Starting Five |
Player
Rating |
C |
Jake Voshkuhl |
4 |
PF |
Amare Stoudamire |
8 |
SF |
Shawn Marion |
9 |
SG |
Quentin Richardson |
7 |
PG |
Steve Nash |
8 |
| |
|
36 |
* Player Rating on a 1 to 10 Scale. 10
denotes best at position in the NBA with no weaknesses, 5 would be average
player who holds his own etc.
Reserves |
Position
Rating |
C |
J. Vroman |
2 |
PF |
Maciej Lampe |
6 |
SF |
Zarko Cabarkapa |
6 |
SG |
Joe Johnson / Casey Jacobsen |
7 |
PG |
Leandro Barbosa / Howard Eisley |
5 |
| |
|
26 |
* Ratings based on ability of bench to
fill in a position. More than one backup at a position would influence
the rating as would one player's ability to play multiple positions.
For eg. Zarko would help ratings at both SF & PF.
Needs:
Q-Rich? Now why on earth did Phoenix go and do that?
I'm thinking that Shaq trade could still happen -- Marion, Joe Johnson,
Voshkuhl, Eisley for the big Ego. Phoenix would be left with Nash, Q-Rich,
Zarko, Amare and Shaq. Not bad at all especially if Casey Jacobsen and
Barbosa continue to develop.
If the trade does not happen,
Center
Phoenix needs size desperately. Their only saving grace is that with
Marion and Stoudamire who are both solid defenders, rebounders and scorers,
even a mid-level Center would be fine. For what looks like a running
team with Nash now on board, a young, quick Center would make sense.
Phoenix will often slot Zarko into the 4 spot and go with Amare at C
against smaller teams or for a change of pace.
Potential Candidates: Etan Thomas.
Prediction: The Suns make the big leap,
to 50 wins and a No. 6 spot in the West. The top teams out West will
be very equal this year with the Suns and Rockets joining last year’s
top five. Dallas may be the one to slip…