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Phoenix Suns
10. Western Conference - Pacific
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Amare Stoudemire
John W. McDonough/SI
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Record: 29-53 (13th in West)
Points Scored: 94.2 (11th in NBA)
Points Allowed: 97.9 (26th)
Coach: Mike D'Antoni
(second season with the Suns)
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Amare Stoudemire's 24.5 ppg after the All-Star break ranked fourth in the league and were 7.7 points higher than his prebreak average.
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| JAKE VOSKUHL |
| POS. |
PVR |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
BPG |
SPG |
FG% |
FT% |
| C |
287 |
6.6 |
5.2 |
0.9 |
0.45 |
0.64 |
50.7 |
74.0 |
| AMARE STOUDEMIRE |
| POS. |
PVR |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
BPG |
SPG |
FG% |
FT% |
| PF |
8 |
20.6 |
9.0 |
1.4 |
1.62 |
1.16 |
47.5 |
71.3 |
| QUENTIN RICHARDSON |
| POS. |
PVR |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
FG% |
3FG% |
FT% |
| SG |
75 |
17.2 |
6.4 |
2.1 |
1.03 |
39.8 |
35.2 |
74.0 |
| STEVE NASH |
| POS. |
PVR |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
FG% |
3FG% |
FT% |
| PG |
41 |
14.5 |
3.0 |
8.8 |
0.86 |
47.0 |
40.5 |
91.6 |
| SHAWN MARION |
| POS. |
PVR |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
FG% |
3FG% |
FT% |
| SF |
19 |
19.0 |
9.3 |
2.7 |
2.11 |
44.0 |
34.0 |
85.1 |
| BENCH |
PVR |
2003-04 Stats |
| G-F |
JOE JOHNSON |
81 |
16.7 ppg |
4.7 rpg |
4.4 apg |
1.13 spg |
43.0 FG% |
| G |
LEANDRO BARBOSA |
186 |
7.9 ppg |
1.8 rpg |
2.4 apg |
1.33 spg |
44.7 FG% |
| G-F |
CASEY JACOBSEN |
213 |
6.0 ppg |
2.6 rpg |
1.3 apg |
0.62 spg |
41.7 FG% |
| C |
STEVEN HUNTER |
292 |
3.2 ppg |
2.9 rpg |
1.24 bpg |
52.9 FG% |
33.3 FT% |
| F |
ZARKO CABARKAPA |
297 |
4.1 ppg |
2.0 rpg |
0.8 apg |
0.27 bpg |
41.1 FG% |
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They could be on the rise, thanks to young legs and a wise old head
To welcome new point guard Steve Nash back to the warm climes of Phoenix, as well as to promote a little team unity, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni hosted a barbecue at his house the week before training camp. There were burgers, beers and Brandy -- not the drink but the singer, who is engaged to another new acquisition, swingman Quentin Richardson. The only thing missing from the Suns' party, sadly, was sun. "It hadn't rained in 40 days, and we picked the only day it did," says D'Antoni, chuckling. He pauses. "Maybe it means we're special."
One can forgive D'Antoni for seeing a rainbow where others see thunderclouds. After struggling through the second half of last season with 21-year-old rookie Leandro Barbosa running the point, he welcomed the arrival of Nash, one of the league's steadiest and most durable floor leaders. The team made signing Nash its top priority, flying out an armada of well-wishers to Dallas -- including D'Antoni, chairman Jerry Colangelo, G.M. Bryan Colangelo and forward Amare Stoudemire -- then closing the deal with a preemptive five-year, $52.6 million offer. Already the coach and his new playmaker have met for lunch several times to talk strategy, something that D'Antoni and former Suns star Stephon Marbury weren't comfortable doing. Says D'Antoni of Nash, "When I have a thought, he'll know it."
Nash says he's excited to start anew, though he admits it's "a little strange" returning to the city he played in in his first two years in the league, from 1996 to '98 (when his hairstyle was less, um, distinctive). "These guys are keeping me young," says the 30-year-old Nash. "Guys like Amare have so much potential, and it's up to me to provide guidance. Not every once in a while, but every day." -- Chris Ballard
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