It was refreshing to see the Phoenix Suns play like the Phoenix Suns again last night...and actually so far this entire season. The Suns knocked the Boston Celtics from the ranks of the unbeaten (so much for beating the Bulls' 72-10 mark) with a 110-103 victory where they led the whole game.
Gone is fatass Shaquille O'Neal, his shitty attitude, and his bullshit distractions as he forays into acting/rapping/sheriffing/lazing on the court. This team has current & former All-Stars (Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Jason Richardson) surrounded by energy guys playing for their NBA lives every day (Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Louis Amundson, Goran Dragic). They play hard, they genuinely like each other, they help on defense, they dive for loose balls (even the stars have gotten into the act). Stoudemire (one of the worst team defenders I've ever seen) even had a huge help-defense block on Rajon Rondo to seal the game.
Amazing what a little effort and drive will do. Phoenix is now 5-1. After beating a legitimate title contender Friday, it's obvious that the Suns can make the playoffs. They'll get their share of wins with this type of energetic play, but they'll get blasted a few times too--as was the case in their previous game in Orlando. Some times, they'll lose the talent battle or have an off-night shooting. But teams that bring effort and intensity all 82 games will always win their share when they have enough talent to score points. This team does.
Maybe Steve Kerr's job is safe. All I know is that the Suns are fun to watch again, even if they're not as entertaining as the 'Seven Seconds or Less' bunch. But I'd pay for a ticket to watch these guy dive, hustle and scrap...win or lose. I wouldn't pay to watch some out-of-shape, play-for-my-next-contract, wannabe Fu-Schnicken do jack shit for 90% of the time, then win the crowd back with some funny dance or face after his one power dunk of the game. See ya Shaq, have fun fucking up the Cavaliers title run.
Is it too late to get Shawn Marion back?
No comments:
Post a Comment