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From The Sports Network
By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor


PHOENIX SUNS: 1st Seed, West (62-20)

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: 8th Seed, West (45-37)


(Sports Network) - The top-seeded Phoenix Suns will put their offensive machine on display against No. 8 Memphis in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The Suns return to the postseason after a one-year absence. In its last appearance in the playoffs, Phoenix was eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in six games after going 44-38 in the 2002-03 regular season.

After a dismal 29-53 season in 2003-04, the Suns went out and signed free agents Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson to lucrative, multi-year deals. Add Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion to the equation, and Phoenix became the best team in the NBA during the regular season. In fact, the Suns were the only team in the league to have three players in this year's All-Star Game as Marion, Nash and Stoudemire were all participants for the Western Conference during February 20th's contest.

The Suns tied the franchise record for most wins in a season. In the 1992-93 campaign they also went 62-20 in the regular season and advanced to the NBA Finals. Phoenix lost in six games in the championship round to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Phoenix is a team that beats its opponents with its explosive offense. Nash, who led the league in assists at 11.5 per game, is the catalyst. He makes everyone one of his teammates who are on the court with him a better player. The 31-year-old Nash, who is one of the favorites to win this year's MVP, is also averaging a solid 15.5 points.

Stoudemire and Marion have benefited greatly from the play-making skills of Nash. The 22-year-old Stoudemire, who averaged 8.9 boards per game, led the club in scoring (26.0 ppg), while Marion was second in scoring (19.4 ppg) and first in rebounding (11.3 rpg). Stoudemire is a force down low, while Marion can score from the outside or the inside.

Richardson, who spent the first four years of his career with the Clippers before signing with Phoenix, averaged 14.9 points and drained a club record 221 three-pointers, while 6-7 shooting guard Joe Johnson contributed 17.1 points per game. Both Johnson and Richardson were better players because of Nash's uncanny ability to get his teammates the ball in a great position to score.

Phoenix scored 90 or more points in 79 of its 82 games this season, and netted 100 or more 68 times in the campaign. The Suns depend on their starting five of Johnson, Marion, Nash, Richardson and Stoudemire to take up the bulk of the minutes on the court.

The Grizzlies will be appearing in the playoffs for the second straight year as well as the second time in franchise history. The Grizzlies, who won a franchise record 50 games in the 2003-04 regular season and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs, started the season with four straight losses and were a disappointing 5-11 prior to Mike Fratello's first game as head coach on December 3rd.

After the sudden retirement of former head coach Hubie Brown, who cited he no longer had the desire or energy to keep coaching. The Grizzlies were lucky to get Fratello, who is the seventh head coach in team history. Fratello, who had been the general for the Atlanta Hawks for seven seasons and the Cleveland Cavaliers for six, had a successful resume that included plenty of postseason experience.

Forward Pau Gasol averaged a team-high 17.8 points in 56 games for the Grizzlies, while Lorenzen Wright led the club with 7.8 boards per game and Jason Williams dished out a team-best 5.6 assists per contest. Gasol and Williams will need bring their best performances if Memphis hopes to hang with Phoenix.

Guard Mike Miller was second on the Grizzlies in scoring, as he averaged 13.4 points. Miller is a dangerous outside shooter and can score in bunches. He will also need to be at his best for Memphis to compete.

Memphis, which scored 100 or points 23 times this season, does not have a lot of star power. The Grizzlies are a solid team, but they are not in the class of the Suns.

During the regular season, the teams split four games. Both clubs won once at home and once on the road.


FRONTCOURT: Marion, Richardson and Stoudemire give Phoenix a huge advantage over Memphis' Shane Battier, Gasol and Lorenzen Wright.

The Suns' trio work unbelievably well together. All three are very athletic and they excel in the fast-paced style that Phoenix plays. Stoudemire patrols the middle and is one of the most intimidating players in the league. The 6-10 Stoudemire is a monster on the glass and is almost unstoppable when he gets the ball within six feet from the hoop.

Marion and Richardson can both knock down the three and are also able to drive to the basket with great results. The two team with Stoudemire to give Phoenix the most exciting frontcourt in the NBA.

The bottom line here is that Battier, Gasol and Wright will have to play the perfect series if Memphis hopes to compete. Wright will have his hands full with Stoudemire, while Gasol and Battier are going to have a hard time keeping up with Marion and Richardson.

Phoenix' frontcourt is the total package. This is where this series will be won.

EDGE: PHOENIX


BACKCOURT: Nash has played like an MVP for Phoenix all season long and will continue to do the same against Memphis' Jason Williams in this series. The Suns lead guard is too smart and will frustrate Williams to the point that the rest of the Grizzlies' play will suffer from the effect of the impact Nash will have on Williams' performance.

Johnson teams up with Nash to give Phoenix an excellent starting duo. Johnson does not have star power like some of his teammates, but he is a solid player who knows and understands his role. If the Grizzlies forget about him, Johnson will hurt them in the scoring column.

Williams and Miller can hold their own, but they do not have the supporting cast that Nash and Johnson have. Williams tends to turn the ball over a lot when he gets frustrated, while Miller is a streaky shooter who sometimes can go cold for long stretches.

EDGE: PHOENIX


BENCH: Phoenix relies heavily on its starters. Nash averaged the least amount of minutes played of the starters, as he played just over 34 minutes per game.

Veteran swingman Jim Jackson, center Steven Hunter and guard Leandrinho Barbosa will play the minutes that the Suns' starters can't. Jackson is a decent player around the perimeter and can light up the scoreboard if he finds his range, while Hunter gives the Suns a capable backup center and Barbosa can get Nash some rest.

Memphis is going to need its bench to contribute in a big way if it wants to have any kind of a chance against the high-powered Suns. Brian Cardinal, James Posey, Stromile Swift, Earl Watson and Bonzi Wells give the Grizzlies plenty of depth.

Cardinal and Posey are solid reserve forwards, while Swift will split time with Wright in the middle. All three are role players, but they should see plenty of action as the strength of the Suns' starting frontcourt should take a heavy toll on the stamina of Memphis' frontline. Cardinal and Posey will add some offense and Swift will take up space down low and will try and score some garbage points.

Watson and Wells will fill in for Miller and Williams when needed. If Memphis' starting backcourt is not effective early, Watson and Wells will be called upon early and often. The Grizzlies' reserve guards maybe more effective against Phoenix than Miller and Williams.

EDGE: MEMPHIS


COACH: Mike D'Antoni became the 12th head coach of the Suns on December 10, 2003, and was just 21-40 after he replaced Frank Johnson during the 2003-04 campaign. When the Suns signed Nash and Richardson in the offseason, D'Antoni realized the type of club he had and allowed the explosive Suns to run wild on offense this season. His philosophy of an up-tempo style is perfect for his squad and he has shown that he is a smart coach by playing to his teams strengths all season long.

Fratello has been through the playoff wars with the Hawks and Cavaliers. He has an all-time playoff record of 20-34 and will be appearing for the 11th time in postseason as a head coach. Fratello has done a great job with the Grizzlies and his experience and tactics could help in a close contest.

EDGE: EVEN


PREDICTION: The Suns are too strong for the Grizzlies on the court, as they will stick with their philosophy of winning with its offensive power against Memphis. The Grizzlies won't be able to stop the Suns finely-tuned machine.

SUNS IN FOUR

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04/21 14:43:47 ET