Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Which Suns teams could have won it all

By Steve Miner

Leandro Barbosa, Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion Phoenix Suns (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
Leandro Barbosa, Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion Phoenix Suns (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images) /
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The Early 2000’s

SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 2: Chris Webber #4 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball around Robert Horry #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers, during game 7 of the Western Conference Finals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at the Arco Arena, in Sacramento, California on June 2, 2002. The Lakers won, 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 2: Chris Webber #4 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball around Robert Horry #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers, during game 7 of the Western Conference Finals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at the Arco Arena, in Sacramento, California on June 2, 2002. The Lakers won, 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images) /

2001-02 Sacramento Kings

Record: 61-21

Playoff Finish: Western Conference Finals (Lost to Lakers, 3-4)

2002-03 Dallas Mavericks

Record: 60-22

Playoff Finish: Western Conference Finals (Lost to Spurs, 2-4)

2004-05 Phoenix Suns

Record: 62-20

Playoff Finish: Western Conference Finals (Lost to Spurs, 1-4)

The 1999-00 Portland Trail Blazers barely missed the cut, but the Sacramento Kings experienced a similar crushing defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings are on this list because they were more talented and clearly deserved to win their series. They featured a dominant Chris Webber, fellow All-Star Peja Stojakovic, and other talented players like Mike Bibby and Vlade Divac.

After gaining the top seed in the West and leading 3-2 in the Conference Finals, the Kings were looking like championship favorites. However, they lost an extremely controversial Game 6 in which calls heavily favored L.A. Tim Donaghy, a former referee involved with influencing games for gambling purposes, would later allege that Game 6 was thrown by the referees. The Kings would go on to lose Game 7 in overtime.

Steve Nash was involved in both of the other two teams. The first is one people don’t talk about much, but was loaded with talent. It had a big three of Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Finley, while Nash and Dirk were both All-Stars. It ranked in the top-10 in both offensive and defensive rating, including a number one overall ranking in offensive rating. The only thing it lacked was toughness, as most Mavericks/Steve Nash teams tended to.

Nash’s first Suns team was even better than his best Mavs team on offense, but worse on defense. Nobody expected this 2004-05 team to do anything, but, with Steve Nash and Coach Mike D’Antoni leading the way, they exceeded all expectations. Unfortunately, the Spurs exposed them the same way Nash’s Mavs were. The 04-05 Suns were not quite tough enough.

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