Seasons of Discontent

I apologize for not giving you – the faithful reader – more of the Suns coverage you so desperately desire, but you’ll have to excuse me as I’m only now escaping my post-Cardinals disaster haze.  Fortunately for my sanity the Suns took care of business over the weekend, winning the two games they needed to win in order to push their record to 3-0.  As mentioned after the Suns opening night win over the Clippers, I’d viewed these opening three as almost must-win games considering 6 of the next 7 are on the road and only one is against a team that didn’t make the playoffs last season.  Well after a home opener win over Golden State and a Sunday victory over the T-Wolves – time to hit the road.  Some thoughts from Section 108:

• Tough to have anything but praise for the early play of Channing Frye.  I’ve previously mentioned that I’m certain he is going to drive me nuts – and I stand by that – but after a 12/17 three point shooting performance and back to back 20 point games he is currently residing in the “I love him” zone.  I’m going to go out on a limb and assume he won’t shoot 65% from three over the course of the entire season – but if he can hit with a reasonable amount of accuracy the Suns are going to have a dangerous weapon.  With Amar’e Stoudemire, Jason Richardson, and Grant Hill to cover – Frye will definitely get his opportunities.
• After this scoop from Bright Side of the Suns, I’m more than a little worried about the health of Leandro Barbosa.  It appears the Blur has aggravated a wrist injury he suffered playing for Brazil over the summer in the FIBA Americas tournament.  The most disconcerting quote is Leandro telling BSotS “They told me I have a cyst on the wrist so its been tough for me to catch the ball”  – now I’m no doctor but I have played basketball before, and if LB is having trouble catching the basketball that is going to be a big problem.  Apparently surgery is not an option, but this is definitely something to keep an eye on as the winter wears on.  Either way it’s a disappointment as during the Warriors game Barbosa led the Suns in scoring starting in place of J-Rich.
• Grant Hill has picked up right where he left off last season as it relates to his ability to drive and hit the mid-range jumper, yet what is most encouraging through three games has been his rebounding numbers.  On a team that so desperately needs boards Hill is filling a void – averaging 9.7 rebounds per game through the first three.  I’m going to go ahead and borrow from Alvin Gentry and refer to Hill as Benjamin Button – no way he’s 37 years old.
• Speaking of rebounding – although you have to consider the opposition, the Suns have won the overall rebounding battle in two of their games (Warriors and Clippers).  Even the Minnesota game wasn’t too bad – as the Suns lost the competition by just four even though an early flurry from Al Jefferson and something named Oleksiy Pecherov looked like they were going to have 200 rebounds each.
• Another guy helping the rebounding cause is Everybody’s All-American himself - Louis Amundson.  Sweet Lou had back to back 8 board games in his limited minutes and his per 36 minute rebounding average shakes out to 12 per game.
• Jason Richardson made his return to the lineup Sunday after missing the first two games due to suspension.  In the form that I expect from him all year he put up 23 points and shot 4/7 from three.  If the Suns are going to do anything this year J-Rich has to be a huge part of it.  For a bit of personal perspective, whenever I think of the Suns salary cap number I continuously forget about Richardson’s $13.33 million dollar price tag.  This should not happen…and I don’t think it will after this season.
• Martha Lee has attended the first few games with me and after Jared Dudley broke out for a fast break lay-in against Minnesota (and didn’t throw it down) she asked me what Dudley does for the team.  My best response?  Everything.  He’s not going to be a great scorer but he’s going to do every single little thing that your team needs.
• That little Canadian fellow is just way too old and past his prime isn’t he?  A 20 assist game on Friday followed by a 14 assist effort on Sunday?  Yawn.  (Dear everyone, please keep doubting Steve Nash.  Thanks in advance.)

Not really a whole lot more to say about the 3-0 start.  Obviously you have to be pleased, but at the same time you have to consider who the Suns were playing.  I think the main thing about an Alvin Gentry-coached team is that they are going to beat the teams they are supposed to beat – and through three games they’ve done just that.  The primary question is whether they can actually beat the teams that are either at their level or above it.  Last year they went 6-11 under Gentry against playoff teams, each game without Amar’e Stoudemire – this road trip will give everyone an early look as to whether this year will be any different.

Tags: Arizona Sports, Channing Frye, Sports, Suns