Nash feels slightly marginalized, Amare's a douche

[KJ7]

Agree with Cash.

I don't have that sense of excitement that we can go all the way, and my stress levels have dropped.
That's not to say I don't swear at the TV up in arms in frustration, I just understand now we're not elite anymore

I feel exactly like you guys but it actually makes me angry to feel so unemotional about the Suns (yes I realise that's a bit of a paradox).

[toucansma]

I agree with everything mkot has said in this thread.

Same here. He's on his game!

EDIT: SDU, that's how it always is. I'm proud to say I NEVER wanted D'Antoni gone. I have been one of his fiercest defenders and will continue to be.

+1

+2

I was adamant in keeping D'Antoni and still ticked to see him in Knicks colors. So many Suns fans wanted him run out of dodge. They all bought into the hype that he could not put them over the top and that he was gimmick. Losing him was one of the saddest days as a Suns fan.

[lilfishi22]

Tastic pretty much summed it up for me.

I still feel the stress and frustration from losing games, and the excitement when we win, but in terms of confidence in our team to win it all, it's quite low. I feel the furthest we can realistically go is deep in the playoffs, WCF, where we likely would get our ass whooped in a 4-1 loss to Lakers, IF we even get there. I just don't feel we have the right coach to take it further than that. I think we have the right pieces, maybe add another vet PG or another slashing 2 or 3, but so far we have the right pieces. The only thing holding us back is how Porter utilizes those pieces. I don't have much confidence in that. Not saying he couldn't be a good coach, but right now he's not ready to lead a team to a championship.

[JohnVancouver]

Tastic pretty much summed it up for me.

I still feel the stress and frustration from losing games, and the excitement when we win, but in terms of confidence in our team to win it all, it's quite low. I feel the furthest we can realistically go is deep in the playoffs, WCF, where we likely would get our ass whooped in a 4-1 loss to Lakers, IF we even get there. I just don't feel we have the right coach to take it further than that. I think we have the right pieces, maybe add another vet PG or another slashing 2 or 3, but so far we have the right pieces. The only thing holding us back is how Porter utilizes those pieces. I don't have much confidence in that. Not saying he couldn't be a good coach, but right now he's not ready to lead a team to a championship.

--- Yup, you guys have nailed it. Unless there's some magical, touched-by-the-fairy's wand turnaround what we've done here is go from being the most exciting team in the league, and one of the most successful, that for various reasons didn't win a championship. So we've changed direction in order to capitalize on our .. weaknesses? Nice plan - solid thinking.
The team was built to run under D'antoni's system - sure, it was a fine idea to improve defense, a great idea to get an admittedly on-the-downside Shaq for all that he brings, even at this late date, and a good idea to have some kind of plan for a half-court game; remember when we beat the Spurs after Shaq first arrived? Looked like we had the best of both worlds.
Now the offense has been castrated, the defense is mediocre and both Nash and Amare are reduced to spectators.
I loved this team and it's been turned to crap while I watched. Heartbreaking.
I truly believe we will see Nash or Amare, or both, ask to be traded.
The sky isn't falling - it's in large ugly chunks all over the landscape.