Fans from the Valley of the Sun thought it couldn’t get any worse after yet another playoff exit courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs.

Think again.

Offensive revolutionist Mike D’Antoni is officially on the coaching carosel, and the future of a franchise that’s been “on the cusp” is in serious doubt at this point.

To add insult to injury, other teams either are or will soon be making Phoenix appear foolish for their ineptitude at fulfilling their once vast potential.

Hornets have no trouble where Suns had no answers

In a highlight from the Hornets Game 2 victory over San Antonio, Tony Parker attempts to knife his way into the paint, something he did with pathetic ease and consistency against the Suns in round one.

The only difference is that instead of a Suns defender (if you could call him that) letting Parker race by and then half-trying to block the layup from behind, Tyson Chandler actually (no joke) stays in front of Parker, and then blocks the shot. This isn’t revelatory, considering that the idea of defense is to stay between the man and the basket (not to mention the fact Chandler has a foot’s worth of altitude on the Frenchman).

Considering the basic principles of defense involved, it’s even more mind-boggling as to why Phoenix was simply unable to stop Parker from dissecting them for over 29 ppg in round one.

* On a positive spin, the Suns did figure out that allowing Manu Ginobili to drive left is a bad thing. Miraculously, when the Suns forced him to go right, Ginobili couldn’t do a thing. It was like they heard all the Phoenicians screaming at the TV, “Don’t let him go left!!!” That right there was the Suns biggest defensive improvement. It’s just a shame it took them two-and-a-half series’ to figure it out.

Offensively, the Hornets are beating the Spurs using a formula the Suns should be better at: using their All-Star point guard to penetrate and finding shooters. Either that, or they created for their versatile power forward, David West.

You ask anyone, anyone who keeps up with basketball, and they’ll say Amare Stoudemire should be able to tear the Spurs apart twice as bad as David West. But it’s the Hornets who have the Spurs figured out, while the Suns are still trying to.

The worst part of this is the fact that New Orleans is doing this against the Spurs on their first try. For all the blathering about playoff experience, the Hornets are showing more poise and making the Suns look like they were the playoff novices.

D’Antoni to Bulls would be ironic

There once was a team that was playoff regular for a few years before hitting one bad year. One. Lots of good pieces that simply underachieved. A few roster tweaks, enter Mike D’Antoni as the new head coach and BAM! Hello, contender status.

That was the Suns in 2004-05. In 2008-09, it could very well be the Bulls.

If anyone can get Kirk Hinrich out of his below-potential funk, it’s D’Antoni. Hinrich is probably one of the few point guards who could do a fair Nash imitation in D’Antoni’s system. Remember, the guy played for Team USA, and not because he was the token white guy on the roster (that role belonged to Brad Miller).

With Hinrich running D’Antoni’s show, suddenly Ben Gordon becomes the most dangerous streak shooter in the league. Green light-####! Luol Deng will be the new Shawn Marion, the 6’7” does-everything-guy who is always labeled underrated. Tyrus Thomas will suddenly tap into his monstrous potential.

The worst part for Suns fans? D’Antoni’s sixth man goes from being the psychologically-soft Brazilian Leandro Barbosa to the hard-nosed Argentinean Andres Nocioni. Yeah, the league needed another guy from Argentina to be a thorn in other teams’ sides.

The Raptors? Please. Suns East will be in the Windy City.

*Actually, that wouldn't be the worst. What if Chicago gets lucky in the lottery, drafts Michael Beasley and wins a championship in the next three years with D'Antoni as coach. John Paxson sits in his office reminiscing about his '93 three-pointer that eliminated the Suns in Game 6 of the Finals. He'd smile and say, "Got 'em again."

Who coaches the old men?

The Suns are at a crucial juncture. Four fifths of their starting lineup are over 30 (Three fifths over 33). D’Antoni is leaving because of philosophical differences between him and management.

What coach wants to try to change the philosophy of 30-something-year-old players? Especially when two of them are former MVP’s?

“Look, Steve, I don’t care how many behind-the-back passes you make to Stoudemire on the pick-and-roll, play some [expletive] defense!” Yeah, that’ll go over real well.

And Nash is the nice guy. Shaquille O’Neal openly supported D’Antoni. How will he react to a new coach hoping to instill discipline into the Big Ego?

There are so many things that could’ve kept a premature ending to the Suns Era from happening. Being in the East, playing anyone but the Spurs, not having a key injury in the playoffs every year since Nash arrived.

The harsh truth is that those are all excuses. True champions win. Wannabes go home, and either get farther next year or disband. It looks like the latter for the Suns. Unfortunately for them, the rest of the league is and will be reaping the benefits.

Anything involving a 7'1" 325-pound behemoth has to be big. In the case of the trade that landed Shaqille O'Neal in Phoenix and all the subsequent effects that will be felt, any size-indicating adjective is inadequate. Championship hopes, new roles, and widely varying expectations all came to the forefront when the Diesel rolled into the desert yesterday, and none of them will be answered until the season's end.

The first thing that everyone who has an opinion on this trade has to come to terms with is that this sudden and unexpected move by the Suns cannot be ruled "good" or "bad" until the postseason is over. Shaq could very well stink up the floor in the regular season while the team tries to adjust with him, only to give the Suns that half-court playoff element they've missed over the last few years.

There is no debate that the Diesel will have a profound effect on his teammates. Already, he's alluded to "Project Stoudemire," stating that he plans on helping Stoudemire become the best power forward in the league. Suns staff would be thrilled if Stoudemire indeed learns post footwork and shooting from the former MVP.

That statement, along with his goal to win the fifth and sixth championships of his career, bring a charisma, optimism and swagger that hasn't been seen in a Suns uniform since Sir Charles Barkley rolled into town. That can only help the Suns in the lockerroom, where bickering and veiled comments were the rule of the day.

Optimists point out that with both Shaq and Stoudmire patrolling the paint, penetration should be nigh unto impossible. In a conference featuring the likes of Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Kobe Bryant, that theory will be sorely tested. The Suns will also watch with trepidation when their defense as penetrated, knowing that Shaq and Stoudemire are the two most foul-prone big men in the league.

Also, how will Shaq affect Phoenix on offense? He's saying the right things now by professing how he'll start the break with his rebounding and outlet passes. How will Shaq feel after three or four consecutive fast breaks that conclude before he even makes it across half-court? Will he complain about lack of touches? Or will coach D'Antoni alter the offense slightly to take advantage of his talents in the post?

The biggest question mark concerning O'Neal is his health. The Suns might even be ok with O'Neal healing himself as long as necessary, hoping he'll be healthy and fresh for the playoffs. O'Neal's health status only highlights the fact that this team is suddenly much older, with O'Neal, Grant Hill, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Raja Bell all having had injuries and/or health issues in the not-too-distant past.

Because of his health, it's doubtful that Shaq will play more than 30 minutes a game, which should increase the load carried by Boris Diaw, who tends to be more productive with more consistent minutes. Also, by trading two smaller positions for a center, rookie DJ Strawberry has already seen more minutes, and responded well last night with 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting and stingy defense. Will D'Antoni be willing to change/expand his rotation permanently with the sudden decrease in the guard/forward department?

Ultimately, the effect of Shaquille O'Neal on the Suns for good or evil can't be measured until the Suns win the championship or fall short in their attempt. Until then, a lot of questions need to be answered, and all of them come back to the Big If.

Flashback to the summer of 1999. The Phoenix Suns, recently ousted in the first round by the Spurs, were pulling out all the stops to sign promising forward Antonio McDyess to a contract extension. McDyess spurned Phoenix's offer and elected to take less money and more losing with the Denver Nuggets.

Stung by this unexpected turn of events and desperate to compensate for their obvious weakeness underneath, the Suns turned to their consolation free agent prize, Tom Gugliotta. "Googs" (as he was known), had proven to be capable of putting up All-Star numbers on a mediocre (at best) Timberwolves squad, averaging 20ppg and 8rpg in his last two seasons in Minnesota.

Heralded as the franchise's saving big man, Gugliotta proceeded to prove that putting up All-Star numbers on a playoff team was not as easy as being the primary and only offensive option on a bad club. Expectations, blown out of proportion, went unmet and unfulfilled.

Fast forward to today and take a slight detour to Los Angeles. The Lakers, after repeated attempts, were unable (or unwilling) to aquire Kevin Garnett from (go figure) the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kobe was angry, Bynum still an embryo of talent, and the rest of the Lakers a pitiful assembly of D-League talent.

The season commenced, and miraculously Bynum evolved into a 20-year-old man-child pillar of supernatural strength and potential. The supporting cast coelesced into a functional team that actually complemented Bryant, and the Lakers were suddenly contending for bragging rights in the Pacific division, where the Suns have remained virtually unchallenged for the last three years.

A mid-season knee injury to Bynum rang the alarm bells and threatened to derail the Lakers' season. Not knowing whether Bynum would be the force he was by the time the playoffs come around, the Lakers managed to swindle a curly-haired, one-time All-Star from a bad team (sound familiar yet?) in Pau Gasol.

While Gasol is certainly a capable big man, it will be interesting to see if he suffers the same drop in production that Gugliotta did after he joined Phoenix. Will Gasol's averages of 19ppg and 9rpg as Memphis' #1 option be similar on the same team as Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and (eventually) Andrew Bynum? If not, will he still be effective?

Remember, Gugliotta's averages dropped despite the only other star players on the team being the scoring-shy Jason Kidd and the offensively inconsistent Shawn Marion. He was the guy on the block for Phoenix. Gasol will have many more weapons around him, and his will be the challenge to produce in such surroundings.

Another concern for L.A. should be Gasol's health. Both he and Gugliotta are remarkably similar in their consistency to be injured fairly frequently, missing a few weeks here, or a month there. Gasol was unable to play Sunday because of back pain. Back issues are one of the few injuries that never quite go away, but always have a way of reappearing at inopportune times.

The guess here is that Gasol will be a nice pickup, but not the franchise savior everyone in Los Angeles envisions. Luckily for them, he doesn't have to be, not with Bryant, Odom and Bynum in tow. Assuming Bynum recovers completely, it may be enough that Gasol will turn out to be another "Googs."

Does Suns management ever go to bed wondering, "If only we played in the East?" That sure would make things easier in light of the last 48 hours' events.

Thursday, the Suns hosted the Spurs in Phoenix for the first time since their controversial playoff series last year. The game had everything (tempers, involved fans, flopping)...except scoring. Unfortunately, that always favors San Antonio.

There was hope that the Suns would be able to win ugly, but that rarely happens. Stoudemire reappeared in the fourth quarter after abysmal play early on, only to choke at the free throw line with two opportunities to tie.

Memo to Amare: show some All-Star-like consistency.

Even had the Suns eked out the win, it wouldn't have been seen as a statement. Phoenix would've escaped by the skin of their teeth, and they would've known that. Not very encouraging when the game was played sans Tony Parker.

Now the Suns' nagging doubts about playoff basketball and a black-and-silver jinx have resurfaced. Pundits (cough, Charles Barkley, gasp) continue to question whether Stoudemire can consistently play up to par against his western conference counterparts in the post.

That leads to the most recent piece of bad news for Phoenix: the trade that sends Pau Gasol from Memphis to the Lakers. With this move, the Lakers have vaulted themselves from "darkhorse" to "contender" status.

Now, Stoudemire will be facing double-trouble the next time he sees purple and gold in Gasol and growing man-child Andrew Bynum (assuming he's healthy).

Let's not forget the Marion isn't exactly a fan of having to defend post players that have five inches and fifty pounds on him in the first place. Marion struggled as it was guarding Lamar Odom, who will now be the third-tallest player on the Lakers' frontline at a paltry 6'10".

The one advantage the Suns may have over the Lakers would be footspeed, but don't think a coach like Phil Jackson won't prepare his team for that.

The Suns have more than a fighting chance with solid defenders Grant Hill, Brian Skinner and (when motivated) Boris Diaw. The last thing they needed, however, was a bigger challenge out west.

Life is full of those idyllic scenarios that we imagine to ourselves and say, “Hey, it could happen.” I most often experience those with women and sports.

Members of the opposite sex often leave me hoping for the best and experiencing the opposite. “She’s gorgeous, and wonderful, and funny and sweet. Maybe she’ll think the same thing about me. Hey, it could happen.”

On those rare times it does, it’s agonizingly temporary. There comes that defining moment where she “needs space,” or to “think things over.” During the emotionally wrenching interval, I think, “She’ll realize that this is what she really wants. She’ll have a defining come-to-terms with herself (like in the movies) and think ‘Why would I ever leave him?’ Hey, it could happen.”

A few days later, I get the official word that the “we” is back to “me.”

Then there’s sports; more specifically, the Phoenix Suns. The Suns faced the Jordan-lead Bulls in ’93. I tried to convince myself that Chicago would lose to the Suns. “The Bulls are old, and they’ll be complacent. Barkley and KJ are hungry and deserve to win. They’ll raise a banner in Phoenix. Hey, it could happen.”

Most recently, in the era of the resurrected Nash, there have been so many of those moments. 2004-05, against the Spurs in the conference finals, I thought that since they had a historic turnaround, it was a year of destiny, and tried to tell myself that, “This will be the storybook season. Lottery one year, championship the next. Hey, it could happen.”

2005-06. Sans-Stoudemire, Phoenix managed to avoid the Spurs and Mavs until the conference finals. The Mavs were the opponent, having slain the Spurs dragon for us. Even without Stoudemire, I thought, “The Suns didn’t fight all the injuries and the L.A. challenges in the first two rounds to be stopped now. We’ve got Dallas, and we know we can beat them, and then get to the Finals and win even without Amare. Hey, it could happen.”

Last season, in the face of suspensions and physical Spurs defense, and for 45 minutes of Game 5, I did my best to keep saying, like a sacred verbal talisman, “Even though they’re overmatched, the Suns are playing with so much heart. We can hold on for three more minutes and then go into Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead and finally beat the freaking Spurs. Hey, it could happen.”

I think the worst part about all of the occurrences above, is that I truly didn’t believe it myself. There was that part of me, in my gut, that would ache and tell me, “You want to believe, but you know, despite everything, that it won’t work out that way.”

I hate that. I hate how the “Hey, it could happens” have happened to everyone but my team. How the Spurs landed Duncan in the one year the Admiral was out of commission. How Miami gets a once-in-a-lifetime performance out of D-Wade to lift them over an 0-2 finals hole. How all those wonderful, best-case scenarios work out for other fans, but not for me. Not only me, but forty years worth of Suns fans. Not once.

This year, I really believe. There is no secret tummyache that betrays a false faith this time. I really believe the Suns will win it this year.

Nash is angry and determined. Stoudemire looked good last year, but this preseason has looked more spry and athletic, like the pre-microfracture version that took the league by storm.

Hill looks healthy and is running with the offense. Marion hasn’t peeped since training camp. Diaw isn’t fat. Banks is shooting the lights out.

Yes, San Antonio looks stronger than ever. Yes, Miami got a shot in the arm with Ricky Davis. Yes, Boston’s triumvirate of All-Stars is enviable. Yes, Dallas could finally have a psychological breakthrough.

None of that matters. The Suns will win. I believe it. They’ll beat San Antonio and Dallas if/when they face them. Phoenix will play like a team. The parts will mesh. They’ll make the plays and get the breaks that all championship teams need. They’ll be NBA champions for the first time in their 40-year history, and I will see it as it unfolds.

That and I’ll find the girl of my dreams this same year. Hey, it could happen.

Rookie of the Year-Kevin Durant: Even if Oden were healthy, i'm not sure he would've beaten out Durant, simply because Seattle will depend more on KD than Portland would have on Oden.  The same could be said for Atlanta's Al Horford.  The former Gator has shown in the preseason that he can fill the stat sheet, but unfortunately is among the plethura of forwards that litters the Hawks' roster.  While Durant at shooting guard may not be pretty at times, it should be enough to win him ROY.

6th Man of the Year-Andres Nocioni: I was trying to decide between Noc and Adam Morrison, but then the bomb dropped yesterday that 'Stache would be out for the season with a torn ligament.  Nocioni has already shown this preseason that he can provide the offensive punch that Chicago will need off the bench.  Gordon and Deng can only do so much, and Nocioni has the consistent firepower (and inner fire) to get the job done.

Most Improved Player- Andrea Bargnani:  Everyone's been harping about Dwight Howard's improved offense, but the jump in stats from last year to this season may not be large enough to warrant the nod from voters.  While Toronto is loaded at the guard and wing spots, their options in the middle are mediocre at best.  Bargnani will see plenty of playing time, as GM Bryan Colangelo will want to see further returns from his #1 draft pick.  Expect coach Sam Mitchell to tweak the offense around his dynamic duo of Bargnani and Bosh, now that he knows what the Italian sensation is capable of.

Defensive Player of the Year-Shawn Marion: Just as I can't support Marion on his recent rave about underappreciation, neither can I support that Marion has never been named to an All-NBA Defensive team.  This includes last year, when he was somehow left off both the first and second teams despite finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year award.  He's the only player in the league that can guard successfully all five positions on the floor.  He's always among the league leaders in both steals and blocks.  What more can you ask for? 

Coach of the Year-Rick Adelman: The only concern with the running philosophy of Adelman being applied to Houston is whether Yao Ming will have the necessary stamina to do the job.  When they set up in a half-court offense, however, Adelman will be sure to take advantage of Yao's exceptional passing, and teammates McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Steve Francis and Luis Scola should thrive, and hopefully do so past the first round.  Orlando's Stan Van Gundy is another candidate here.

MVP-Kevin Garnett: His stats may not be impressive while playing with two other All-Stars, but KG could very well have the same effect on the Celts that Shaq and Nash had on their respective clubs in the 2004-05 season.  Boston is bound to improve dramatically, and KG's effect, both statistically and otherwise, will be impossible to ignore.  Nash, Nowitzki, James and Bryant will all be in the discussion, but Boston's renewal under a new face will likely give Garnett a few extra votes.

This isn't how it was supposed to be. After Phoenix's heartbreaking loss to the Spurs, the feeling of injustice and redemption was supposed to unite the Suns like never before heading into the 2007-08 season. Now, the Suns would settle for a quiet training camp.

Shawn Marion's unaltered trade demand, of course, will be the center of attention for both fans and outsiders alike. Opponents can only hope that Phoenix's most powerful wing will break during the course of the season, while Suns fans are hoping fervently that Marion will remember how a lot of people would love to be as mistreated as he is.

It's doubtful that anything noteworthy will leak during camp, when every NBA club puts on a facade of almost comical optimism. As the season wears on the players physically and emotionally, however, Marion's discontent may resurface, and the Suns can only hope it doesn't happen during a losing streak. If it does, teams will be able to low-ball their offers in hopes of landing the Matrix at a used-DVD price as opposed to the action-packed movie premiere that he is.

Of more immediate concern to the Suns is the breaking news of another knee surgery to be performed on Amare Stoudemire.

While STAT was praised for his comeback from microfracture surgery on his left knee, people forget that it was actually the right knee that held the majority of problems during his recovery, and ultimately forced him to abort a premature comeback late in the 2005-06 season. Stoudemire had the right knee operated on at that point, removing a cyst and cleaning up the knee.

This new operation will also be performed on the troublesome right knee. Initial reports are that it will be a "clean-up" procedure, much like what teammate Raja Bell underwent earlier in the summer. With such shaky knee history, however, Suns' fans are understandably...nervous.

Because the procedure is being performed now, Stoudemire will miss the next two to three weeks, including training camp. Teammates, especially newcomers like Grant Hill, Alando Tucker and DJ Strawberry, will find that learning an offense without one of its central components to be a temporary hindrance at the very least.

These setbacks, both physical and emotional, couldn't come at a worse time for the Suns, who could use a strong start to bolster their confidence as they approach the playoffs. The NBA world is watching to see if things will be resolved before they become unraveled.

It's a head-scratching ordeal when a player that is earning over $16 million a year harps about how underrated he is. In the case of the Matrix, he's had valid points. Yes, it's true that too few realize how vital he is to the Suns success. The majority of verbal kudos have been freely given to point man Steve Nash and coach Mike D'Antoni.

But while Marion's impact may be underappreciated by less-than-avid fans, the human pogo-stick must also realize that he is not nearly the franchise player that he would like people to see him as. Franchise players take control of the game, make sure the outcome is in their hands when the going gets tough towards the end of the contest.

Marion does not do that. He does what so few NBA players are willing to do. He allows others to set up the offense and often helps convert their missed attempts into offensive rebounds and second chance points. He moves through the seems of the defense to be wide open (wide open for Steve Nash, anyway). He does not, nor cannot take a team on his shoulders and hit the big shot when it is needed.

This is no disrespect to Marion. Again, without him, Phoenix would be nowhere near as successful. He deserves to have his name in the Ring of Honor at the United Airways Arena after his career. Let it be reminded, however, that basketball is a team game where understood roles are vital to the team's success. Any role for Marion that demands more attention on or off the court would only be detrimental to the Suns.

Marion and Ben Wallace are much alike. For years, basketball purists and observers harped about how there yeoman's work was a throwback in today's give-me-the-glory sports economy. After a few years, however, their underrated-ness has been talked about frequently and loudly enough to make them almost overrated. Do Wallace and Marion really meret the title as highest-paid-player on their respective teams? Many would say no.

It's unfortunate that the thirst for public acknowledgement has been the cause of intangible strife between Marion, Stoudemire and inadvertently Nash. The Matrix and STAT should be constantly praising each other to sports reporters for how much they compliment and help each other on both ends of the floor. They need to take Nash's lead and acknowledge that their personal success is contingent on the other four players on the floor.

If indeed Marion feels slighted as has been hinted/rumored for half a decade now, he deserves credit for not letting it boil over and publicly damaging the franchise. Assuming he still feels that way, he could do no worse than change his outlook on his situation. He owes his career to the great point guards who he has played with. He is the highest-paid player on the team. He owns the coolest nickname in the NBA.

On the other hand, if all of this bad karma is just rumor and Marion does not feel overshadowed, then this is his chance to prove everyone wrong. He could be the bannerman for revived comeraderie in the lockerroom, that for whatever reason or another seemed to be semi-dormant last season.

Marion should give thanks for what he has, covet not what he doesn't, and make the ride enjoyable for not only himself, but those around him.

In a recent report, Tim Donoghy has received "threatening phone calls" in the wake of his FBI investigation for betting on games he's refereed. Why this made the news, I have no idea. It's kind o####iven that when people find out you've been screwing over their teams and their sport, they're going to let you know how they feel. Over half of those phone calls can probably be traced to Phoenix, AZ. For a great take on why, read this article from Foxsports writer Kevin Hench...

After a weekend-long minicamp, Team USA held an intersquad scrimmage yesterday, and KB24 showed why he's a lock on the team, scoring seven points in the final two minutes, including the game winner with just over six seconds left. It's probably a good thing that the U.S. won't have to rely exclusively on Lebron or 'Melo for late heroics if they're needed...

The surprises from the scrimmage? Mike Miller and Kevin Durant. Miller was feasting from the closer-in three-point line, and scored 22 points. Meanwhile, Durant was making his case for making the team this year, showing some deadly shooting and deft post moves. The biggest disappointment? Probably Tayshaun Prince, who had three turnovers and several lapses on defense...

Off-season movement continued last week, highlighted by the Suns' money-motivated move to trade Kurt Thomas to Seattle with two first round unprotected draft picks. That 2010 pick could definetely hurt if Nash is done and Marion is finally dealt elsewhere, as has been rumored since he entered the league in '99. On the flip-side, with Thomas' salary gone Marion will probably stick around (definetely good) and Sean Marks will get lots of playing time (hey, Kerr thinks it will work).

If you play those NBA Live video games where individual player talent determines how good a team is, then you can probably understand why Houston took a trip down memory lane and signed Steve Francis. The Rockets' makeup right now is getting really questionable. New coach Rick Adelman will want to run run run. Yao does not run run run. So in order to run run run, T-Mac will need the ball. But to win win win, Yao should have the ball. And let's not forget that Bonzi Wells wants the ball. And now they sign Steve Francis, who has no other desire than to be the ball's personal chaperone throught the game. That's not to mention the New York-like traffic jam at point guard right now...

Going along with the back to the future theory, the Lake Show signed D-Fish for 3 years and $14 million. Fisher says he hopes his being in L.A. might persuade Kobe to relinquish is already shady trade demand. At this point, I'm not sure even Kobe knows what he last said in reference to staying or not staying in L.A...the Lakers also re-signed Chris Mihm for another three years. Actually, Kobe might just reiterate his trade demand if he notices that the Lakers are just re-signing the exact same squad for a few more years...

Gerald Wallace re-upped with Charlotte for six years and $57 million. With him and J-Rich on the wings, Ray Felton setting them up on the break, and Okafor manning the middle, they look a lot like playoff material in the leastern conference...

Detroit refuses to give up on their tried and once-true veteran core, extending Antonio McDyess' contract for another two years. Will this approach work for the Pistons? What will get them back to the Finals? Their two rookies? A new sense of determination? Season-ending injuries to Lebron and D-Wade at the same time?

With all the refusals to communicate, quotes and mis-quotes and still no progress being made, the situation between Yi Jianlian and the Bucks has turned into a veritable Cold War. This whole situation isn't exactly helping David Stern promote the NBA in China...

The Bucks were not only able to speak to, but sign guard/forward Desmond Mason. That's a solid move, as he'll be able to either back up both Bobby Simmons and Michael Redd, or start for Simmons and let him take on the sixth man role. Mason should also be able to provide a few new highlights and posters. If the whole Yi thing does work out, then Milwaukee would be another team on the rise in the East...

And finally, with my weekly edition of Bits and Pieces (B&P), I'm starting to include an Idiocy of the Week. We'll stick with the Bucks theme, as this week's honor goes to Jake Voskuhl's agent Mark Bartelstein. After Voskuhl signed a contract with the Bucks this past week, Bartelstein said, "He's one of the top backup centers in the league." I guess averaging 4.4ppg, 3.5rpg, and 0.33bpg for a lottery team qualifies him as a "top backup center."

If anyone garnered respect and admiration for stepping up during the playoffs, it was Kurt Thomas of the Phoenix Suns. Against San Antonio, he went face-to-chest with the much-taller Tim Duncan, and made him work for every methodical point he scored. KT bodied him up, boxed him out, and probably bugged the #### out of him (we'll never know, due to Duncan's inability to have facial expression).

Thomas was equally Messianic on the offensive end, giving the Spurs an added problem with his rediscovered midrange jumper. Literally, it seemed that every time Thomas would roll away from setting a pick, and was open, the jumper was all net. It probably revitalized him to play such an important part in such an important series. Suns fans were thanking their lucky stars.

When Stoudemire was shut down by the league, the Suns were unable to keep up with the Spurs due to lack of fire power, but no one faulted Thomas. He had risen above and beyond any expectations that anyone had for him except for maybe Nash and coach D'Antoni.

The result of his sweat and effort willingly given in time of need? Sarver's executive decision to trade him away to the rebuilding Seattle Supersonics. This is like being on-call for work, and being called in because a couple co-workers couldn't make it due to company infractions. After working your tail off and being the only reason the place doesn't go up in smoke, you're told, "Sorry, you cost us a little more than we would like, so good luck finding your way in the world..."

Sarver needs to stop doing a 90's impression of Donald Sterling. As much as it hurts to say it, the Spurs have the right mind about shaping thier roster. They only spend big bucks on the truly and vitaly important stars, and even then they don't bust out the bank. Parker ($11 mil/year) and Ginobili (under $9 mil/year) are bargains, period. After those two and Duncan, the Spurs wisely bring in talented but humble free agents for less money. They draft potential studs that are cheap, such as Parker, Ginobili, Luis Scola, and Tiago Splitter (who honestly didn't know the Spurs would take Splitter when he was still on the board when the Spurs pick came up?).

Sarver finds himself needing to shave payroll so desperately because he didn't bother to look ahead, like the Spurs do. Now he finds himself pinned down by enormous contracts to Nash, Marion, and Stoudemire. He's probably still trying to justify giving Diaw $9 million a year after a sub-par performance last season. He overpaid to sign Marcus Banks, and apparently couldn't even get a "conditional second round pick" for him like they did for Thomas (What does it mean to have a "conditional second round pick"???).

That brings up another point that Suns fans will find particularly annoying. Sarver traded a tried-and-true veteran like Thomas who had a revelation of sorts in the playoffs, and not one, but two first round draft-picks. What did the Suns get in return? A "conditional second round pick" (seriously, what in the world is that?), and a whopping trade exception that Sarver will not use.

The Sonics just robbed the Suns. Period. This is due to two reasons: 1) Sarver has no foresight to see that his club will be in future financial trouble. All the expensive contracts putting the Suns over the cap have been signed in the last two/three years, when Sarver himself was calling the shots. 2) Even though this lack of foresight is the cause of this financial "crisis", Sarver is unwilling to pay (literally) for his mistakes.

It's unfair to not only to Thomas, but to his teammates like Nash, who knew they could depend on the veteran big man. It's unfair to Stoudemire and Diaw, who probably appreciated Thomas' efforts more than anyone, as he was battling for his fallen (or, imprisoned) comerades. It's unfair to D'Antoni, who's probably wondering, "Ok...now who's going to guard Duncan?" It's unfair to the fans, who saw what fans love to see: a player giving everything he has to win the game.

Unless Sarver has some franchise-lifting super-move in the works, this trade shows he cares(and thinks) less about his team, and more about his wallet.

Earlier in the season, I expressed my feelings concerning the ever-present lack of dominant big men in the history of the Phoenix Suns. I called this historical dearth the Void of the Suns. I ended the article pleading with the basketball gods to have mercy on this seemingly cursed franchise.

That plea was answered in the affirmative for 82 regular season games and the first nine games of the playoffs. The Void was filled to bursting with Amare Stoudemire. Then, amazingly, the basketball gods (fickle beings that they are) sent demons to take over David Stern's soul. The response to a small infraction instigated by Robert Horry? Game 5 suspensions for both Amare and versatile forward Boris Diaw.

Nevermind the fact that no harm was done by either of the "guilty" parties. The basketball gods whispered in Stern's ear, "They came off the bench. They must suffer the consequences." Perhaps the portion of Stern's soul that is good and right tried to fight against it. If so, the internal struggle was a quick one. With divine deviousness, the basketball gods ripped apart the Suns frontline, and permitted the Void to exist for the most important and opportune game of the year.

The Suns had turned in a heroic effort to steal Game 4 in San Antonio, regaining homecourt advantage. With Game 5 in the desert and a frenzied arena of supporters waiting, it was to be the best chance for the Suns to dispel the notion that the Spurs had their number. Alas, they were left crippled, facing the best power forward in the history of the game in Tim Duncan.

Phoenix turned in a valiant effort, but the Void proved too great for the final five minutes of the game. One game was all that was needed to completely change the entire feel of what would have most assuredly been a historic series. Yet the basketball gods took the wind from their sails after Game 4. Is it fair? No. Is it fate? It sure seems like it.

The basketball gods and the Void they've slapped on the Suns since the team's inception have made the franchise's history into a seemingly endless run of "what-if's." When will the Suns get their break and the other teams lose theirs? Haven't they gone through enough "almosts" and "if only's" over the last 39 years? Unfortunately, the answer to those questions will have to wait until next year.

A shame and a sham. That's what this series will be should the Spurs win. It's a shame because this was developing to be one of the best playoff series of all time with the Suns ready to knot things up at two games a piece.

Then Robert Horry, in a frustrated and low-class move, bodychecks Steve Nash, igniting a mini-melee towards center court. Reacting (but not participating), Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire left the "immediate vicinity" of the bench towards the altercation. What their intentions were, we may never know. We cannot assume anything, and by "we", that must include the league offices.

What is hard to understand is why those two players would be punished for leaving the bench, when those who were actually participating in the fracas were not even fined (with the exception of Horry, of course). On an even bigger scale, the league officials (most namely Stu Jackson and David Stern) are looking at the tape of this incident, knowing full well the options they have in front of them. They had to know that should they suspend Stoudemire and Diaw, that would be the biggest story, effect and consequence to the entire thing. And that is wrong. The biggest focus should be punishing what Horry did, and discouraging players from repeating the same bone-headed and cowardly act.

That's not the case now. What Horry did has been incredibly minimized because the suspensions of STAT and Diaw are by far the most series-altering actions that have taken place. The Phoenix Suns were punished far worse than the Spurs, even though they (the Suns) misbehaved far less than their opponents. The league is trying to punish individual players, which is all well and good early in the regular season, but leaves any playoff series tainted and false.

Now the Suns find themselves brutally undermanned in the frontcourt against one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. How are the Spurs sent a message, especially considering Bruce Bowen is fresh off receiving a Flagrant 1? Rules in the NBA are designed to make the game fair, but by all that can be observed, this is as far from fair as it gets.

With one fell swoop, the NBA has crippled the Suns when it matters most. For the third year in a row, they will be missing a critical component of their team in the postseason. In 2005, Joe Johnson was involved in a collision with Jerry Stackhouse of the Mavericks in the Western semis, which caused him to miss several games in that series and the following against the Spurs in the conference finals. Last year, Raja Bell suffered a severely pulled hamstring during the conference finals against Dallas. Bell, up to that point, had been the Suns' most consistent threat offensively.

Now this. With the series tied 2-2, the aftermath of "Cheap Shot" Rob is the Suns being without two of their best big men for the one of the biggest Game Fives in history. Everyone has been saying that the difference for the Suns this year is Stoudemire, yet that difference is history along with one of the most versatile forwards in the game because another player couldn't help but throw a temper-tantrum.

Spurs fans, and even some of the reps, are probably thanking the league offices right now for their actions. Any moral regret for what Horry did will be forgotten in the wake of these devastating suspensions. The Spurs may very well win the series, and all because Horry was angry enough to level a two-time MVP into the scorer's table. Is that the message the NBA wanted to send? If so, they did a darn good job.

Nash vs. Parker (a.k.a. dazzling distributor vs. quicksilver penetrator)- It's been beaten like a dead horse how Parker has just killed the Suns in the regular season. Nash is no stranger to the killer instinct either, whether it's the back-breaking shot or pass. Both floor leaders know what to do at the end of games to gut out a win. Whichever point guard has the better overall game will probably determine which team wins. Team defense will be the key to stopping Parker get into the lane whenever he wants. Parker's only hope is to get the ball out of Nash's hands...easier said than done.

Bell vs. Finley (a.k.a. Suns '05 Summer Option #2 vs. Suns '05 Summer Option #1)-Remember, the Suns were hot on Finley's trail until he officially decided to go to the Spurs, so the Suns "settled" for Bell to be their starting 2 guard. Which team came out better? Neither can say yet, since neither team has won a championship with them. Both guards are experienced, gritty, and able to hit a big three when needed. This will be a great battle of savvy role players who've played too long without winning the big one.

Marion vs. Bowen (a.k.a. Does all the little things that everyone loves vs. does all the little things that everyone hates)- Both teams need these players for their more-than-tangible effect they have on the floor. Marion needs to rebound, score in the flow, and get his non-recognized-snubbed-off-the-defensive-team steals and blocks. Bowen needs to lock down whoever he's guarding (which may very well be Marion) with his boney body-up defense and hit his trade-mark three from the corner. For the Suns especially, Marion cannot be shut down like he was in 2005.

Stoudemire vs. Duncan (a.k.a. Quick and Powerful vs. Slow and Steady)- Everyone knows what Amare did to the Spurs in the '05 playoffs, and it's probably that he was like nothing better than to repeat his dominating performance again. Aside from his charges to the rim and earthquaking dunks, Amare must play good defense, and at the same time stay out of foul trouble. Not easy when in all likelihood he'll be matched up against Tim Duncan at least half of the game. Duncan will try and teach STAT Post Moves 101, and with the offense constantly being run through the Big Fundamental, the Suns will need to pay attention to their individual defensive assignments before getting burned by the Spurs' execution.

Barbosa vs. Ginobili (a.k.a. Brazil vs. Argentina)- I lived in Argentina for a few years, and they simply adore Manu down there. There were a couple people who told me that he's better than Jordan was...seriously. Their respective contries have enough bad sports blood (soccer) between them, and this may provide more incentive for each player than many on the outside looking in may realize. Both players can get to the rim, Barbosa with his quickness and Ginobili with his strength and crazy flailing. Both can hit the outside shot. Both players could average ofver 20ppg. Both are x-factors in determining victory for their team.

Diaw/Thomas vs. Oberto/Elson (a.k.a. under 6'10" center committee vs. over 6'10" center committee)- When either team can get good production out of any of these guys, it's a huge bonus. When Diaw is aggressive getting in the lane and making smart passes, it adds a whole new wrinkle to the Suns already potent offense. When Thomas is boxing out, playing post D and hitting his mid-range jumper, Phoenix is suddenly, well, tougher. When Oberto or Elson get aggressive rebounding and put in some garbage points, it absolutely kills the Spurs opponents.

James Jones vs. Barry/Horry- (a.k.a. young gunner vs. old snipers)- All of these guys can hit dagger threes throughout the course o####ame, most notably Horry in crunch time. When they're hitting their long bombs, the other team has a major headache trying to decide when and when not to double Amare/Duncan. Barry and Horry have done this before, while Jones just started getting comfortable with the idea late in the Lakers series. The guess here is that all of them will make their presence felt in at least one respective game of the series.

D'Antoni vs. Popovich (a.k.a. Sexy Italian Spaghetti vs. Homemade Mashed Potatoes)- D'Antoni has brought the flashy, attractive fast-paced game back to the NBA. He's won almost 180 games in three regular seasons. He's friendly with the media and empathetic with his players. Popovich is not...period. He knows that his half-court oriented run the offense through the low-post has won championships in the past, and will continue to have his team play that way. He's won 3 rings, is morose and boring with the media, and is not bashful about ripping his players on national TV.