SUNS Stands For... See U Next Season?

With 19 games left in the NBA regular season, the Phoenix Suns currently sit one spot out of the Western Conference playoffs, trailing the #8 seed Dallas Mavericks by four games. With a win tonight against those same Mavs, the Suns would still be three games out with 18 to go. Even if the Suns were to go 14-4 in those 18 games, the Mavs would only need to finish 11-7 to make the playoffs ahead of the Suns. It's a precarious situation for the Suns to be in, and one which begs the question: Are the Phoenix Suns, as we know them, finished?

The Suns have shown no ability to put together any type of run this season, something that has been a staple of the last three years. And with just 18 games to go, it would have to be a hell of a run. Despite how well they have played at times under Alvin Gentry (beating the Lakers), they have also played terrible (going 0-4 on their recently completed road trip). Grant Hill described tonight's game as the 'Super Bowl'. Steve Nash said the playoffs start now for the Suns.

Is it already too late?

As Doug from Doug and Wolf in the morning opined yesterday, do the SUNS stand for See U Next Season? Is all hope lost for this team?

Even if the Suns were to somehow pass the Mavs and make the playoffs as the #8 seed, they would have a first round matchup with the Lakers. And the latest result notwithstanding, do the Suns actually have a chance to beat the Lakers in the playoffs? With Amare, i'd say maybe. Without? I don't give them much of a chance.

So for the sake of an argument, let's say the Suns don't make the playoffs. Let's say they go into the draft with the 14th pick, too many aging players, and too much money on the books. See U Next Season? We might see the Suns team next season, but we won't be seeing the same Suns players. It's time to face the facts and come to the realization that your Run and Gun Phoenix Suns are over.

I would not be surprised to see the Suns trade Shaq and Nash in the offseason (Sorry Ben, just my opinion...). It's no secret Robert Sarver will be cutting payroll next season in an effort to get under the salary cap. Say what you will about Sarver, but you can't say he didn't go for it all the last four years. And maybe the Suns didn't win it all, but if not for a bad break here or there they may have. That's not Sarver's fault. Do i think he's a great owner? No, but i also don't think he's horrible. He's shown a willingness to go after free agents and trades (Nash, Shaq, JRich); whether they worked out or not is debatable.

But i think Sarver is seeing the writing on the wall that most Suns fans are reluctant to acknowledge: This team's window is over. They had a good run, but they're just not the same anymore. And it's time to start the rebuilding process.

It's not going to be easy, or quick. That's what happens when you go for it and don't make it. The Suns won't have major cap room for a couple of years. They don't have many quality young players. They haven't developed anyone. They don't have good draft picks available to them. In short, they're in trouble. Even if they deal Nash and Shaq in the offseason, or Nash and Amare possibly, they're not going to get equal value back. They just won't. What the Suns will get is maybe some young talent, maybe a decent NBA starter, and a couple of draft picks. And that's where they will start.

But it's going to be a long, uphill battle. The Suns aren't going to be good next year. Or the year after that. Or maybe the year after that. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it's true. Rebuilding in the NBA is not easy. Especially with the situation the Suns are in.

Suns fans, enjoy it while you can. This may be the last chance you get to watch a decent Suns team in a couple of years, and this might be the last chance you get to see Nash, Amare, or Shaq in a Suns uniform. We'll be seeing the Suns next season, but it won't be the same...