PHOENIX - With no Amare Stoudemire coming to the rescue, the slumping Phoenix
Suns know that their speed and scoring are the keys to survival in the
postseason.
That might not be enough to succeed when the going gets rough, as it always
does, in the playoffs. Across the NBA, the Suns are being written off as a title
contender.
"And rightly so," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said after the team's workout
on Thursday. "If you're making an educated guess, I'd write us off. I'd even be
trying to get into seventh place (in the Western Conference) to play us right
now.
"But I think people are going to be surprised, and you'd probably better be
careful what you wish for."
After all, the Suns built a solid lead in the Pacific Division without
Stoudemire through 66 games while awaiting the big forward's return. He tried to
come back, but lasted just three contests.
Stoudemire underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday,
putting to rest any thoughts the All-Star forward would be back for a run at the
title this season.
That was no huge surprise, because the team had always known he might not
return due to the seriousness of the surgery he had undergone on his left knee
before the season began.
His other knee developed problems during rehabilitation, and that led to the
second surgery.
Without Stoudemire, the Suns still had a strong presence inside on defense
with the acquisition of Kurt Thomas. But Thomas went down in late February with
a stress fracture in his right foot, and won't return until the second round of
the playoffs at the earliest.
That has led to a breakdown in interior defense, a weakness never more
apparent than in the team's listless 119-105 home loss to the Los Angeles
Clippers on Wednesday night.