Phoenix Suns

Arguably the Phoenix Suns most thrilling playoff run was twenty years ago. We relive the run with game-by-game recaps as the Suns down the Lakers, Spurs and Sonics before falling to the Bulls in the NBA Finals. Since the current iteration of the Phoenix Suns is on vacation during these playoffs, we at Bright Side thought it would be fun to relive the Suns' exciting 1993 playoff run with recaps of each game, starting with Game 5 of the Western Semis. Revisit yesteryear while we wait for the Suns to rise again. After a thrilling come-from-behind first round series win over the Los Angeles Lakers ("and everyone's gonna say what a great series it was"), the Phoenix Suns faced an equally big opponent in the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs had just beaten defending Western Champ Portland Trailblazers in round one, and saw the smaller Suns as their next step on a Finals run of their own. David Robinson was a beast surrounded by role players that made them greater - and more frustrating - than the sum of their parts (where have I heard this one before). Avery Johnson. Sean Elliot. J.R. Reid. Antoine Carr. Dale Ellis. All good players, but all role players around a Hall of Fame center. The smaller Suns had led the league in scoring, by a wide margin, and boasted a passable defense (9th in efficiency vs. 18th in points allowed) to win a club record 62 games before the playoffs started. (again, where have I heard all this before?) Charles Barkley was the Suns Hall of Famer in 1993, putting up 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game, along with a block for a good measure. Charles had truly an historic season, one that has not been topped in the valley - either in terms of raw stats or raw impact - since. You could argue that Steve Nash made the same, if not bigger, impact (and certainly a more long-lasting one) but Nash never guided the Suns to the Finals and never in the way that Charles did. The Suns supporting cast was a who's who for Suns fans: PG Kevin Johnson (MIP, 3-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA). SG/SF Dan Majerle (3-time All-Star, 2-time All-Defensive). F Tom Chambers (4-time All-Star, 2-time All-NBA). Danny Ainge (1-time All-Star). Ced Ceballos (1-time All-Star). Mark West. Oliver Miller. Richard Dumas. Tim Kempton. 4th-quarter Frank Johnson. Man, that was an exciting team. The Suns painted the town orange that year. Chambers, Kempton and West still work for the Suns to this day. Ceballos was their in-game entertainer for years. Majerle was a TV guy, then coach. Barkley still lives in the valley. In many ways, the 1993 team is still part of the franchise fabric. May 18, 1993: Suns beat Spurs 109-97, take 3-2 series lead Boxscore - courtesy of basketball-reference.com The Suns returned home for Game 5 after letting the series get tied up 2-2. "It's never very hard to play on the road," shooting guard Danny Ainge quipped. "It's just hard to win on the road." Feasting on home cooking and a rocking home crowd, the Suns muddled through three tight quarters before Charles Barkley lit up the night with 19 fourth-quarter points, including 16 in a 6-minute stretch. Barkley put the Suns on his back and carried them home when they needed it the most. Barkley finished the game with 36 points (on 16 shots and 15 free throws) and 12 rebounds. He got great support from Kevin Johnson (15 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds) and Dan Majerle (17 points, 4 rebounds). As a team, the Suns shot 59.7% for the game, a huge improvement over shooting less than 42% in each of the losses in San Antonio. The crowd was electric. The Suns attendance ranked 5th in the league that year, with every single game sold out and playoff tickets really hard to come by. My dad went to every game and will never forget that series. Up next: another showdown in the Alamo for Game 6. Could Barkley and the Suns step up on the road?

Since the current iteration of the Phoenix Suns is on vacation during these playoffs, we at Bright Side thought it would be fun to relive the Suns' exciting 1993 playoff run with recaps of each game. Today, the Suns and Charles Barkley begin an epic Western Conference Finals series with a win at home over Shawn Kemp's Seattle Supersonics, 105-91. In a series about to go the distance, the fireworks hadn't even started yet when the Suns took down the Sonics in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The Sonics had just survived the Houston Rockets in their own round two series - you know, the same Rockets who would soon steal Suns hearts with the icy zeal of the wicked witch in Once Upon a Time. The Sonics came in a bit flat to game one, while the Suns had a four-day rest and were waiting to pounce on their prey. And pounce they did. Even without Barkley doing much pouncing (12 points, 14 rebounds in 36 minutes). Earstwhile Suns mainstay and recent arena entertainment emcee, Cedric Ceballos used a surprise start to tally 21 points and backup center Oliver Miller (15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists, 2 steals) helped the Suns block a club playoff record 16 Seattle shots (second most all-time). Mark West, still a Suns mainstay in their front office, had 4 blocks of his own. That's 16 shots blocked against a loaded Seattle team, coached by George Karl, that boasted in-his-prime Shawn Kemp, lanky Derrick McKey and Sam Perkins (one of the original stretch-fours) on the front line, with all-time great Gary Payton at PG and Rickey Pierce at SG. Off the bench, the Suns' own Eddie Johnson provided offense, while Nate McMillan and Michael Cage brought the D. That I remember this lineup so clearly twenty years later is a clear sign that Seattle was really, really good. But not in game one they weren't. The Suns owned this game from the get-go, and a Suns second unit boasting future head coaches Frank Johnson and Danny Ainge kept the foot on the throat of the Sonics all night. Suns win going away, 105-91. The NBA Finals were only three wins away.

As the search to see who will lead the Suns next season heats up, we look back at which coaches led the Suns in previous seasons in the franchise's history. | Bordow's Suns' coaching candidates Top 20 free agents for 2013 | Look back: '92-93 Suns | NBA combine analysis | Draft early entrants

In my opinion, the best option for the Suns with the fifth pick is Victor Oladipo. But according to ESPN's Draft Dude, Chad Ford, "Oladipo is the guy that GMs love in this draft" so he very well could be gone before the Suns new GM gets to make his first-ever draft pick without training wheels. Of course, I seem to recall hearing the same thing about Damian Lillard who's stock rose quickly after being projected 13th this time last year before but wasn't selected until Portland's turn with the sixth pick. Oladipo is already slotted fourth to the Bobcats/Hornets in four out of seven mock drafts. If Oladipo (and Otto Porter) are gone before Ryan McDonough gets his turn at bat, Alex Len could be a very intriguing option. We already know the Suns have a need to a new big man and we know there are a LOT of very big men in this draft. Nerlens Noel will almost certainly be gone before the Suns turn (and truly hope that's true) so that leaves us to ponder Len who was also pondered by Paul Coro at the AZ Republic: Phoenix Suns’ draft options at No. 5 include Maryland big man Alex LenThe NBA draft lottery slotted the Suns fifth in the selection order, assuring they will not get a chance to pick Nerlens Noel without a trade. But they could take the center who dominated Noel to start the past college season. What else do we know about Len? A lot. The best prospects of the 2013 NBA Draft - Rufus on FireAlex Len is this seasons feast-or-famine pick. The seven-footer has all the potential tools: he's a great athlete for his size, has impressive foot speed, a great touch around the rim -- with both hands -- and a high basketball IQ. On the defensive end, he's already a good pick and roll defender with potential as an elite rim-protector. Well now, that's impressive! But, did you know that Alex isn't even his REAL NAME? It's Olexiy! Also... NBA Draft 2013 scouting report: Alex Len - Bullets ForeverWhether Len lived up to the hype as a sophomore probably depends on which games you saw him play. He opened the season with a dominant showing against Nerlens Noel, the top recruit in the nation, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a loss to Kentucky. Unfortunately for Len, his first game of the season might have also have been his best, as the inconsistency from his freshman year carried over to 2012. [emphasis added so you would see it] Maybe, if he used his real name he would get more steals? 2013 Draft Preview: Centers - Canis HoopusFor every 1 steal that Len collects, Noel collects 8, Dieng collects 5, Adams, Plumlee, and Zeller each collect 4, Withey and Olynyk each collect 3, and Muscala collects more than 2. While ball-stealing itself is not a key part of the center position, this huge disparity between Len and men who succeed in professional basketball should be concerning. I really wonder how much of the glow about Len's "athletic potential" is failing to look past his impressive frame to the more basic dexterity, coordination, and awareness that separates successful project bigs from your annual second-round 7' stiff. [emphasis added so you would see it] Then again, somebody thinks Len is BETTER THAN Noel despite using an alias. NBA Draft 2013: Why Alex Len is a better prospect than Nerlens Noel - SBNation.comNoel is an intriguing prospect, but in my opinion, he's not even the best center, much less the best player, available in this year's draft. Maryland sophomore Alex Len is bigger and more skilled than Noel. Let's check the some tape: What do you think of "Alex" Len?

Editor’s note: This is the first entry in our 2013 NBA Draft prospect profile series. We’ll be focusing on all three of the Suns’ draft picks by alternating between in-depth... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The NBA draft lottery slotted the Suns fifth in the selection order, assuring they will not get a chance to pick Nerlens Noel without a trade. But they could take the center who dominated Noel to start the past college season.

MIAMI -- LeBron James made a layup as time expired in overtime, and the Miami Heat found a way to beat the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wild Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night.

My takeaways from the second round series: ---------- Miami beats Chicago 4-1 After a valiant game one effort the Bulls finally succumbed to the injuries that have plagued them throughout the regular and postseason. It would have been interesting to see how the Bulls fared if they would have had five players healthy enough to suit up for the games. The Heat prevailed with half of Dwyane Wade against half of the Bulls roster, but will the Pacers prove a more dangerous adversary if Wade isn't at full speed? Indiana beats New York 4-2 The Knicks hero ball style was exposed by Indiana's teamwork and stout defense. Carmelo Anthony, who finished third in MVP voting (really?), managed to chuck up 18.75 shots for every assist he dished during the series. His appurtenance in the black hole philosophy, J.R. Smith, shot a putrid 29%. Roy Hibbert made Tyson Chandler look like a little boy. The series went six, but it didn't really feel that close. Credit Indy's hermetic defense for that. They forced the Knicks into becoming a jump shooting team with their inside presence, then turned them into a downright crappy offense with their stellar perimeter d. Memphis beats OKC 4-1 This series cemented the value of Russell Westbrook. The critics that propounded he was holding Kevin Durant and the Thunder back were summarily silenced. Oklahoma City was a completely different (worse) team with him off the court, and Westbrook's injury may have been the single biggest event that changed the postseason landscape. The Grizzlies smelled blood and capitalized by imposing their style on the series. Memphis, who had the slowest pace and allowed the fewest points during the regular season, stifled the Thunder by holding them under 100 points in every game during the series. San Antonio beats Golden St. 4-2 The Spurs entrenched themselves as the horror movie villain that never dies and the Warriors proclaimed that they have arrived as an up and coming team (if they can stay healthy). While Stephen Curry had pundits gushing over his performance, a nagging injury (bet you've never heard nagging injury and Stephen Curry in the same sentence before!) may have caused his production to dwindle as the series went on. This, compounded by David Lee's absence, helped seal the team's doom. That and the fine tuned machine of excellent role players led by all-star Tony Parker. Anybody else notice how most of the "stars" are already sitting on their couches? ---------- Now the results you've all been waiting for (or have already looked at by skipping my inane ramblings): NashMV3 still leads the way, but MMotherwell, who has the Spurs advancing, and Yttriot are still right on his heels. The ouster of OKC knocked out the majority of people's, myself included, Western Conference representative for the NBA Finals. Chances are it will be a photo finish so make sure your score is correct!

It's obviously early in the process, but not too early. We have draft combine information in the books and now we have the order set thanks to the Draft Lottery. That let's think more about how specific players, especially in this draft, might fit with specific teams. Here's our first 2013 NBA Mock Draft. For more, be sure to visit NBA Draft Insider. 1. Cleveland Cavaliers - Otto Porter Jr. 6-8.5, 197 lbs. SF Georgetown, So. Sometimes luck is on your side and that is exactly the case for the Cavaliers as they won the lottery for the second time in three years since the departure of The King. Now they have a major choice to make, but when you look past Big Boards it may be easier than one would think. The Cavaliers need a glue player to balance the dynamic nature of Kyrie Irving and Porter Jr. is just the guy with his ability to do a little bit of everything on the court. 2. Orlando Magic - Ben McLemore 6-4.75, 189 lbs. SG Kansas, Fr. The Magic could use a number of different things including point guard with this pick which is exactly where they were before the lottery. Trey Burke and Ben McLemore have to be the top two choices here, but McLemore has All-Star potential in a situation where he can develop. 3. Washington Wizards - Nerlens Noel 6-11.75, 206 lbs. C Kentucky, Fr. Maybe the best player in the draft falls in their lap as the athletic shot-blocking machine Noel has the chance to be paired with John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Co coming off of his ACL tear. With an aging front-court Noel comes in at exactly the right time. 4. Charlotte Bobcats - Victor Oladipo 6-4.25, 213 lbs. SG Indiana, Jr. they seem to like building around defense and advanced statistics in Charlotte, so the New Hornets add Oladipo who is the highest riser in the draft as well as the best overall defensive player on the board. 5. Phoenix Suns - Rudy Gobert 7-2, 234 lbs. C France, 1992 The draft takes a left turn in Phoenix as the Suns need talent and new GM Ryan McDonough will look to add the best long-term prospects to the roster. Gobert has great length and the potential to be the best big man in this class. 6. New Orleans Pelicans - Trey Burke 6-8, 240 lbs. PF UNLV, Fr. As well as Greivis Vasquez has been for the New Pelicans the league is all about greatness at the point guard position. Burke has the skill-set and resume to be the leagues next great point guard. 7. Sacramento Kings - Anthony Bennett 6-6.25, 221 lbs. SF UCLA, Fr. The 2013 version of Grandmamma lands on a team that lacks toughness, which Bennett has in spades. He can physically dominate a game while providing a compliment to the potential star power of DeMarcus Cousins. 8. Detroit Pistons - Shabazz Muhammad 7-2, 234 lbs. C France, (1992) Shooting and scoring are in need of a major upgrade in Detroit. As limited as his offensive game may be Muhammad makes a lot of sense stretching the floor and completing the front-court of the future in Mo Town. 9. Minnesota Timberwolves - Alex Len 7-1, 225 lbs. C Maryland, So. But, they already have Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic? That is true today and Len provides insurance for tomorrow even though the team may need shooter, the potential of Len is too much to pass on while reaching for shooting. 10. Portland Trail Blazers - C.J. McCollum 6-3, 197 lbs. PG Lehigh, Sr. The worst bench in the league needs to add depth. No matter position this is a team that simply needs talent and McCollum gives the Blazers shooting, play-making, and Damian Lillard a break. 11. Philadelphia 76ers - Cody Zeller 7-0, 230 lbs. C Indiana, So. What was once considered the Andrew Bynum Experiment now seems to be over and the team needs to move on. Zeller may not have All-Star potential, but he is a talented big man that can do a lot of the little things a team like the 76ers need. 12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto) - Mason Plumlee 7-0, 238 lbs. PF Duke, Sr. The rich get richer as the best team in the Western Conference add another lottery pick to the fold.

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports It was real close for the Phoenix Suns during the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night. Phoenix had one of the worst records in the NBA this season and ended up getting the fifth pick in the June draft. The Suns are a team that could use some scoring, and they should draft Ben McLemore if he were to fall to the No. 5 pick. I also like Otto Porter, Jr. a lot for this Phoenix team and he may be more likely to be available, but McLemore should be the choice for the Suns. He averaged 15.9 points and 5.2 rebounds a game as a freshman this season at Kansas. I’m not positive that McLemore will fall this far because of the teams ahead of them, but it is possible that he gets all the way to No. 5. I think that the first three picks will decide what happens with McLemore. I’m not sure that any of those teams would take him because of their own holes. If he is not taken within the first three picks, Phoenix may have to make a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats to acquire McLemore with the fourth pick. I know those trades don’t happen during the draft where a team can actually move up, but the Suns must think about it very hard. There aren’t a ton of small forward and shooting guard options that are much better than McLemore in this draft. Phoenix needs scoring help, and McLemore would help fix that problem. Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.