By Dustin Hockensmith
Fantasy Sports 101 Basketball

March 15, 2008 - For the second time in less than a week, the experimenting Phoenix Suns passed a difficult test by defeating the run-and-gun Warriors 123-115 on Thursday night. The win was the Suns' third straight, a mini-spurt that began with a 94-87 win over defending NBA champs San Antonio on Sunday.

The trick for Phoenix has been finding a happy medium with and without new acquisition Shaquille O'Neal in the lineup. He was vital in defending Spurs' center Tim Duncan in the paint, but was nonexistent as the Suns matched the fast-paced Warriors on Thursday. He scored nine points in 14 minutes, and the Suns went on to knock down 12 of their 24 3-point attempts.

Phoenix is proving that it can adapt and flick a switch between halfcourt grinds and fullcourt sprints to best take advantage of opponents' weaknesses. And if the Suns are able to adjust on the fly during the regular season, they should easily make the proper fixes on a series-by-series basis in the playoffs.

There's no question that their original style is less effective without the multi-dimensional Shawn Marion, which was the most dangerous aspect of general manager Steve Kerr making the deal in the first place. The strain was then placed on coach Mike D'Antoni and the players to compromise and get accustomed to a slower, more deliberate style.

Shaq has fulfilled a promise to do much of the compromising, gladly accepting a defense-first, offense-second role. He has also stepped up to the plate and met the challenges to get more fit and bring more consistent energy levels.

There have been ugly moments along the way - exhibit A being a 116-86 home loss to Detroit on Feb. 24 - but Phoenix is on the right track to making a substantial playoff run. These two wins over playoff-caliber teams are positive reports on the Suns' progress. Now, they must do the same when it counts; in the playoffs, where potentially four straight road series await.

My Take
Phoenix is not out of the water by any means. Lacking a true identity and allowing opponents to be forceful with their styles of play is extremely dangerous. Kerr believed that acquiring O'Neal was worth all the known risks, but what he may not have put into consideration was playoff positioning. As it is, the Suns will be a road team against the West's best, but what if they finish as the No. 5 seed and defer homecourt advantage to Utah, owners of the NBA's best home record?

Fantasy Spin
The superstars involved in the O'Neal trade have seen little change in their value. Nash and Stoudemire's stat lines have neither improved, nor worsened as a result, and Marion saw some lateral movement in what comprises his value. O'Neal hasn't been a world beater since heading to Phoenix, but he's suddenly healthy and motivated enough to post regular double-doubles.