Phoenix Suns' Playoff Hopes Dwindling: One Last Chance To Save Planet Orange

Shaquille O’Neal said it was “kind of early” for the Suns to bust out the “win or go home” slogan, but Grant Hill and Steve Nash seem more willing to admit the truth. Hill called tonight’s game versus the Dallas Mavericks “our Super Bowl,” and Nash said, “this is our playoffs.” It wasn’t long ago that the Suns were the Valley’s most beloved and successful franchise, despite not having won a championship in over 40 years. Phoenix was on the cusp of greatness, the darling team of the Valley, the NBA’s most exciting juggernaut.  They possessed a deadly offense that traveled a light speed, armed with a barrage of three-pointers and thunderous alley-oop slams. Planet Orange has slowed down, growing older in a universe of younger, more explosive teams. The Suns have squandered their draft picks over the last four years, opting instead to build through veteran free-agent acquisitions. But perhaps their biggest ... (link)