The Suns expect to be a playoff team this season.

Before that can occur however the Suns need to show they can be competitive; and that starts now, in training camp.

“We need to get ourselves in a position where we’re consistently competing, whether it be in drills or scrimmages or whatever,” explained head coach Alvin Gentry Sunday. “We just need to have a competitive camp at all the spots and I think we’ve got enough depth at those spots that we can be competitive.”

The training camp competition this year is being held at Grand Canyon University.

“You always start the year with optimism,” said Nash, who missed the playoffs last season for only the fourth time in his 15-year career, “but I think as always you got to work hard. You got to be humble and hungry and try work everyday to make yourselves a tough unit and a group that understands how to play together but also understands how to win. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

The Suns ended last season 40-42 and despite the entire starting five — plus several key reserves — returning many don’t share Nash’s optimism.

“If I were a fan I would probably be questioning but that’s our job to come up and prove everybody wrong and make them proud.”

Gentry said he will use the week-long camp that includes four days of two-a-days to figure out his starting unit and playing rotation.

“We’ll have a couple more practices on Monday and Tuesday and then I think we’ll have a little bit better handle as to where we are.”

Gentry though is confident about one spot: point guard.

“I think you can pretty much pencil Steve in. I think he’ll be a starter.”

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