Suns Look To The Old For Help With The New | LoPost's Blog

As a Suns fan, I have opinions about what moves need to be made in order to capture that elusive franchise-first NBA title. It's obvious changes are in order and a major one (the dismissal of coach Mike D'Antoni) has already been made.

But I believe it's going to take more than a new coach or a new style of play to take this team to the next level. The Suns need to address some serious personnel problems and as they've had only marginal success looking for something new to try, I thought, why not trying something old?

The Suns have only sniffed at championship glory twice in their storied 40-year existence. Now, since their first exposure to The Series took place before I had even been born (1976), were going to examine the more relevant (and familiar for most of us) 1993 Western Conference Championship team that also played in the Finals, losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.

That team was just two wins away from bringing the first championship banner to Phoenix! They had to have done something right! Sure, it was a combination of things and you certainly not going to duplicate it today. But wouldn't it at least be prudent to attempt to pattern themselves after a proven winner? That's my logic anyhow so here goes:

2007-08 Starters: C-Shaquille O'Neal; F-Amare Stoudemire; F-Grant Hill; G-Raja Bell; G-Steve Nash

1992-93 Starters: C-Mark West; F-Charles Barkley; F-Richard Dumas; G-Dan Majerle; G-Kevin Johnson

Advantages are actually 3-2 for the '08 squad particularly when you compare West to O'Neal and Dumas to Hill. Nash barely edges out Johnson due to more reliable outside shooting & playmaking skills. Barkley's a superstar, Stoudemire's an All-Star (if you don't understand the difference this article's probably too deep for you anyway). Majerle barely edges out Bell due to greater versatility as a scorer and defender. In other words, does the whole starting 5 need a revamp? No. But one change I would encourage is at point guard. The '93 Suns had a three-pronged attack: Barkley in the post, pick-and-roll with Barkley & KJ and KJ on dribble penetration. The combination of Shaq & Amare gives the '08 Suns a similar post & PNR presence, but Nash just doesn't have the explosion and ability to finish going to the basket that would really help this team put a defense back on it's heels. And the player that could best address that need is New Jersey's Devin Harris. Other than the Spurs' Tony Parker, among point guards he's the most explosive and effective finisher off the dribble in the league. It's scary how closely his game resembles that of KJ. He'd give the Suns' offense an added dimension and, as a bonus, he's already got big-game experience during his days in Dallas.

But the changes don't stop there. They do for the starting lineup, but the bench (all but ignored during D'Antoni's regime) needs a MAJOR overhaul. Let's compare:

2007-08 Reserves: G-Leandro Barbosa; F-Boris Diaw; G/F-Gordan Giricek; C/F-Brian Skinner; G-D.J. Strawberry; G/F-Eric Piatkowski; F/C-Sean Marks; G/F-Alando Tucker

1992-93 Reserves: F-Cedric Ceballos; G-Danny Ainge; F/C-Tom Chambers; C-Oliver Miller; G-Frank Johnson; G-Negele Knight; C-Tim Kempton

Of the entire cast of the '08 bench who would I keep? D.J. Strawberry & Sean Marks. That's it. Possibly Alando Tucker as well. Here's why: Strawberry is a young, athletic, eager player who needs to work on his offensive game. Youthful enthusiasm is hard to duplicate. Take the shackles off this guy and turn him lose during the regular season and I think you'll see some inspired play. Granted, he'll make mistakes, but he's got too much potential to just disappear. Marks is a quality locker room guy with a good all-around game who's willing to take a secondary role. He's another player who should be rewarded more often during the regular season with some PT but the good thing is even if he isn't it's not going to affect his relationship with his teammates. Tucker's got potential & the Suns need an energizing small forward off the bech who can score, rebound & run the floor (in the mold of Cedric Ceballos). If he can blossom quickly, he can be that guy for them. If not, they should definitely look for such a player elsewhere.

That's means we're getting rid of a whole slew of role players. How do you fill those voids? Here's how: The Suns need a sharp-shooting, tough-minded, experienced combo guard (Danny Ainge) off the bench who can spot up for 3's but also run the offense if necessary. Some players to pursue: Detroit's Juan Dixon; Detroit's Lindsey Hunter; Orlando's Keyon Dooling; LA's Derek Fisher.

Another need is for a veteran frontcourt player who can score in spot duty ala Tom Chambers. My picks: Dallas' Juwan Howard; Cleveland's Joe Smith; Detroit's Antonio McDyess; Golden State's Al Harrington; Sacramento's Shareef Abdur-Rahim or Brad Miller.

The Suns also need a veteran point guard to both back up Harris and pick the slack for Strawberry. My choices would be: Philly's Kevin Ollie; Cleveland's Eric Snow; New Jersey's Darrell Armstrong; Washington's Antonio Daniels; San Antonio's Jacque Vaughn; LAC's Brevin Knight.

I've got more to say but not enough to time to say it. So stay tuned for the continuation of this conversation.