Phoenix Suns are flying high!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/15/2004

 

(Phoenix, Arizona) —There is a term often used in sports that has stood the test of time: “Defense wins championships, and offense sells tickets.” This phrase seems particularly apt when you think of recent champs like the Detroit Pistons in the NBA, and the New England Patriots, who have won three of the last four Super Bowls.

 

This dynamic becomes even more pronounced when it gets down to the last two teams in a winner-take-all situation. The strongest defensive team usually prevails, whether it's a seven game series or a one game winner-takes-all showdown.

 

However, this might be the year that an overpowering offensive team prevails. Have you been watching the Phoenix Suns this season? All they did this year was win 62 of 82 regular season games — the best in the NBA since the Chicago Bulls won an NBA record 72 in the 1995-96 season.

 

The Suns are also the NBA's highest scoring team in 10 years, averaging 110 points per game. Despite that fact, they are not regarded as the team to beat. The Suns have risen fast out west. In fact, this team did not even qualify for the playoffs last year.

 

Last year, they were awful, finishing 29-53. However, they improved by 33 games this year — one of the greatest turnarounds in league history. They could sweep most of the hardware given to regular season accomplishments, including league MVP candidate point guard Steve Nash, Coach of the Year Mike D'Antoni and Most Improved Player Amare Stoudemire.

 

Sound familiar? Last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves won 58 regular season games. Kevin Garnett was voted MVP and Flip Saunders was Coach of the Year. This year played out a little differently, however. Saunders was fired this season after 10 years as coach as his team struggled. Garnett has been labeled by Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune “as developing a reputation as one of the leagues biggest losers.” 

 

True greatness is always defined by what happens in the playoffs. Seldom has regular season success been given any measure of credibility unless you can sustain it against the best with the pressure on.

 

Led by all-star forwards Amare Stoudemire and Shawn (The Matrix) Marion, the Suns are the first NBA team in years to have all five starters average at least 10 points per game.

 

The Suns made more three point shots per game (9.6) than any team in the league, and attempted more three point shots (24.6) per game than any team in history. They also allowed the most points per game during the regular season — 102.8 (which refers to defense wins championships), and they led the NBA in point differentials (+7.4). Since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, no team has ever won the NBA crown while leading the league in both scoring and points allowed.

After sweeping away Memphis in the first round 4-0, the Suns await the winner of Dallas vs. Houston in the second round. Both teams present match-up problems for the Suns. San Antonio is formidable, having won 59 games with two-time MVP Tim Duncan, as is defending champion Detroit. And don't forget about Miami with MVP candidate Shaquille O'Neal.

 

There are obviously several teams left with playoff experience that can still douse the flames of the red-hot Suns. I suggest that you just relax, enjoy and allow what ever happens to happen. We will soon see if the Suns can continue to outscore their opponents and win their first NBA Championship.