MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Amare Stoudemire led the team in scoring, Shaquille O'Neal in rebounding and Steve Nash in assists, but Grant Hill was the most consistent player when he was given consistent playing time. Averaging 12 points and five rebounds isn't MVP-caliber, but Hill endured the trials of Terry Porter's system and pecking order and finished the season with a surge that has the Suns wanting him to stick around -- if they can afford him.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Last May, Amare Stoudemire was ripping Mike D'Antoni for not coaching defense. Now he's ripping Porter for being too strict. But somewhere along the line, he has to take some responsibility for failing to improve defensively, as a rebounder or as a team leader. He's still a dynamic offensive player, but that falls short of what the Suns need from their most talented asset. FREE AGENT FOCUS: Both Grant Hill and Matt Barnes are free agents and it's unlikely that both would be back. The Suns choice would be Hill, but he's likely earned a raise and a look-see from title contenders with as much as the mid-level exception. Like Hill, Barnes would like to return but he doesn't have Hill's bank book and will be looking for the best deal. Steve Nash has a team option that the Suns have already decided to exercise. Amare Stoudemire is in the final year of his max deal and needs to re-establish himself as a star if his wants to be paid like one.
PLAYER NEWS:
--C Shaquille O'Neal will miss the playoffs for the first time in 17 years and rumors abound that he would like to go elsewhere -- and that the Suns would like to shed his $20 million contract. But after Wednesday's game, he didn't sound like a man ready to walk away after a Renaissance season in Phoenix.
"It will be really weird for me, but overall I had a pretty good season playing with a bunch of good guys and playing in a tough conference," he said. "It was a very weird year this year. We also let a lot go games get a way. The guys are great, the city is great, and the organization is great and it was fun.
"There is (an old) adage coming from Michael Jordan, and he said, 'before you succeed, you must first learn to fail.'"
--F Louis Amundson won The Dan Majerle Hustle Award Wednesday, emblematic of the player who wins the hearts of fans for his never-say-die effort. And he was a team best at plus-9 on the floor in the season finale, earning cheers and chants of "Loooouuuu" from the fans for his efforts.
"It's a great honor. Dan helped me a lot during the season improve and I'm glad to win it," Amundson said of the award. "
Amundson also earned the plaudits of his teammates for finally getting O'Neal back for a season full of pranks and gags with one shot Tuesday -- getting the inside of O'Neal's van stuffed with pink Styrofoam peanuts while the team was at practice. O'Neal tried to retaliate Wednesday by cutting off Amundson's trademark ponytail, but he was able to escape the scissors when he was pinned to the ground.
"He got my eyebrow a little bit and a chunk out of my hair you can't see -- but not too bad," Amundson said. "That's definitely a guy you don't want to start a prank war with. I probably didn't think that through from the jump -- so I'll probably think twice next time."
--C Robin Lopez ended a strong final two weeks with seven points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes, making two of three shots including a dunk off and pick and roll with Steve Nash.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Amare Stoudemire (detached retina) expects a full recovery before next season.
