2007 NBA Season Preview - Phoenix Suns

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

Phoenix Suns
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 61-21 (.744); Pacific Division Champs
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): Lost in Western Conference Semifinals (4-2 to San Antonio)
Coach (Record): Mike D'Antoni, 5^th season (198-109); 6^th season overall
Key Additions:

SF Grant Hill (FA; Orlando); G Alando Tucker (draft; 1^st round, 29^th overall); G D.J. Strawberry (draft; 2^nd round, 59^th overall)
Key Losses: SF James Jones (FA; Portland); PF/C Kurt Thomas (trade; Seattle)

The image is still in my head. Watching Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw running onto the court after Steve Nash took a hard foul from Robert Horry in game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series last year. It was something I noticed right away, but it was so incredible that the Suns' postseason really was determined by that one action. Stoudemire and Diaw were suspended for a game apiece and they Suns went on to lose the next two games. Well, that is a hard pill to swallow, especially after a 61-win season and being the favorite to win the NBA title. The Suns are an exciting team to watch on the floor; they are epitomized by the philosophy "seven seconds or less." They get up the court quickly and aim to take the shot as soon as possible. Quicker shots mean less time taken off the clock, which means more shots for the Suns. They play fast and furious, often times keeping other teams off-balance and unable to keep up.

Can the Suns finally get over the hump and get the title they felt they should have won already? Or has the Suns' window closed for a title? How does Steve Nash get through these seasons healthy? Will the Suns be able to get by the bigger teams that slow the pace, like San Antonio and Utah? Does the addition of Grant Hill give them another edge in trying to get to the title? How will the team be affected by the recent trade demands of Shawn Marion? They have a chance to once again be great; but their greatest enemy the past few seasons has been themselves. Can they overcome that and get where they want to be at the top of the league?