Keys to Sun's success in the upcoming campaign.

[NashtyNas]

For me, I have 4. These are IN NO ORDER.

1) Nash, Bell, Shaq, Stat, Hill staying healthy for 70+ games.
2) Diaw performing like we know he can.
3) Shaq learning to hit free throws.
4) ROOKIES PERFORMING LIKE WE NEED THEM TO

Why?

Obviously, the health factor is probably the biggest one. If those 5 can play 65-70 games each MINIMUM, we will get our 55 wins. Obviously, the next big thing is Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic performing like we need them to. That means 7-8-1.5-1.5 blocks from Lopez, and 8-2-4-1 steal from Dragic. There after, I would probably go with Shaq hitting 65-70% of his freethrows over Diaw, since it would add another 3-5 PPG for SHAQ, and make up for some of Diaw's deficiencies. Lastly, the X-Factor this season, like any other, will be Diaw. In any game that he performs to his potential, we will likely come out as the undisputed winner. So, a lot depends on the health, and performances of Diaw and the rookies.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

[TASTIC]

For me, I have 4. These are IN NO ORDER.

1) Nash, Bell, Shaq, Stat, Hill staying healthy for 70+ games.
2) Diaw performing like we know he can.
3) Shaq learning to hit free throws.
4) ROOKIES PERFORMING LIKE WE NEED THEM TO

Why?

Obviously, the health factor is probably the biggest one. If those 5 can play 65-70 games each MINIMUM, we will get our 55 wins. Obviously, the next big thing is Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic performing like we need them to. That means 7-8-1.5-1.5 blocks from Lopez, and 8-2-4-1 steal from Dragic. There after, I would probably go with Shaq hitting 65-70% of his freethrows over Diaw, since it would add another 3-5 PPG for SHAQ, and make up for some of Diaw's deficiencies. Lastly, the X-Factor this season, like any other, will be Diaw. In any game that he performs to his potential, we will likely come out as the undisputed winner. So, a lot depends on the health, and performances of Diaw and the rookies.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

[lilfishi22]

1. Vets stay healthy and well rested
2. Rookies performing
3. Barbs and STAT play half decent defense
4. Diaw coming back to MIP form.

I'm counting on Shaq doing 50%, anymore it's a bonus for us, but I'm not counting on it.

[DaDragicShow]

1. Diaw playin like he dad couple years ago in the playoffs, without amare.
2. Nash gets some rest finally, so he can be ready for playoffs
3.Shaq playing atleast 55 games this season.
4. Everyone stays healthy without any injures when playoffs begin

[NashtyNas]

Tastic, it may seem funny, but as the season was coming to an end, he was hitting close to 60% of his FT's as far as I remember (58ish). If he can get to 62-65%, it will help TREMENDOUSLY. The whole "HACK A SHAQ" tactic will be defeated, and we will gain an actual back down scorer in SHAQ. It may seem ridiculous, but 60% isn't out of reach for SHAQ, and if he really is working hard to lose weight, all the FO needs to do is ask him to improve slightly in his shooting, and I'm sure he will work on it. SHAQ may seem like an arrogant bastard at times, but I have met him in real life, and he is one of the nicest people you will ever see, if you're on his good side of course...

[daveang]

Shaq needs to play that 55+ games, like arizonaplaya85 said. In those 55+ games, I fully expect him to shoot the same percentage or worse from the Free Throw line. That's ok, because he's going to bring an inside prescence on both ends that we haven't seen in Phoenix for quite a while.

[BurningHeart]

The key? Don't play the Spurs in the playoffs.

[DaDragicShow]

We didnt play the Spurs in the playoffs in 06, and how did that turn out for us?

[eastsidecrossover]

Ok, then lets not make the playoffs? Kidding.

I think the key is the right person who makes the game threads.

[TASTIC]

I nominate OB - his were amazing...

Otherwise I remember 2 years ago we ALL took turns, and that was always fun seeing 20+ different peeps' designs and pitting my MS Paint jobs vs the Photoshop Wunderkids...haha

[NashtyNas]

Good one east. I haven't been here long enough to know about that, but haha, it was really a funny one. Um, I'd still stick to Diaw and Shaq being very important components for the Suns this year though, and other than that, Matt Barnes and the rookies. Barnes should give us EXCELLENT production as a 2, 3 and 4, and probably will start many games if/when Hill is out.

[Miklo]

About the Shaq FT thing, it would be amazing if he could get mid-60 range. The only thing is that I keep marveling over, he's been in the league so long and hauled up so many billion FTs that its almost like why is he all of a sudden gonna change? I've never understood how he hasn't accidentally gotten better over the years...

My keys to success:
On the Shaq note, Robin Lopez is a big X-Factor for the season.
Amare's continued shooting/defense development.
Barbs and Diaw not playing like garbage.
The Spurs shutting down as an organization.
Porter not sucking.

[NashtyNas]

I forgot the Porter factor. I like the "Spurs entirely shutting down" part very much. I wish it happend, and we got to pick one of their players haha. Clearly, Manu Ginobili is the way to go.

[realfung]

I think the SHAQ shooting FT thing is a joke...
He had like 10 years to learn and why he should learn it now....
For the Suns???

[Vernon Maxwell]

I think the SHAQ shooting FT thing is a joke...
He had like 10 years to learn and why he should learn it now....
For the Suns???

it won't happen, simply put.

[tisbee]

As a Rockets fan-thus an outsider-I think you need a reliable 16-18ppg SG/SF to be truly dangerous.
Before the draft there were 2 players I really wanted the Rockets to trade up for-and Robin Lopez was one. I think he's going to be a solid C for yrs to come. Not a star,just a steady player who anchors the D,chips in a few timely baskets and just gets the job done. The perfect complement to Amare.

[TASTIC]

^I think Barnes if he starts - and it looks like he will - is going to give us 15pts 7reb 3asst and some steals and 3s...so combine that with 10-12 from Hill, 15-18 from Barbosa, and 8-10 from Diaw I think is enough. Id like some more athleticism though, as you said - a SG/SF

[BurningHeart]

We didnt play the Spurs in the playoffs in 06, and how did that turn out for us?

We made it to the Western Finals and pushed Dallas to 6 games with six players in our rotation.

[mkot]

I have mixed feelings about Barnes starting...don't get me wrong, I like Hill coming off the bench...something some of us have been talking about since Hill got here - having a ball handler and high IQ passer to play Nash's role with the 2nd unit and I think having him in the 2nd unit with guys like LB, Dragic and Lopez will really help. I'm just thinking if Boris is a better starter? Numbers say that he should start, and we REALLY need him to produce. He's a more talented player than Barnes and like many had noticed, he lacks the ability that bench guys need to immediately get into the flow of the game...

[TASTIC]

Is there a more expensive backup in the league than Diaw? (besides guys like Wally, Marbury etc who are in the last year)