--Coach Terry Porter said he wants rookie C Robin Lopez to remain aggressive and establish a defense and shot-blocking a presence inside, but the struggle adjusting to the NBA game continues. In his seventh preseason game, Lopez picked up three fouls in his first four minutes against Clippers C Chris Kaman Tuesday and fouled out after logging just 20 minutes -- a continuing theme during the preseason.
"That's OK," Suns GM Steve Kerr said. "We're not expecting him to play 30 minutes a night. We just want him to have an impact and protect the paint when he's out there." But the Suns big men do foul a lot. O'Neal and Stoudemire tied for second in the NBA last season with an average of 3.7 fouls a game last season -- only Mikki Moore of Sacramento (3.8) was whistled more often. Stoudemire has been charged with 589 fouls over the last two seasons -- 18 more than any other player in the league over the same span.
Another concern in the preseason has been free throws -- both ways.
While O'Neal's struggles from the line (10-for-24 in the preseason) are well-documented, the Suns as a team have missed 60 of 185 attempts (67.6 percent), something Porter isn't happy with.
Meanwhile, opponents have shots 249 free throws in seven games (almost 36 a game) compared to 26 a game for the Suns. So they are getting to the line less often as well as shooting worse.
--The NBA's general managers agree with the rest of the pundits who say the Suns are no longer a serious threat in the Western Conference.
Not a single executive picked the Suns to win the Pacific Division in the annual GM survey. The Lakers -- who are picked to avenge their loss to the Celtics last season and beat Boston in the NBA Finals -- were the only unanimous choice to win their division.
Steve Nash has been supplanted as the choice as best point guard by Chris Paul of New Orleans -- who is now the overwhelming choice (88.9 percent). Nash is still seen as the league's best passer. Amare Stoudemire (11.1 percent) is the No. 3 choice at power forward behind Tim Duncan (51.9 percent) and Kevin Garnett (25.9 percent).
MAIN REASON THE SUNS CAN WIN: There are a lot of miles on the tread, but this is still a very talented basketball team. The veterans (Raja Bell, Grant Hill, Steve Nash, and Shaquille O'Neal) all have great motivation and the core of young veterans (Leandro Barbosa, Matt Barnes, Boris Diaw, Amare Stoudemire) is already playoff-seasoned. If the can retain the best of the Mike D'Antoni Era and incorporate some of Terry Porter's defense and late-game offense concepts, the Suns could be a tough out.
MAIN REASON THE SUNS CAN LOSE: The window of opportunity has closed. The Lakers are again a power in their division. The Hornets, Jazz, Rockets and Spurs are all formidable, and one of them will provide the first-round opponent in the playoffs. And if the Suns falter this year, gather the dynamite and look out below.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It would have been nice to have a guy like Robin around last year." -- G Steve Nash, on the progress of rookie C Robin Lopez after he had seven blocked shots in one preseason game.
