Sun block
More on Stoudemire: The fantasy fallout
With Amare Stoudemire's knee surgery keeping him out until at least the All-Star break, the Phoenix Suns' apparent stranglehold on the Pacific Division has suddenly disappeared.
The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors will all field talented teams, and without Stoudemire wreaking havoc, the division is now wide open.
Mike D'Antoni will try to keep the Suns in the thick of things until his All-Star forward returns. He will not change his team's style of play – in fact, he may have Phoenix run even more – but it will be impossible not to feel the effects of such a staggering loss. The Steve Nash-Stoudemire pick-and-roll is the key to the Suns' half-court offense, and without the big fella in the lane, defenses will have a much easier time reacting and rotating out to Phoenix's shooters.
The addition of Kurt Thomas in the offseason becomes even more important now. Phoenix had acquired him to pair with Stoudemire on the front line to improve the team's interior defense, but now Thomas will most likely play alongside Shawn Marion in the frontcourt.
The plan had been to send Marion back to small forward, which he played before last season, and field a more conventional lineup. But with Stoudemire out, Marion will probably play the same "small four" position he played last year to allow the Suns to create mismatches and run like crazy – which is their best chance to score anyway now that Stoudemire is out.
Phoenix still should be pretty good. The Suns will have a chance to stay in the race until Stoudemire returns. But for a team that began camp last week with championship aspirations, this is a major blow – and it's one that gives the rest of the Pacific Division hope.
