PHOENIX — “Rocky is back in the building!” The proclamation was a bold one considering the tenants of the US Airways Center are also the cellar dwellers of the Western Conference. Then again Phoenix Suns interim head coach Lindsey Hunter was on to something. After all Goran Dragic has been the main, if not the […]
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns came into Saturday night’s contest losers of five in a row, and while they were hosting one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, Lindsey Hunter’s squad had no problem rising to the occasion against the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately the difference between rising to the occasion and winning games […]
While the Phoenix Suns’ decision to bench starting point guard Goran Dragic for the team’s last two games against the Jazz and Kings seemed a bit suspicious given its timing, radio play-by-play guy Al McCoy doesn’t believe the move was made for tanking purposes. “Although I’m certainly not involved in closed door meetings, the front […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 117-103 loss to Kings on March 28. The Good: Wesley Johnson […]
The Suns played to lose. And guess what? They lost 103-88 at Utah. We’re not exactly sure what the pregame whiteboard listed as the “Keys” Wednesday night, but, essentially, all that really needed to be written: “Goran Dragic: DNP-CD = L.” Did not play – coach’s decision. Equals loss. That was the pep talk guaranteed […]
As president of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns, Lon Babby has been right in the middle of the “culture change” the team is trying to undergo. But what, exactly, is a culture change? It’s an oft-thrown around term that is generally used when a new coach takes over a team, a way of saying […]
It’s pretty obvious to me that Lindsey Hunter is the present and future head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Goran Dragic was held out of the Utah game Wednesday because he’s run many more miles this year than any other Sun according to Lon Babby. There are eight NBA point guards who have played in […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 103-88 loss to Jazz on March 27. The Good: The Suns […]
Back when the Phoenix Suns decided to part ways with head coach Alvin Gentry, president of basketball operations Lon Babby said his replacement was assured of being the team’s coach for the rest of the season — and nothing more. “It will be an interim coach,” Babby said. At that point the Phoenix Suns were […]
When one goes over what we’ve seen from the 2012-13 Phoenix Suns, several keywords will be offered. ‘Culture’ is one. Suns brass and interim head coach Lindsey Hunter have often talked of changing the culture of the Suns organization — one that was two games away from a trip to the NBA Finals just three […]
Call it an ultimatum. Call it tough love. Phoenix Suns coach Lindsey Hunter is making it crystal clear what he expects from Markieff Morris. “If you rebound, you play. If you don’t, you sit,” Hunter said he’s told his second-year power forward. “What else can I say? It’s clear cut. “It’s not about making shots,” […]
For the first time since suffering a left calf strain late in the game against Washington on March 20, Jermaine O’Neal practiced. “I’m not sure if I’m ready though (to play),” he said. “Still didn’t really have a good pop to it. Still ran with a little bit of a limp.” Suns coach Lindsey Hunter […]
If there’s one thing the Phoenix Suns have been consistent with during the 2012-13 season, it’s been their level of inconsistency. For example, take the team’s last 11 games. The Suns are 2-9 in that stretch, but their lone wins have come against playoff contenders (Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers). However, in that same […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 102-100 loss to the Nets on March 24. The Good: Goran […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 117-86 loss to the Wizards on March 22. The Good: The […]
The Phoenix Suns (23-46) have had few bright spots during their 2012-13 season. Goran Dragic was brought back to town, and the move seems to be paying dividends, as the Dragon is leading the team in points(14.1), assists (7.0) and minutes (33.0) per game. He also leads the league in double-digit assist games since the […]
If a magic number indicates the combination of game results a team needs to qualify for the postseason, is the same number for playoff contention elimination an “unmagic number?” If it is, that number for the Phoenix Suns is one. A Suns loss or one more win by the Los Angeles Lakers would eliminate Phoenix […]
The Washington Wizards came to Phoenix with only five road wins to their credit this season. They left with six. Washington outscored the Suns 34-19 in the second quarter on their way to an 88-79 win at US Airways Center Wednesday night — their first win in the Valley since December of 2006. The loss […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 88-79 loss to the Wizards on March 20. The Good: Hmm. […]
The NCAA tournament begins Thursday, and while millions of college basketball fans around the country will be huddled around their respective televisions salivating over every move, they won’t be the only ones. NBA teams send scouts to games all season long, but the 64-team tournament is certainly a prime opportunity for front office personnel to […]
Can the Phoenix Suns beat the Heat? And we’re not talking about the dreaded summer heat that’s straight ahead in our weather forecast. No, we’re talking about the upper-case version: the Miami Heat. Hence, in the spirit of “Spy vs. Spy,” we’re launching a campaign called “Streak versus Season.” Sure. After Monday night’s comeback win […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 99-76 win over the Lakers on March 18. The Good: On […]
His return this season remains a long shot, but Marcin Gortat did receive some positive news Monday prior to the game against the Los Angeles Lakers: he can ditch the cast. Gortat, after a visit with the doctor, walked — still with the aid of crutches — into the locker room, but minus the cast […]
Dan Majerle badly wanted to be a head coach. Very badly. The Suns great, who was an assistant on the team’s coaching staff from 2008 until resigning this season, is finally getting his chance, as he is taking over at Grand Canyon University. Majerle is replacing Russ Pennell, who guided the Antelopes to a 72-44 […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 127-105 loss to the Wizards on March 16. The Good: Michael […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 107-94 loss to the Hawks on March 15. The Good: Jermaine […]
The Grand Canyon men’s basketball team lost 85-59 in the first round of the Division II NCAA West Regional Friday, but the Antelopes saw more than just their season come to an end. The university announced that head coach Russ Pennell resigned has resigned after four seasons with the program. “I leave with great respect […]
Phoenix Suns coach Lindsey Hunter was not pleased with his team’s effort in a 111-80 loss to the Houston Rockets Wednesday night. His team’s lack of effort, he told Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo Friday, was the most concerning aspect of the game. But, Hunter said, it’s all part of the growing process the […]
If you open up an Oreo cookie, you will not find the Phoenix Suns. No way, no chance. This Band of Backups is most definitely not creamy white filling. There is virtually nothing in-between about Suns games. 111-81. 124-99. 117-77. 97-69. 127-96. 98-71. 111-81. At first glance, those figures read like high/low temps for Phoenix […]
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 111-81 loss to the Rockets on March 13. The Good: Wesley […]
