Phoenix Suns resurgence in second half of the season nothing short of extra-ordinary: NBA Feature
The Phoenix Suns have had a roller coaster of a season.
They started the NBA season with a 7-15 record, and at one point were 13-21 for the season. People had written off the Suns as contenders for the playoffs. Many called for changes in the team; some said the team now needs to go
through a serious rebuilding process.
However, the Suns amazed the whole league when they became alive after the All-Star break and started playing the kind of basketball they were once famous for. The Suns have gone 16-7 since the All-Star break, and are now 30-28
for the season, only 2 wins behind the 8th place Houston Rockets. With a few games to go in the season, the Suns are still in playoff contention.
How far does the Suns team go in the playoff if they do eventually make it is another debate which we will leave for some later piece. But just the fact that the Suns have made an impressive comeback after having been written off
by nearly everyone, shows the character of this team.
And the character starts from the team Captain, Steve Nash.
Arguably one of the best point guards in NBA history and probably the best player without a championship ring, Steve Nash has done wonders for the Suns over the years. The Suns resurgence as a dominant team in the Western Conference
started in 2006 when Nash was traded to Phoenix from Dallas.
He has since led the Suns to Western Conference Finals on numerous occasions. This year also, the veteran is living up to his expectations, leading the team in their comeback since the All-Star break. Nash is averaging 12.8 points
and 11.1 assists this season, while going 54.1% from the field. He has also been the leader of the team which no statistic can measure. Nash is pivotal to the Suns push for the playoffs in what might be his last season in Phoenix (he becomes a free agent come
summer and has expressed his desire to move).
Behind Nash is an improved Suns roster. Michael Redd, the once break out kid of the league, plays guard for the Suns and is averaging 8.1 points per game this season. However, Redd seems to be finding his feet as he has scored
17 points per game on average in his last three appearances before tonight.
Shannon Brown is another improved player, who is averaging 12.5 points per game on average since the All-Star break. He has lifted his game from being one dimensional to where dons many roles now.
Similarly, players like Markieff Morris seemed to have upped their game at the right moment. The rookie, who is averaging 7.3 points per game for the season, is averaging 12.3 in his last 3 games. Sebastian Telfair’s points and
assists are also up. It seems as though this whole team has been inspired by something since the All-Star break and they are making a serious push for the playoffs.
It remains to be seen where Phoenix end up when the season finishes and how far they go in the playoffs if they reach them. But this turn around in itself is amazing and inspiring.
And more importantly, the end is yet to come.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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