Great game. The team is really playing nicely! Hustle, effort, playing together to reach team goals. Very good stuff! The best part (even more than the early wins) is the vibe on the court. Just 180 degrees from last year. Body language is better, effort, everything. The team is fun to watch again, which is pretty important if they are rebuilding and not officially 'in contention'.
Amare is actually making effort on defense, and having some results! Totally impressed with him on this front. Sure, he's not a great defender, but him actually trying makes a real positive impact on the floor on that end. I just hope he keeps up the focus and intensity after his offensive game rounds back into form over the next few weeks. I keep waiting for the light bulb to go on for him that a) being a better defender and rebounder just takes plain hard work over time, which he already has shown he can do when he built a great outside jumpshot, and b) that he will not be considered the superstar he wants to be until he gets better on D. If he figures that out and keeps working? Look out in a year or so.
Grant Hill - what can you say? He's a legend and phenomenal signing by the Suns. Bag on Kerr with good reason for other things, but it's a coup that the Suns have a healthy Hill for what they are paying. The sports car analogy someone mentioned was so right for him. Just keep him healthy, Suns Trainers! Please!
I am also so happy that we actually have a real bench and that Gentry plays them! So impressed with Gentry's rotations so far. He is constantly switching guys out, keeping the other team on their toes with new looks, keeping the players awake and focused on the game. Not sure if this will hold up all year, but it's fun to watch right now.
Also, Gentry is actually using timeouts effectively. I loved Mike D, but his timeouts (or lack of them) during runs by the other team used to drive me nuts. Gentry seems to have a good handle on the game flow and is calling timely breaks to try to regroup and regain momentum. Nice to see.
Finally, how about Steve Nash? The guy is just amazing. Seriously. Not knowing about any hot start to the season, and figuring they would lose a bunch of games this year, I still budgeted for League Pass Broadband, just to watch Nash play. I don't think people realize how good he still is, and how much of an all-time great Hall of Famer he will be remembered as down the road. Sure, the styles are different, but it's like having KJ or Stockton or Magic or any of the great generational PGs in their primes. You just have to watch because you will miss it when it's gone. His play the second half of the 3rd and the 4th in this Heat game was a prime example.
That's why I just don't get the Nash-bashers around here. If you don't like it, follow another team, because he is the hall-of-fame engine of the Phoenix Suns for a few more years. And 2 out of 3 experts agree the product tastes great and is less filling, so learn to live with it.
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