Phoenix Suns erratic play as of late

I have been a fan of the Phoenix Suns since the Mike D’Antoni era started not so long ago. Unfortunately it has come to an end this season. Terry Porter filled in for Mike and has struggled to make a team who played no defense, into a team that plays defense in practice but not in games. Amare Stoudemire has been one of the worst defenders in the league or at least the one who plays the least defense. First of all, how can somebody who is always guarding one of the opposing team’s post player’s; not able to average at least 10 rebounds a game. Alright he has come close a few times but that number should be well over 10 with the athletic ability he has. Everybody has seen his highlight reel dunks and blocks, however we haven’t ever seen him shut players down like KG. Well Amare in my eyes is a lost cause as is Steve Nash who has gone his entire career playing lackluster defense. Alright he was never a quick athletic player like Amare, that however doesn’t make a good defense player. John Stockton played smart D and so does Chauncey Billups and they both weren’t/aren’t very athletic gifted players just like Nash. Alright I’ll give Nash some credit he can take a charge, but I’d rather see him in a defensive stance, playing smart D and putting a hand up in the face of every shooter he is guarding.

At the end of the game tonight against the Wizards Nash and Amare were both in an exaggerated defensive pose with their arms stretch way out. Was this it show that they know how to play defense or was this a show for Terry Porter who always tries to get the Suns to play defense. Either way it was uncalled for especially since they were up by 16 points with less then 10 seconds left in the game. There is a time to play defense and that is in a situation where the opposing player lets say Danny Granger is open at the three point line and Nash is there to put a hand in face way after the ball has left his hands.  Okay Granger might have hit the shot over Nash because of the height advantage but at least be near the shooter who has been known to hit late game shots.

I feel like supporting the Suns is like a being addicted to something that never gives you what you want. I want the Suns to achieve so badly, they made me love watching basketball again when they used to played uptempo run and gun team basketball. Unfortunately they never played defense as a team and the team could not get to the finals because of it. I think this is going to be the last year I’m going to root for the Suns because they are not the team they used to be and they can’t seem to win consistently anymore.