Suns are dangerous, deep and talented

However, things could change very quickly if Stoudemire, who has been sidelined all season with a knee injury, comes back sometime after the All- Star break. The return of the 6-10 Stoudemire would make the already dangerous Suns the favorite to knock off the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs in the West.

Reigning MVP Steve Nash is having another great campaign for Phoenix. He is once again making all of his teammates better players with his unbelievable playmaking ability. The Santa Clara product is not only a great leader and playmaker, but he also has the ability to score which makes him an even tougher player to defend.

All-Star Shawn Marion has raised his game to the next level in the absence of Stoudemire. After 46 games played, the 6-7 Marion leads the Suns in scoring (21.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.9 rpg), while Nash, who is the team’s second leading scorer (19.1 ppg), is averaging a league-best 11.3 assists per game.

Nash and Marion have an excellent supporting cast that has stepped up big time while Stoudemire attempts to get ready for a return to the court in the near future. Leandrinho Barbosa, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Eddie House and James Jones are all averaging double-figures in scoring, while veteran Kurt Thomas, who was acquired after last season from the New York Knicks in a deal that sent Quentin Richardson to the Big Apple, has been solid off the boards and in the low post.

Phoenix’ front office was very smart with how it pieced together its roster for the campaign. Management has surrounded Nash with players who can shoot and play a fast-paced style.

The Suns have scored 100 or more points in 34 of their first 46 games this season. Their offense follows Nash’s lead and moves at the pace that he allows it to. Nash is the catalyst of Phoenix’ high-powered offense.

Stoudemire is a force down low for the Suns. In the 2004-05 campaign, the 23- year-old phenom averaged a career-best 26.0 points and 8.9 rebounds in 80 games. He shot an impressive 55.9 percent from the floor and was a force on both ends of the court.

Originally selected by the Suns in the first round (ninth pick overall) out of Cypress Creek High School in the 2002 NBA Draft, Stoudemire was just as impressive in the 2005 playoffs. In 15 games played, he led the Suns, who were eliminated in five games by San Antonio in the Western Conference finals, in scoring (29.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.7 rpg).

With Stoudemire trying to get healthy and watching from the sidelines, the Suns have proved that they cannot be overlooked. Marion is having the best year of his career and Nash continues to amaze all that are fortunate enough to watch him operate on the court.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni has done a masterful job with his squad. He has been able to get the most out of all of his players and has allowed Nash to steer the ship. D’Antoni has found the right combinations and has been successful with putting his players in the best possible positions to be successful.

In the 2004-05 campaign, the Suns finished a league-best 62-20 during the regular season. Phoenix had a solid run in the playoffs, as it advanced to the West finals for the first time since 1993.

This season started off with a big bump in the road when Stoudemire went down with a serious knee injury. However, the Suns have shown that they are a very talented team that is capable of winning even without one of the rising stars in the NBA.

Nash is a crafty veteran who knows how to win, while Marion looks like a player who is on a mission. Barbosa, Bell, Diaw, House, Jones and Thomas have all contributed in big ways. Add a healthy Stoudemire to the mix, and Phoenix may very well be the team to beat in the West.