Q&A session with "Phoenix Stan", from brightsideofthesun.com

Well, look who we have here - Mr. Bright Side of the Sun himself! Thanks for subjecting yourself to the pressure cooker that is San Antonio SUCKS, "Phoenix Stan".

You've been following the Phoenix Suns for quite some time and I'm really excited to pick your brain. Let's start off with a really hard-hitting, personal judgment question:

Is it true that you actually wore a San Antonio SUCKS t-shirt to your nephew's wedding? I mean, I know they are extremely classy and go with just about anything, but seriously - you have to take it off sometime, don't you? What's the truth behind that "alleged" rumor?

You've found me out. I wear my SA Sux shirt morning, noon and night. I sleep in it. I shower in it. I wash the dog with it.

I've even tried to dress my wife in that sexy tank top version but you all ran out so instead I keep her topless until your supplies are replenished. No rush.

Ok, on a little bit more of a serious note, did you have any idea (before seeing the internet trailer) that Steve Nash was step-brothers with Baron Davis? What was your reaction to this amazing revelation?

Who knew right?

But when you think about it they do have so much in common they must be related by marriage. The clues were there all along.

They are both creative. They both are deadly clutch shooters. They both even play soccer.

Speaking of the 2-time MVP, how much longer should we Suns fans really expect to see Steve Nash in a Suns uniform? Is the arrival of Goran Dragic the inevitable curtain call for Nash in Phoenix?

Nash's curtain call certainly has nothing to do with Dragic. He's been on the decline for years now. Just ask Marc Cuban.

I have to say though that Saint Nash's contract seems to expiring at the right time. He certainly didn't look that good in the playoffs last year and you have to wonder how much is left in that tank.

At Bright Side of the Sun we even explored the idea of trading him while his value is high.  My take is that despite all he's done you have to consider it for the right deal. If the Suns aren't looking good by mid-season this year the rumors will certainly heat up.

It's pretty obvious that we don't like the San Antonio Spurs, and for good reason - they are the Yankees to our Red Sox (pre-2004, that is). Do you think the Suns need to exercise their demons with the Spurs the way the Red Sox needed to with the Yankees? What are the chances that these teams collide in the playoffs this season, and if they did, what would you predict the outcome to be?

I don't share your hate for the Spurs. I get that they've owned us for the past few years and certainly Bowen and Horry make for great villains. But Duncan? Parker? Ginobili? Those guys I respect too much.

Besides, I grew up hating the Lakers. In my formative Suns years they were the arch nemesis and the Spurs were like the Bobcats. Not worthy of mention. This Spurs blip will pass but the Lakers will always be there to despise.

As for your question – I have no clue. Both teams are going to be very different next season so the past few years really won't matter. The Spurs haven't managed to reload around their big three so unless someone else pops up they should be getting worse from here. Same with Dallas.

The Suns on the other hand went through a huge make-over this off season and anyone that tells you they know how well this team will do is on crack.

Suns fans have always complained about not having a "big man", which left them at a competitive disadvantage. Now they have Shaq, Amare and Robin Lopez. Is that big enough to compete in today's NBA?

It's funny you use the term "today's NBA" related to big men. Today's NBA is less about low post banging then it used to be and as such guys like Shaq (not that there ever will be another guy like Shaq) are relics.

And speaking of the Big Relic, I think we saw the best we are going to see from him. He can't guard the more athletic Centers that dominate the game and he is a huge liability defending the pick and roll. Offensively he can't score from anywhere except right under the rim and even from there he's only about 50%. But forget those problems because chances are low he will play more than 50 games this season anyway.

Today's NBA is made for athletic mobile bigs like Tyson Chandler and Chris Kaman. Fortunately, I think Robin Lopez is one of those guys but he's still a rookie and like Chandler might take a few years to really develop.

That leaves the Suns weakest position in the middle. In Shaq and Lopez you have an aging, slow-footed broken down diesel and a fresh faced youngster who will struggle like most rookies do. Not a great combination.

What should Terry Porter (or Steve Kerr, for that matter) do with DJ Strawberry? Does he have an active role on this team now? Does he have any real trade value?

I have been convinced since seeing him choke away a 5 point lead in less than a minute with a horrible performance on both ends of the floor that his days as a Sun are done. He had an opportunity in Vegas to really shine and my "inside sources" tell me the Suns were expecting a lot more from him then he showed.

He seems like a nice kid and he's an athletic freak, but he can't run the point, he's a poor outside shooter and he's too small to really play the defensive shooting guard role like Bell does.

The worst part though was how mentally weak he looked in Vegas. He was getting torched by Jarryd Bayless on defense and turning the ball over on offense. The worse he played the more mistakes he made. It impacted him on both ends of the floor and even from game to game. And that was just summer league.

DJ is not under contract for this season (there's a team option for this year) and I fully expect the Suns to let him go and fill that last spot with another end of the bench big man that can at least bang a bit in practice. His only trade value is as salary cap filler.

Maybe he will sign overseas or perhaps another team with less depth will pick him up. And maybe in a few years his confidence and shot will improve. Right now though, the Suns have no need for him with Nash, Bell, Barbosa, Dragic and Tucker all sharing minutes in the back court. And don't forget that Porter could put a very big line up on the floor at times playing Dragic at point with Hill, Diaw, Amare and Lopez. That's a crazy big line up with solid D at four positions.

And by the way, look out for Tucker. He's a solid NBA player and is going to surprise some people this season. He's extremely tough in the paint and can be called on to provide low post scoring off the bench and his Defense is solid. He locked up the speedy Jarryd Bayless for the 1st half of that game in Vegas only to see DJ get torched for 17 point in the fourth quarter when the assignments were changed.

Here's a hypothetical situation: Steve Kerr calls and asks you to fill in for the day. Which team do you call first, and what trade do you propose?

It's funny you should ask. I got just such as call earlier in the week. I was all "yo yo Steve, here's what you need to do. Call the OKC Sonic Thunder Whatever and send Barbosa to the dust bowl and get me Johan Petro and some of those 1st round picks they are hording."

I realize that the salaries don't match straight up but there's always a way to make that work.

I think it's time for Barbosa to go. The Suns are over the lux cap and clearly he's not going to be a point guard and he's also not likely to get any better on defense. He's a fun player and great scorer but I think it's time for him to move on and I would love to see another athletic big like Petro in a Suns uniform. Of course if we do move LB then DJ can stay and be a 3rd string guard.

I know a lot of folks want to dump Diaw but I still think that guy has a lot to offer. There aren't many players that can do what he does on both ends of the floor. I want to see him play the small forward position where he belongs and see what he can do. He and Tucker are the best true back to the basket post players the Suns have and we saw against the Spurs what kind of match-up problems he causes when paired with Amare.

The "experts" say that the window is closing or is already closed on this Suns team (with Steve, Grant, Shaq, etc.). Is this season the last big opportunity for Phoenix to win it all until the next generation is ready to make a run?

Thanks. I appreciate being considered an expert. Yes, I think the window closed last season. This will be a much different Suns team this season and they should do well. But I just don't see how they realistically can make a run.

It also should be a season filled with more fun and lowered expectations. For fans, media and hopefully the players the pressure of the past two years with "eye on the prize" and all that will be lifted and all of the Suns nation will appreciate the team and game a little bit more. After all, it is a game that we watch for our entertainment. Shouldn't it be fun?

Who has, uh... "better" hair: Ricky Davis (now with the Clippers, was with Boston last season) or Robin Lopez? Does either get into your Top 10 all-time in the NBA?

You must have seen my current favorite picture of Ricky D. I don't think Lopez comes close but I have coined, trademarked and patented the phrase "LoFro" to account for that nest he's sporting.

The Suns just finalized their '08/'09 dance team (thank God - we had some major holes to fill in that roster!). Based on your countless years of experience breaking down the X's and O's of this dynamic aspect of the team, which new dancer will have the biggest impact on the.... oh, forget it - who's the hottest new Suns dancer?

My wife. Duh.

And last (but certainly not least), please finish this statement: The San Antonio Spurs...

 …are misunderstood and not deserving of your scorn. Stop shilling T-shirts and show the love.

Thanks so much for taking the time to sit down with us, "Phoenix Stan". We wish the very best of luck to you in your endeavors and hope you'll check in with us from time-to-time throughout the season. Keep up the great work giving Phoenix Suns fans a great place to chime-in at brightsideofthesun.com. There is a ton of great content and contributors there, and I strongly encourage all San Antonio SUCKS fans to check it out and contribute as well!

SASUX fans – feel free to leave your comments or questions for "Phoenix Stan" below. And as always, Go Suns! San Antonio SUCKS!!