Suns and their fans both need some understanding

As sports fans, we want our teams to win now and win
later, as the very thought of losing is generally
unacceptable.

But with the Phoenix Suns doing its fair share of losing
and a rebuilding process on the horizon, winning may
become a foreign concept at the US Airways Center, at
least for a little while.

So, it should come as no surprise that when Suns President
of Basketball Operations Lon Babby, as a guest on Arizona
Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf as part of Newsmakers Week,
asked if he had something he wanted to tell the fans, he
said this:

“Be patient and give us a chance, and measure us as we go
through.”

Wise words, yes, but unfortunately for Babby and the Suns,
sports fans are not a patient bunch, and the championship-
starved group in Phoenix is no different.

Suns fans went through the Barkley years, falling short in
a variety of different ways. They went through the
Nash/Stoudemire years, with a team that seemed to have
everything but luck on their side.

The fact that the Suns are no longer a team on the cusp of
winning a title is not surprising, as contending is a
cyclical process. The Suns had their turn, and now the
window has closed. It’s happened before and it’s happening
now.

That’s why, instead of patience, Babby should be asking
Suns fans for the one thing they owe the team:

Understanding.

And you know what? I think Suns fans would be
understanding of every move the Suns have to or
should make.

No Suns fan really wants to see the team trade Steve Nash,
but most would understand if the Suns decided it was the
best thing to do for their franchise.

No Suns fan wants the Suns to tank the season and aim for
a high lottery pick, but most would understand if the Suns
felt that was the best course for a quick turnaround.

No Suns fan wants to see the Suns struggle on the court,
but most would understand that as bad as things are now,
they’ll probably get worse. Much worse.

Hell, while we’re at it, no Suns fan thought the signings
of Sebastian Telfair, Shannon Brown, Ronnie Price and
Michael Redd were going to make the team go from lottery
to contender, but we understood you were taking flyers on
players who were not great, hoping to maybe catch
lightning in a bottle.

And that’s why, while Babby is making requests of Suns
fans, I have one for him and the team:

Be understanding of us, too.

Understand that we know you are trying your best to win,
with no one thinking your goal is to destroy a once-proud
franchise.

But, keep in mind, while you want us to judge you solely
from the moves you make going forward, it’s tough to trust
an organization whose owner made a habit of selling draft
picks and letting key players leave in free agency.

While that’s not your fault or responsibility, it is a
cloud that will hang over the franchise until you prove
you can turn this thing around. Until then, most Suns fans
will remain at best hopeful, but most likely skeptical.

Also understand that we want the team to win just as much
as you do, and while we may feel differently about the
best way to go about it, know that our hearts are all in
the right place – the same place.

And that’s really what this is all about. Whatever side of
the fence you’re on when it comes to trading Nash, faith
in the front office or belief that the Suns will ever
regain their status as a contender, all we want is for the
Suns to be winners again.

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