20 May 2010, 5:05 pm
The Suns have begun to set in Phoenix, after a nice run in the playoffs. This is par for the course, because Phoenix ranks as the third worst most miserable places for a sports fan to live. The lack of defense played by the Phoenix Suns in the 2010 NBA playoffs is producing much misery for the "die-hard" Phoenix sports fan.
Take for example, the Cardnials defense giving up a last second scoring drive in Super Bowl XLIII or giving up 90 points the last playoffs in two games. Not to mention, the Phoenix Coyotes having the second best record in the leage this year then blowing the home ice advantage against the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs by getting blown out at home. Add to that, the once powerful Diamondbacks can not close out a game giving up runs late leading to 17-24 record this year last in the West.
The Phoenix Suns are the flagship team in the NBA to adopt the "defense as an option policy in place". The Suns joined the league in 1968-69 in an expansion that included the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1970, the Suns made the NBA Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics. That series produced a three over time game in which the Suns lost 128-126, giving up 3 straight baskets late in the game to a reserve to lose. Not to mention, the Suns in 1992 lost a game 4 to Portland 153-151 in the highest scoring game in playoff history. The Suns had four Allstars that year: Chambers, Majerle, Johnson, and Hornacek. The following year Barkley joined the team, but the results were the same; a wide open jump shot by Paxon of the Bulls did the Suns in that year in the Finals.
Steve Nash joined the team in 2004-05, and the Suns were back to winning...at least in the regular season. They won 62 games that season lead by the legue MVP, Nash. However, they lost to the Spurs that same year in the playoffs. Steve Nash lead teams have never been able to get past the Spurs until this year, behind a heroic last six-minute run by an one eyed Steve Nash in game four.
When the Suns beat the Spurs, many in the city thought the Suns were ready for the Finals. The only problem is that the Suns have gone back to the dreaded "defense is an option policy" and allowed the Lakers to score at will, giving up 252 points in two games. As evidenced in the lackluster defensive play of Nash, who may be hurt, and is subpar at best. Even on the offensive end, Nash, is not playing like a two-time MVP of the NBA.
If Steve Nash does not put pressure on the ball, then the Lakers will run through Phoenix, feeling like they only played in a couple of pick-up games at the YMCA. Suns fans do not get your hopes up, because the history of the sports teams in the desert city says there will be a alot of sad faces in less than a week.
You can take comfort Phoenix Suns fans for you do not suffer in orange alone. Just look to the deep south, there you will find some football fans who wear orange also. Whom through the years have been let down many times, and are also without a Title. They also are shadowed by a team with L.A. Laker type tradition, the University Of Alabama.
The Auburn football Tigers have put there limited fan base in misery many years. They have been overshadowed by rivals like LSU, Tennessee, Florida and The Alabama Crimson Tide. So as the sun sets on your Suns fans remember the Tigers for those fans feel your pain. The Auburn Tigers fans have more sad endings to seasons than any Suns fan could endure.
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