Michael Schwartz | Valley of the Suns

Steve Nash deserves an All-Star invitation

February 8th, 2012 · 20 Comments

Last season all the numbers pointed to Steve Nash earning an All-Star bid but one: the Phoenix Suns’ record.
Despite ranking near the top of all the advanced stats and scoring, assisting and shooting comparably to his MVP seasons, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook secured the Western Conference’s backup point guard spots.
We will find out on [...]

Markieff Morris invited to Rising Stars Challenge

February 8th, 2012 · 2 Comments

The Phoenix Suns of the past decade have been chastised for not drafting and developing quality young talent, and perhaps that indictment can be summed up by the fact that Steve Nash (1997), Shawn Marion (2001) and Amare Stoudemire (2003) were the last three Suns to play in the rookie-sophomore game.
With Phoenix on the verge [...]

Phoenix Suns 99, Atlanta Hawks 90 — Frye’s shot returns

February 6th, 2012 · 23 Comments

There are many reasons why the Phoenix Suns’ offense has slipped from the heights of the elite all the way down to the bottom third of the league, but Channing Frye’s struggles have played a major role.
The Suns’ sharpshooter entered the day hitting 34.7 percent of his shots and 29.1 percent of his long balls, [...]

Preview: Phoenix Suns (9-14) at Atlanta Hawks (16-8)

February 6th, 2012 · 6 Comments

Phoenix Suns 99, Atlanta Hawks 90
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns continue their five-game, seven-day road trip with a visit to Atlanta to face the Hawks.
Well, that’s technically not true since the Suns’ game Saturday night took place in the friendly confines of downtown Phoenix, but it feels that way nonetheless after the Suns spent less [...]

Phoenix Suns 95, Charlotte Bobcats 89 — Robin the superhero

February 5th, 2012 · 8 Comments

PHOENIX — The Suns have lost to the Hornets, Cavs, Nets and Raptors at home, yet a couple minutes into the second half they seemed to be on a collision course with their worst loss to date, trailing the 3-20 Charlotte Bobcats by 10 points.
But the Suns’ starters erased that deficit by quarter’s end and [...]

Phoenix Suns 120, New Orleans Hornets 103 — New franchise assist king

February 2nd, 2012 · 26 Comments

For the past two-plus decades the Phoenix Suns franchise has been defined by superlative point guard play.
From the great Kevin Johnson to Jason Kidd to Stephon Marbury and of course Steve Nash, the Suns have always reaped the benefits of having an elite player running the point for them, with the torch being passed from [...]