Phoenix Suns Player Rankings: First Half Season Review

1. Goran Dragic

First-Half Season Average: 14 points (.440), 6.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals in 32.3 minutes of play

Dragic is not Nash. That said, he has put up fairly solid overall numbers for the first half of the season, despite the lack of talent surrounding him. Goran isn't meant to be the number one scorer on a team, but here he is. If the Suns can surround him with better talent I would expect his numbers to increase; but for now, we should probably just appreciate the player he is, and what he's been able to do for the team as the best player on the roster at the moment.

2. Marcin Gortat

First-Half Season Average: 11.3 points (.525), 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.3 assists in 31.5 minutes of play

Gortat's production has taken a hit so far this season compared to when he played with Nash last season (15.4 pts, 10 rbs). However, he's still putting up the eighth best numbers of any center in the league, even on a bad team. That has to speak to just how productive he really is. Gortat is probably the most valuable trade asset that the Suns have, so who knows if he will be here after this week. But no matter what happens, Gortat has shown he is a force to be reckoned with in the post, with or without Nash.

3. Luis Scola

First-Half Season Average: 12.8 points (.463), 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assist in 27.4 minutes of play

Scola has been every bit the savvy vet and scoring option that the Suns hoped he would be when they bid on his contract after being amnestied by the Rockets before the start of the season. Scola has helped the Suns not only as a shooter, but also on the boards. Although the new coaching staff will continue to give the young players increasing minutes for the duration of the season, you can expect Scola to remain a key part of this team in the second half.

4. Jared Dudley

First-Half Season Average: 11.5 points (.475), 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 29.3 minutes of play

Dudley has been quiet lately, but his numbers over the first half of the season show what he is capable of. There is a good possibility the Suns could trade Dudz by the deadline on Thursday, but no matter what they decide, Dudley has proven to be one of the most consistent and efficient players on the team over not only the first half of this season, but the past couple of years as well.

5. P.J. Tucker

First-Half Season Average: 5.5 points (.458), 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 22.5 minutes of play

Tucker's role on the Suns continues to be mainly a defensive, energy/hustle guy...but his offensive production has been increasing as well. P.J.'s impact on the first half of the season can't really be justified by stats alone. But anyone who's watched the Suns religiously over the past 53 games can certainly tell you how important he's been to the team.

6. Jermaine O'Neal:

First-Half Season Average: 6.9 points (.498), 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks in 16.6 minutes of play

Jermaine O'Neal may be one of the greatest surprises so far this season, but should we really be surprised? The Suns' training staff of wizards and magicians has been re-building and preserving the bodies of former All-Stars for many years, and O'Neal is simply this season's success story. O'Neal is actually giving Gortat a run for his money as the best center on the team. But will he remain on the Suns for the rest of the season?

7. Michael Beasley

First-Half Season Average: 10.8 points (.400), 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists in 22.5 minutes of play

This is a reflection of his first half production, and remember, he was hands-down the worst player in the rotation for half of it. However, Beasley has come on much stronger over the past month or so, and is actually leading the Suns right now in points per 36 minutes (17.3). But still, his overall efficiency is still third lowest in the rotation. Let's hope we get more good Beasley and less bad Beasley in the second half of the season.

8. Shannon Brown

First-Half Season Average: 11.2 points (.418), 2.7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.1 steals in 25.2 minutes of play

Brown has had a very up and down first half of the season. At times he looks like the best scorer in a Suns' jersey, and at other times he looks like a ball-stopper who jacks up horrible shots and hurts his team. The problem with Brown's game is that when he isn't on offensively, there is little else he can do to contribute. With the new coaching regime, I wouldn't be surprised to see Brown's minutes continue to dwindle in the second half of the season (assuming he's still here after Thursday).

9. Markieff Morris

First-Half Season Average: 7.3 points (.397), 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 20.4 minutes of play

Morris has probably been the biggest disappointment of the season thus far, and that's saying a lot. Now that Beasley and even Kendall Marshall have begun to show signs of life, Morris who is in his second NBA season and who has showed flashes of great potential at times is becoming the new goat. Morris is definitely getting his opportunities, he's just simply failing to make the most of them. Morris is shooting only .397 from the field (ahead of only Telfair, Zeller, and Johnson), despite being a power 4 by nature who should be taking most of his shots from within 10 feet of the basket. Maybe his woeful .271 shooting from three point range has something to do with that?

10. Sebastian Telfair

First-Half Season Average: 6 points (.381), 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds in 17.3 minutes of play

Kendall Marshall has already squeezed Telfair out of the rotation. But for the first half of the season, Bassy made a greater impact overall. Although Sebastian has struggled to find his rhythm and lead the second unit, he did show the ability to be a quality back-up point guard at times. However, the only question now is whether or not the Suns will find a trade partner for Bassy before the trade deadline.

So there you have it. Feel free to share your opinion in the comments below!