August 25th, 2010 
CJ 
Posted in 
I know Amare Stoudemire is gone, and I know Suns fans are supposed to feel like their team won’t be as good. At least, most fans I know sure seem to think the Suns are on their way back down.
But those fans should remember one thing: Nobody expected the Suns to even make the playoffs last year. As for reaching the Western Conference finals, anyone who suggested as much likely would have been thrown out of Arizona for good.
But let’s pretend for a minute that Stoudemire was never on the team. I know, it’s tough. He’s a great dude and fantastic player. Still, let’s just say he never played in Phoenix.
If you saw a starting lineup with Steve Nash, Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, Grant Hill and Robin Lopez, you would likely be excited. You would likely think the Suns could do something special this season. You would likely realize that outside of the defending (and aging) champion Lakers, the West is wide open.
Instead, too many fans are focusing on Stoudemire’s departure to New York, acting as if it’s a blow that will sink the Suns.
I beg to differ.
While losing a talent like Stoudemire is never a good thing (especially when you consider the chemistry between he and Nash), a whole new exciting world of Suns basketball awaits.
Turkoglu is a 6-foot-10 playmaker, a forward who can really pass and knock down outside shots. He may not have done much in Toronto, but I always got the sense the Raptors never really figured out how to use him. But when it comes to big men in Coach Alvin Gentry’s free-flowing system, it’s hard to envision a better fit.
Or look at it this way: The Suns lost Stoudemire and Barbosa, but added Turkoglu, forward Hakim Warrick and swingman Josh Childress. They’re likely to get more out of second-year forward Earl Clark as well, and who knows what might become of rookie Gani Lawal, another athletic big man?
The bottom line is the Suns lost a good one in Stoudemire, but seem to have pulled off the impossible. They seem to have done enough to not really notice.
Read me on Suns.com
For even more of my thoughts on the Suns, check out my latest log post on Suns.com, Blanks a fitting choice for GM, and other random takes.
Do you really think the Nash. Stoudemire chemistry of 6 year won’t be missed big effecting offensive production. This team cannot win with decent defense, if it happens. The league’s best passer to the league’s best finisher. Amare got to the FT line 5th most in the league. Who gets to the line this year.
Do you really think Nash at 36 will have the same kind of year he had the last 6 years. History says no. Only Karl Malone at 36 had a year close to his previous ones. He also still had Stockton.
Turkolu and his 6’6″ wingspan and 20 inch vertical jump will grab tons of boards and block lots of shots. Nash and Turkey Glue both play much better with the ball than without it. There is only one ball.
And you are counting on Lopez for 30+ min. a game for 80 games a year. Good luck. Not likely for a 7 footer who has had major foot surgery and sat out with a bulging disc. Warrick was a bench player for the .500 Bulls.
I can’t buy your story! Last year the team over achieved and other W. Conference teams had major injuries to top players to allow a 3rd seed. Last years I could see a 6th seed. I can’t see better than an 8th seed if that and a 42 win season. Nash had a far poorer 2nd half than first half last season. Amare was a 26.6 ppg and 9.6 rpg beast for the last 30 games to carry the team to a 25-5 finish. Nash’s age started to show.