Phoenix Suns 2009-2010 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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Phoenix Suns 2008-2009 NBA Record: 46-36, 2nd in Pacific Division

Phoenix Suns 2008-2009 ATS (Against The Spread): 36-45-1

Phoenix Suns Betting Trends & Betting Angles:

• OVER is 10-2 past 1 2 trips to Golden State

• 2-7 ATS past 9 visits from Lakers

• 7-0 SU, 6-1 ATS past 7 as double-digit favorite

• 6-0 SU and ATS past 6 visits from Kings

• 9-3 ATS past 12 as small fave of 2 or less

• OVER is 7-0 past 7 as small fave of 2 or less

• 11-3 ATS past 14 games vs Rockets

Phoenix Suns 2009-2010 Preview & Prediction

The Suns are clearly no longer a championship contender, but they did not strip the roster completely bare, either. Team chemistry will be delicate to balance, because veterans like Nash, Hill and Stoudemire are seeking their first ring, while several of the younger players on the roster are still learning how to play at the NBA level. If the Suns fall out of playoff contention, the team could become cost-cutting ‘sellers’ in the annual trading frenzy that precedes the All-Star break.

Phoenix Suns Coach: Alvin Gentry (2nd season)

Phoenix Suns Returning Players: Forwards Louis Amundson, Jared Dudley, Grant Hill, Amare Stoudemire, Alando Tucker; guards Leandro Barbosa, Goran Dragic, Steve Nash, Jason Richardson; centers Robin Lopez, Channing Frye.

Phoenix Suns Key Additions: Forward Earl Clark (draft).

Phoenix Suns Key Subtractions: Center Shaquille O’Neal (traded to Cavaliers), forward Matt Barnes (signed with Magic), guard Sasha Pavlovic (signed with Timberwolves), forward Stromile Swift (signed with 76ers), center Ben Wallace (signed with Pistons).

2009-2010 Phoenix Suns Point Guards:

Steve Nash’s run as the NBA’s best point guard has ended; the two-time MVP failed to make either the All-Star team or the All-NBA team for the first time since 2004. Nash’s scoring and shooting numbers improved dramatically after the coaching change but he is still a defensive liability, which means that forwards Grant Hill and Matt Barnes often had to play out of position defensively at point guard while Nash was ‘hidden’ against the weakest perimeter player on the opposing team.

Nash is still an effective offensive player, though: he ranked third in the league in assists (9.7 apg), third in free throw percentage (a career-high .933) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.439).

Leonardo Barbosa will get some minutes at point guard, though by temperament and skill set he is better suited to play off guard. The Suns hoped that Goran Dragic could be groomed to be Nash’s eventual replacement, but Dragic struggled mightily as a rookie, shooting just .393 from the field and posting a poor 111/73 assist/turnover ratio.

2009-2010 Phoenix Suns Off Guards:

Jason Richardson has established himself as a top notch NBA scorer, but he averaged a career-low 13.5 field goal attempts per game last season and scored just 16.8 ppg, though he shot a career-high .477 from the field. Richardson is an above average rebounder for a guard and a decent passer but is not as. good of a defender as he could be considering his impressive athletic ability.

Barbosa won the Sixth Man Award in 2007, but the ‘Brazilian Blur’s’ numbers have steadily declined in the past two seasons. His speed and shooting ability put tremendous pressure on opposing defenses, but he is not a great rebounder, passer or defender.

2009-2010 Phoenix Suns Small Forwards:

Grant Hill, at age 37, is not the MVP level player that he was during the late ’90s, but he has bounced back impressively from the ankle injuries that threatened to end his career. In 2009, Hill played in all 82 games for the first time in his career and he logged 68 starts, averaging a solid 12.0 ppg while shooting a career-high .523 from the field. He is obviously not as athletic as he was a decade ago, but he can still rebound, pass and defend.

The departure of free agent Matt Barnes means that the Suns lack quality veteran depth at this position, with only youngsters Jared Dudley, Taylor Griffin and Alando Tucker available to back up Hill.

Most of the elite teams have small forwards who are big-time scorers and/or can create scoring opportunities for their teammates: Cleveland’s LeBron James, Boston’s Paul Pierce, Toronto’s Hedo Turkoglu, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony. Although the Lakers won the championship with journeyman Trevor Ariza starring at small forward, they upgraded in the offseason by adding former All-Star Ron Arrest. In contrast, Hill scored 20 or more points just 13 times in the 2009 season and had two assists or fewer in 52 games.

2009-2010 Phoenix Suns Power Forwards:

Amare Stoudemire made the All-Star team for the third straight year — and fourth time in his seven season career — before an eye injury put him on the shelf down the stretch. Stoudemire is an explosive scorer who has worked hard to improve his jump shot and his free throw shooting; next on the agenda should be rebounding — his numbers have declined for two straight years after he posted a career-high 9.6 rpg in 2006-07 -­ and defense. Stoudemire often makes the highlight shows because of his sensational blocked shots, but what you don’t see on the highlight shows are the numerous times that Stoudemire is out of position defensively. The high point of Stoudemire’s career was his sensational scoring outburst versus Tim Duncan in the 2005 playoffs -­ but what most people neglect to mention about that series is that Duncan also scored a ton of points versus Stoudemire and, more importantly, Duncan’s two-way game ultimately led his Spurs to victory over Stoudemire’s all-offense, no-defense Suns.

2009-2010 Phoenix Suns Centers:

Minus O’Neal, the Suns are once again small and/or inexperienced in the pivot. Stoudemire is undersized for a center, but he will surely get some minutes here when the Suns go small. Second year man Robin Lopez — the only player on the roster who is officially listed at 7 foot — will have the opportuniry to earn more minutes and free agent acquisition Channing Frye will also get some time here. Louis Amundson played 76 games last season at 4 and 5, and will help in the frontcourt mix.

Phoenix Suns 2009-2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Phoenix Suns will finish 2nd in the NBA Pacific Division .

Phoenix Suns Betting

Phoenix Suns NBA Championship Odds: +2500

Phoenix Suns Eastern Conference Odds: +6000

Phoenix Suns 2008-2009 Betting Stats

Phoenix Suns Straight Up: 46-36

Phoenix Suns ATS: 36-45-1

Phoenix Suns Home ATS: 20-21

Phoenix Suns Away ATS: 16-24-1

Phoenix Suns Record As Favorite: 40-17

Phoenix Suns Record As Dog: 6-19

Phoenix Suns Over/Under: 48-34

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