A New Hope?

The sign of a true fan; even when his team is down by 4 runs he is still watching in the ninth hoping for a grand slam; a rare occurrence and even more so in such a clutch situation.
The Suns created that kind of fan over the last several years because of their ability to make a 10 point lead disappear in a minute. At the same time that same fan truly believed in the phrase, 'it's not over till it's over' because the Suns could blow a 10 point lead just as fast.
Nash, Hill, Shaq, Bell, age says they don't really have a chance. Diaw, Amare, Barbosa, and under performing. The Rookies didn't even get a shot to do anything.
And yet, with the new hiring of Terry Porter the Suns management would have their fans believe. There is a reason they didn't go with the hot up-and-coming assistant coach. They chose an experienced coach. You know why they did it. And yet knowing what they want me to believe and it being against what being reasonable tells you to believe, foolishly like a good little fan, I believe, the window is not closed.

New Year Same Faces

There isn't much point introducing you to players who might not be with the team next year and free agency is still several months away. So, here is a look at what we do know about the team next year, barring any trades.

PLAYER AGE CONTRACT
Hill 35 1 player option for this upcoming year
Strawberry 22 1 team option for this upcoming year
Nash 34 1 year plus team option for 2nd year
Tucker 24 1 year plus team option for 2nd & 3rd years
Bell 31 2 years
O'Neal 36 2 years
Stoudemire 25 2 years plus player option for 3rd year
Barbosa 25 3 years plus player option for 4th year
Diaw 26 3 years plus player option for 4th year

Nine players under contract. 7 of D'Antoni's rotation players plus the two rookies. Giricek and Skinner would be the biggest losses if they don't come back. Piatkowski, Marks, and Johnson wouldn't matter either way.

3 and Uh Oh

The pain is too much... You think as you grow older that the sting of losing would fade with the shaggy hair, the board shorts, and the silly boyhood obsession with sports. But it doesnt, it can't.

The cliche reads that time heals all wounds, but does it? I still see that shot from an inconsiquential John Paxson dropping down the bottom of the net, as a dejected Suns team stammers off the court wondering what just happened. 15 years later, you still make excuses, and wonder what if. IF, Paxson doesnt hit that shot there is no way Phoenix loses Game 7; Jordan or no Jordan.

Now??!?! Can you really complain as a fan of sports? Your Pats have won 3 of the last 6 Super Bowls, and the Red Sox have assembled a multinational dynasty that not even the hated Yankees can rival. But they're not the Suns. Every year comes, and you invest yourself emotionally into 12 guys that you call by their first name, as if they are the neighbor down the street. The Suns transcend anything any other sport could possibly bring to the table. When the Giants converted a once in a lifetime impossible rally to beat the Pats, I went home dejected, embarressed, but not heartbroken.

I dont love football, I dont love baseball, I simply enjoy those things. But basketball is the one you know. You relate to your team, because you actually play yourself. You re-enact in your driveway Rex Chapman's bank 3 pointer to beat Seattle, every Barkley rebound, every KJ jumper, every Chambers reverse dunk, every Googs moment, and every J-Kidd dime.

But you're 25 now. You know these guys are millionaire primadonnas. The casual fan's favorite thing to say is, "with NBA games you only need to watch the last 5 minutes." There's no way. Every play, every loose ball, every whistle hurts whether it's the 2nd quarter, or OT.

3-0!!! Never been done. No excuses this time. No JJ broken face, no Amare microfracture, no Raja pulled calf, no Paxon, no hurt Penny, no Kidd broken ankle, no McDyess knee, nothing. Just dejection. Every year I write off the NBA, and I even try my hardest to ignore it. But we dont even reach November when ESPN.com/nba/standings becomes an everyday check. And the playoffs. Playoffs........... It hurts too much. The window is closed.

Intro: Getting to know you

Too start off, we thought we would introduce you to the team. We are going to draw names out of a hat to see who gets to introduce who and each day you'll get to meet a new member. Now, though we share the same passion for the sport and team, we don't always agree. But is sure makes for good banter...and every once and awhile I must give reverence to Dean's wisdom and insight.

BJ+M