The effort was there. The intensity was there. Heck, the talent was even there. But for the second time on their three-game road trip, the Phoenix Suns were lacking one vital ingredient with a victory against an elite Western Conference opponent staring them square in the face. The ability to close. Markieff Morris had his […]
The Phoenix Suns have gotten off to a surprising start to begin the 2013 season, and one of the players whose helped them achieve the early success is Gerald Green. Green, who came over in an offseason trade with the Indiana Pacers, is averaging 13.2 points so far, highlighted by his 18 points on 6-of-11 […]
There are many of reasons why the Phoenix Suns have started the season off with a surprising 3-2 record, but the one everyone will — and should — point to is the play of Eric Bledsoe. The 23-year-old point guard who was acquired in an offseason deal that sent Jared Dudley to the Los Angeles […]
Without their leading scorer from a season ago, Goran Dragic (left ankle), the Phoenix Suns were posed one simple question heading into Tuesday night’s contest with the New Orleans Pelicans. Where was the offense going to come from? Simple as it may be, Phoenix struggled to answer the question out of the gates, scoring a […]
The Phoenix Suns have consistently maintained that this season is primarily about developing the team’s younger players. The word “tank” is shunned, but there is an understanding that any lumps that may be associated with giving inexperienced players significant minutes will be worth it in the end. So, one is left to wonder where some […]
The Phoenix Suns again didn’t look like a team expected to lose in the ballpark of 60 games, though they picked up their first loss of the season Sunday in a 103-96 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns led for most of the game and took a three-point lead into the fourth […]
Dionte Christmas was expected to be an afterthought in the Phoenix Suns’ rotation as they entered the 2013-14 campaign. If it weren’t for the team’s trade of Marcin Gortat and three other players to the Washington Wizards on Oct. 25, there may not have been room on the Suns’ roster for the former Temple shooting […]
PHOENIX — One day after the Phoenix Suns and point guard Eric Bledsoe couldn’t come to terms on a contract extension, the first-year starter showed why he was willing to take the risk. After scoring one point on 0-of-6 shooting and 0-of-3 from behind the arc in the first three quarters, Bledsoe exploded for 17 […]
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Suns are committed to Eric Bledsoe. Eric Bledsoe is committed to the Suns. The two parties, however, could not agree on common ground to solidify that commitment in the form of a contract extension. The Oct. 31 deadline passed without a deal being reached. “It’s no reflection on our excitement to […]
Jeff Hornacek’s NBA playing career lasted 14 years and it was bookended by six-year stints with the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz. His NBA coaching career, which is now in its third year, has exclusively been with those two teams. On Friday, the team that retired his No. 14 jersey — the Jazz, with […]
On Thursday, the Phoenix Suns and Eric Bledsoe failed to agree on a contract that would extend the fourth-year player’s future in the Valley, effectively destining him for restricted free agency at season’s end. By missing the extension window, the Suns will now have to wait until next summer to re-ignite contract negotiations. The earliest […]
Just one game into his tenure with the Phoenix Suns, guard Eric Bledsoe can add a new title beside his name. Restricted free agent. According to Arizona Sports 620’s John Gambadoro, Bledsoe and the Suns failed to come to an agreement on a new contract extension by Thursday’s league-mandated 9:00 p.m. MST deadline. Bledsoe, who […]
He said his coach did not think he was ready. Viacheslav Kravtsov sat. He sat on the BC Kyiv bench waiting for the 2009 NBA Draft, when he again was told he wasn’t ready by all 32 teams. “Coach didn’t play me for almost 30 something years…,” he said. “…I mean games.” It felt like […]
PHOENIX — In between the time the Phoenix Suns drafted him out of Iowa State and welcomed him back, hiring him as the 16th head coach in franchise history, Jeff Hornacek spent 12 years (seven as a player and five as a coach) with the Utah Jazz. His two NBA worlds collide Friday when the […]
Most athletes begin their book-writing career with an autobiography, but not Eddie Johnson. His first book, “You Big Dummy” was released in early September as a guide for athletes to create and sustain successful sports careers. Johnson played in the NBA for 17 years and spent four seasons playing for the Phoenix Suns. He currently […]
PHOENIX — Topping 100 points. Shooting better than 50 percent. The Phoenix Suns accomplished both Wednesday, but what separated them from the Portland Trail Blazers in game one was their effort on the other end of the court. “Defense is what won the game,” P.J. Tucker said of the Suns’ first season opening victory since […]
Every day, we at ArizonaSports.com ask our readers a question. It’s the Sanderson Ford Poll Question of the Day, and it can be found midway down on the right hand side of our home page On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, we asked a very simple question heading into the Phoenix Suns’ opener: How many games […]
The Phoenix Suns are not “tanking.” According to Lon Babby, the team’s president of basketball operations, no one within the organization is hoping the team loses game after game this season in hopes of landing a better draft pick. “I don’t know how you come to work every day and lead a group of people, […]
It’s just one game and it came against an underwhelming Portland Trail Blazers team, but the Phoenix Suns’ revamped frontcourt had a solid season debut in Wednesday’s 104-91 win at US Airways Center. Despite operating somewhat shorthanded with the recent trade of Marcin Gortat and the suspension of forward Markieff Morris, Phoenix’s bigs left their […]
A new coach plus new players — 10 of them, to be exact — equals a new result. Goran Dragic scored 26 points while backcourt mate Eric Bledsoe added 22 to help lead the Suns to a 104-91 season opening victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in front of 17,208 at US Airways Center. It […]
The 2013-14 NBA season is here! While it is clearly a rebuilding year here in Phoenix with the Suns, there is arguably more parity league-wide than we have seen in some time. The Miami Heat are the defending champs and are going for a three-peat (don’t sue us, Pat), but several teams are poised to […]
The Phoenix Suns’ season is set to get underway Wednesday night and one thing fans are excited for is the backcourt pairing of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. The two young players have primarily been point guards throughout their careers, but will be starting side-by-side, changing the styles or roles they might be used to. […]
The Phoenix Suns are in full rebuild mode. Whether or not they are “tanking” is a matter of interpretation, but it’s clear that they are ready to lose games in the name of getting playing time for young players as well as a better draft pick. And the funny thing is, fans seem to be […]
Last Friday’s trade of Marcin Gortat might have been an unofficial announcement that the Phoenix Suns are in full rebuild mode and setting their sights more on the future than on the season before them. Head coach Jeff Hornacek agreed Wednesday on Arizona Sports 620’s The Dan Bickley Show with Vince Marotta that wins will […]
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Typically team captains are chosen by player vote. This year, the Suns’ team captains were chosen by head coach vote. In other words, there was no vote. There was an appointment. First-year head coach Jeff Hornacek decided to name his starting backcourt, Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, co-captains. “They’re in charge out […]
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Most would balk at being traded from a championship-contending team to one vying for more ping pong balls in the NBA draft lottery. Not Miles Plumlee. As rough as that slide down the NBA standings will be after leaving Indiana, the new Phoenix Suns center now finds himself with something not afforded […]
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Five hundred and fifty-seven days. That’s how long it’s been between NBA regular season games for Channing Frye. His 18-month hiatus ends Wednesday when the Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers to open the regular season. Frye is expected to be the team’s starting power forward. “Super special,” he said of having […]
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Newly acquired center Emeka Okafor has been issued uniform #50. Now whether or not he ever gets the opportunity to wear the Suns’ colors is still to be determined. Okafor, picked up in a trade with the Washington Wizards Friday, is dealing with a herniated disc in his neck. He missed all […]
As the Phoenix Suns get set to tip off the 2013-14 season, they are facing a considerable amount of questions. Few are of a positive nature, though, as most expect the team to struggle on a nightly basis. One area that is less concerning than intriguing is the backcourt, where Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe […]
The Phoenix Suns are one day away from a new era. Jeff Hornacek will make his debut as an NBA head coach Wednesday night as the Suns host the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2013-14 season opener for both teams at US Airways Center. The first-year head coach will take the court with one of […]
