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Phoenix Suns Phoenix has the talent to get back to the postseason
Updated: Tuesday October 09, 2001 1:35 PM
By Marty Burns, CNNSI.com Last year the Suns made their 13th straight playoff appearance, but there was a distinct lack of fire among fans in the Valley. So in perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason, Phoenix shipped first-team all-NBA guard Jason Kidd to the Nets for rising star Stephon Marbury. The Suns hope the emotional Marbury will reignite the passions of the Suns faithful. What Phoenix really needs is for veteran stars Penny Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta to get back to form. Hardaway, who missed all but four games a year ago with a bum knee, looked good in the summer and expects to be 100 percent. Gugliotta spent all last season trying to regain his explosiveness after major knee surgery of his own the previous season. They will be needed to provide scoring help for Marbury and third-year forward Shawn Marion.
Head coach Scott Skiles' main goal in training camp will be to develop center Jake Tsakalidis into a more consistent player. Skiles also must find a replacement at power forward for versatile veteran Cliff Robinson, who was traded to Detroit for John Wallace. Gugliotta and veteran Rodney Rogers will get the first look, but Wallace's athleticism will also put him in the mix. Phoenix has the talent to get back to the playoffs in '02. But with no inside game, and the health of Hardaway and Googs in question, it could quickly turn into the Marbury Show. While entertaining, it wouldn't be enough to get them a 14th postseason appearance. Standout stat: 7.1 Increase in Shawn Marion's scoring average from 1999-2000 to 2000-01.
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