Steve Nash and Marcin Gortat are gonna bring the same numbers every night, however, if we can get a 12ppg 5reb 4ast from Dudley and Hill per game.... and Frye scores over 10 while getting his rebounds, IM SURE WE CAN MAKE PLAYOFFS!

but then again I look at the losses to the Cavs, Nets, Hornets, Raptors, @ Spurs(no manu), @ Chicago (no drose), @ Dallas (no dirk) and i think no way this team is consistent enough to make the playoffs

But this year the west is WIDE open and im not saying we could win a championship but once you get into the playoffs, you never know (2010)

HALF OF ME WANT US TO SUCK FOR A TOP-5 PICK BUT THE OTHER HALF THINKS WE COULD MAKE THE PLAYOFFS...

Poll

Predict the outcome of the season

• Playoffs ; 1st rd exit
• Playoffs ; magical ride similar to 2010
• Barely miss playoffs ; end up with #13 pick :(
• Tank ; end up with top 8 pick

  90 votes | Results

So, yes, I am originally from Detroit. So, I do pay attention to how my first home town and the sports teams there are doing. I am saddened to see my former Detroit Pistons fall so far from their Bad Boys championship era (Yes, I know if you weren't living in Detroit then you hate the Bad Boys Pistons, but I was in middle school then and they were MY Bad Boys, from the only city I ever knew and called home).

I am now also saddened to see how the Phoenix Suns have fallen from their Conference Championship winning ways. So, I draw a connection when I see my Detroit Tigers' owner, Mr. Mike Ilitch pulling out his checkbook and spending money with his heart set on a championship for his team, his city, the teams' (e.g. The Detroit Red Wings too) fan-base and yes, in the end if the championships come as he envisions, for his bottom line too.

So, I do apologize for bringing baseball references to The Bright Side of the Sun twice AND for a team not named the Diamondbacks, but again, Detroit is where I grew up.

http://blog.mlive.com/hugeblog/2012/01/attacking_mike_ilitch_for_spen.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+detroit-tigers+%28Detroit+Tigers+Impact+-+MLive.com%29

Now, reading this article, if there are implications for a successful sports team to bring an economic boom, a national smiling eye (world peace and puppies for all, heh heh) to a city as Detroit...What could the same do for our home (now) Phoenix!?!

Look, it is not my money and until his books are made 100% public and until all of his basketball oriented conversations are taped and made public (which neither will ever happen), I can not and will not tell another person what to do with their money...But dammit all! If we could just convince a great owner like Mike Ilitch to buy the Suns, I would be all the more happy!

Poll

Are these articles regarding how ownership of a professional sports team helpful to fuel whatever blame you already put/or NOW put on Robert Sarver for the state of the Phoenix Suns?

• Heck Yeah!
• These are two different sports and have no relevance to each other
• There were many other factors leading to where the Suns are now
• Vince Carter is the reason why the Suns are where they are
• No, no one cares about Detroit here

  29 votes | Results

Hello Bright Siders!

I do not post here, but I do enjoy reading everyone's opinions and the debates that may come up. Now, I know most of us blame Robby for the dismantling of our once winning franchise, so to add a bit more fuel to this flame I look to the recent actions of one Mr. Mike Ilitch (notice the difference in references I give to both owners), owner of the Detroit Tigers! Sure, there are some who believe this signing may not bring a championship to Detroit, but the heart and passion and effort and money and (to quote Amar'e) gonads of Mr. Mike Ilitch are all attributes I WISH Robby had...If there were any question as to his success, take a look at the Detroit Red Wings' record and all of their Stanley Cups before you go any further with that thought! The article gives a bit more detailed argument:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/joe_sheehan/02/06/owners.money/index.html?sct=mlb_t11_a0

Poll

Would you want an owner who leads with his/her heart and not their pocketbook (regardless of how many orange dress shirts and foam fingers they bring to games!)

• Heck Yeah!
• Robert Sarver is doing a good job, leave him alone
• This is just too obvious to NOT answer: A) Heck Yeah!

  24 votes | Results