The Suns Have Gone Cold

The sun has finally set in Phoenix.

The Suns were once the talk of the NBA. They were fun, fast, and exciting. They would at least put up at least a 105 points a night. Even when the Suns didn’t win at least fans could expect to be entertained for the night. Back in those times other franchises would envy the success the Suns had.

Before this year’s disappointing 45-36 record the suns had posted up impressive numbers. During the span of 2005 and 2007 Phoenix posted a record of 177-69. They even post two 60 wins seasons, but the 2005 season was the beginning of the end for the Phoenix Suns, and it all started with Joe Johnson.

Joe Johnson was one the main components of the Suns early success. He was fast, explosive, and a scorer. No Sun’s fan can forget when Joe Johnson shot two heroic free throws after he cut his eye open. This year alone Johnson has averaged 21.4 points and 5.8 assists game. He has help lead his team to the four spot in the Eastern Conference. In the trade with the Atlanta Hawks they receive a player named Boris Diaw.

Diaw soon became a crowd favorite. He was very active on offensive end of the floor and won the Most Improved Player Award. That year Steve Nash won his second consecutive MVP award but it still wasn’t enough. The Suns would fall in six in the Western Conference Finals against Dallas Mavericks. Another year another missed opportunity.

The 2006 and the 2007 looked like another promising season for the Suns. They won the Pacific Divisions and everything was looking right for a championship run. Funny, nobody told that to the San Antonio Spurs. After Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw got suspended for game five (they were suspended for going on the court when Robert Horry pushed Steve Nash) the Suns just looked out of sync game six and fell to the Spurs 114-106

2007 was a brand new start for the Suns. Steve Kerr became the new general manger. He immediately began to make changes. The Suns traded fan favorite Shaw Marion for the Shaquille O’Neal. The trade was supposed to propel the Suns to the playoffs but instead it bought them a first round exit to the San Antonio Spurs.

The 2008 season was the year everything was suppose to come together. O’Neal had adapted to the team and they were now coached by defensive minded coach Terry Porter. It should have been a recipe for success but instead it lead to a disaster. Plain and simple the Suns look lost this year. They were a team without identity and it surprised no one when the team fired Terry Porter, but even with new interim coach Alvin Gentry the Suns still weren’t able to make the playoffs.

As of today the Suns are 48-36. The future is not bright in Phoenix. O’Neal, Nash, and Hill are getting up and age and Stoudamire could be gone in 2010. The Suns have had their opportunity but now it is nothing but a memory. For the next few years Sun’s fans will have to remember the good times and, unfortunately always wonder what could have been.