Purple back in the house

November 1, 2007 by Mike Olbinski

It’s time. Again.

The Phoenix Suns hit the floor tonight against the Seattle Supersonics and kick off another run at the NBA title.

There are so many questions this year. Can Grant Hill stay healthy? Can Amare Stoudemire stay healthy? Can everyone stay healthy? The team has been great at avoiding big time injuries lately, so I think they are fine there. But the year has already started out with Raja Bell held out of practice on Tuesday, Leandro Barbosa with rib troubles, Hill with slight back spasms and Boris Diaw with a couple of sprained ankles.

Hopefully it’s all out of their system now, and we can focus on the getting home court advantage in the playoffs.

Because I think that what they have to do in order to have a shot. The season is excruciatingly long, so it’s hard to keep up that motivation, but man, to beat the San Antonio Sterns on the road will be a massive undertaking.

I love the number of games they play, because to me, this team is so entertaining, it’s the best show in sports. We’re starting to lose count of the other teams adopting this style of play. Seattle wants to run, Houston wants to run, Golden State runs, the Grizzlies run and it goes on and on.

Even Denver is running and it sure made their game against Seattle last night highly entertaining. If every team played like this, the NBA would be a blast for me to watch, even if it wasn’t the Phoenix Suns.

So what can we expect from the Suns this year?

I honestly don’t know. Of course we’ll be in the top 3 in the league and could be fighting for home court throughout. The thing is, when you get to this point (at least for me) the regular season starts becoming the thing you sit through in order to see the playoffs. Because we know we’ll get there, we just don’t know if we can get to the big show.

Will the Suns feel that way? Are we going to see non-stop energy this year, or will there be more lulls than usual? Because for them to win games, they have to be playing 110% all the time, running and gunning and playing defense.

I hope they can. I hope the whole Stern-gate thing is the driving force behind a great championship run. Especially for Steve Nash. Use it to your advantage. Use the anger to power through and destroy the opposition. They can do it. Play with a massive chip on your shoulder.

Just look at what Bill Belichick is doing in New England. He cheated,was called out and now he’s ticked and scoring 52 points a game and rolling over teams.

The Suns need to channel that anger and determination the same way and funnel onto the court. It’s time to start hitting people in the mouths.

I cannot wait for tonight’s game, to see what Grant Hill does in a real game, to watch Steve Nash fly up and down the court and to witness the awesome power that is Amare.

It’s time.

Posted in grant hill, leandro barbosa, raja bell, amare stoudemire, steve nash, basketball, nba, phoenix suns