Center of the Sun: Where the Suns are still nestled safely in third place

Welcome to the weekly news roundup of your Phoenix Suns.

Game Recaps

vs Washington Wizards L (131-127) Full Recap

vs Los Angeles Lakers L (122-110) Full Recap

@ Dallas Mavericks W (100-98) Full Recap

vs Portland Trailblazers L (110-101) Full Recap

After a 3-1 week the Suns come back down to earth and go 1-3. The Suns are 4-6 (.400) overall after the All-Star break and are a much more fun and watchable team even in the losses these days.

With just 15 games left to play in a losing season, the way the Suns have been playing has given fans something more than just the upcoming draft to look forward to. It seems as though the Suns already have a promising young core which should only get better with plenty of time on the court together and this year's draft addition(s).

Get healthy soon, Dragan Bender! We all want to see you on the court as part of this young rotation too.

Key Stat

13.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.2 bpg

Alan "Big Sauce" Williams falls just 0.3 rebounds per game short of averaging a double-double since being given an expanded role in the Suns' rotation. Before the All-Star break he was playing 7.2 minutes per game and had 33 DNP-CDs. After the break he's played in every game and averaged 25.4 mpg.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com

Quote of the Week

“I don’t like being scored on. Earl is pushing me to pressure guys full court and at my size I have to. I have to make it an advantage for me. Once you get into the half court, that’s a disadvantage so I try to make the guards uncomfortable.” - Tyler Ulis

Rookie Report

Marquese Chriss - 25.1 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.5 spg, 1.5 bpg

Tyler Ulis - 21.5 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 5.0 apg, 0.5 spg

Derrick Jones Jr. - 20.9 mpg, 4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.0 spg, 0.8 bpg

Dragan Bender - OUT INDEFINITELY

Stats courtesy of NBA.com

Reverse Standings

1. Brooklyn Nets (12-53)

2. LA Lakers (20-46), 7.5 GB

3. Phoenix Suns (22-45), 9.0 GB

4. Orlando Magic (24-43), 11.0 GB

5. Philadelphia 76ers (24-42), 11.5 GB

6. Sacramento Kings (25-41), 12.5 GB

7. New York Knicks (26-41), 13.0 GB

8. New Orleans Pelicans (26-40), 13.5 GB

9. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-38), 15.0 GB

10. Dallas Mavericks (28-37), 16.0 GB

12. Charlotte Hornets (29-37), 16.5 GB

11. Portland Trail Blazers (29-36), 17.0 GB

13. Chicago Bulls (31-35), 18.5 GB

14. Miami Heat (32-35), 19.0 GB

The Boston has the right to swap picks with Brooklyn this year. The Lakers’ pick goes to Philadelphia if it falls out of the top 3. Philadelphia also has the right to swap picks with Sacramento this year as long as that pick falls within the top 10. If Sacramento's pick falls out of the top 10 it goes to Chicago. New Orleans' pick goes to Sacramento if it fall out of the top 3.

These numbers are courtesy of Hoops Rumors.

News & Notes

6 stats proving the Phoenix Suns are the buzzer-beater kings of the NBA. SB Nation

Horry Scale: Devin Booker comes through again for the Phoenix Suns. NBA.com

NBA Rookie Power Rankings: Emerging Tyler Ulis making the Suns fun again. CBS Sports

The Phoenix Suns Are Building Something Special. Sir Charles in Charge

Wizards coach Scott Brooks: Suns coaches deserve credit. Doug Haller/AZCentral Sports

Bickley: Surging Suns could be Robert Sarver's redemption. Dan Bickley/AZCentral Sports

New second unit transforms Suns’ offense into one of NBA’s hottest. Kellan Olson/Arizona Sports

Suns Land Three Players on BR's "NBA Top 22 Under 22" List. Suns/NBA.com

For a Night, Tyler Ulis Was the Biggest Little Man in the League. The Ringer

Suns GM Ryan McDonough saw winning trend with Tyler Ulis. Doug Haller/AZCentral Sports

This Week in Suns History

On February 19, 1996 Phoenix Sun Charles Barkley pulled down his 10,000th career rebound in the first quarter of the Suns' 98-94 OT win against visiting Vancouver, becoming the 10th NBA player with 20,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in a career.

Suns Trivia

Tyler Ulis scored a career-high 20 points (including the game-winner) and had five assists with no turnovers vs. Boston on March 5. He is the only rookie in the NBA this season with a game of 20+ points, 5+ assists and 0 turnovers and the only rookie with a game-winning buzzer-beater.

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com

Previewing the Week Ahead

Wednesday, March 15th vs Sacramento Kings (25-41)

Friday, March 17th vs Orlando Magic (24-43)

Sunday, March 19th @ Detroit Pistons (33-33)

Three games this week with the first two at home before heading out on the road again. The first two games at home - The Kings on Wednesday and the Magic on Friday - both seem winnable as both teams have been having very bad seasons themselves. The third game on Sunday against the Pistons in Detroit does not. The Suns have played well against Eastern Conference teams this year and the Pistons are just a .500 team but they've been playing pretty well lately and have won 7 of their last 10 games.

I predict that the Suns go 2-1 this week.

How do you think the Suns will fare?