Phoenix still Underdog to San Antonio

It’s a new era of basketball in Phoenix, gone are days taking a shot every seven seconds from literally anywhere on the floor, to a bunch of old men (in basketball age) playing a more traditional style because the general manager believes this is how you win championships no matter the age of the team. Steve Kerr is a down to earth guy and had a long-standing relationship with majority owner Robert Sarver. Kerr evidently sounded so smart on TV as a broadcaster; Sarver decided he was the best man to run his franchise.

The biggest problem the Suns have is playing four quarters a night against Father Time. New coach Terry Porter has talked about how this team will stress defense. As the season starts, Shaquille O’Neal is 36-years old and Steve Nash is 34. Having never memorized the NBA’s all-defensive team over the last 12-years or more, pretty sure these were not two names that appeared when they were in their prime, let alone as setting-Suns. Raja Bell was a terrific defender for most of his career, however last season showed a significant decline or he was just fed up with being the only player in an orange uniform attempting to play any defense.

Though Amare Stoudemire’s game really shined free of the duties of playing center, don’t think he has a free pass to play power forward all season. Suns insiders have quietly spoken internally about the Big Cactus (Shaq) playing around 60 games if he can stay healthy (unlikely), suggesting Stoudemire will seen plenty of time in the paint.

At least the Suns will have a legitimate back-up point guard in first-year guard Goran Dragic to back up Nash, allowing Leandro Barbosa (Beep-Beep) to run around like he’s crazy, effective one night and not the next.

For years Phoenix has had this obsession about San Antonio, since they always believed they were nearly as good and just needed a few breaks. The fact is the Suns have never been as good, as the playoffs have proven and it has been true in the regular season also. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 season, the Spurs have whipped Phoenix like Indiana Jones carrying around his favorite apparatus, winning nine of 12-games at home (5-6-1 ATS).

Though there is no truth to the rumors about San Antonio players getting BOTOX treatments, they are still the oldest team in the league. They will start the season without one of their star players in Manu Ginobili, who had surgery on his left ankle in September and could be sidelined until December.

Still the Spurs players are comfortable in their normal routines and like being grumpy old men. “We have a proven system. We have a proven bunch of guys,” said Tim Duncan, who begins his 12th season. “And we like our chances.”

Bookmaker.com has the Spurs as two-point favorites with a total of 187.5. This is not an area San Antonio has thrived; being 6-16 ATS last season when the line is +3 to -3.

ESPN will have initial NBA telecast starting at 8 Eastern, with the NBA season only being slightly less time then a presidential campaign.

Thoughts courtesy of Red Wydley.