If you’re keeping track, and I’m guessing you are, the Phoenix Suns have made it a series with the Los Angeles Lakers, and are as close as they’ve been in a long time to the NBA Finals.
The last time the Suns made the Finals was 1993, when they got ousted in six games by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the Chicago Bulls juggernaut. It was one of only times the Suns have made the Finals, and the only time in the modern playoffs format—the other was in 1976.
Having lived in Tucson in the 90′s, it doesn’t take me any research to rattle the starting five of that ’93 team. Charles Barkley led the way, of course. Running the point was Kevin Johnson, who is now the mayor of Sacramento (no joke). And then there was Thunder Dan Majerle. Man, what a team.
It’s interesting to look at the similarities between the current Suns incarnation and that lineup that probably goes down as the most famous Suns group in history. The leaders are in the same positions—Nash/Stoudemire have taken the place of KJ/Barkley, Jason Richardson is the new Majerle, and Grant Hill is just like… okay, Grant Hill couldn’t be more different than Cedric Ceballos.
I thought it’d be interesting to stack up these two teams, using the How To Watch Sports matchup tool of choice—Spider Graphs. If you’re unfamiliar with Spider Graphs, get caught up with a quick Spider Graph primer.
With these graphs, we can start to gauge if the 2010 team could hang with the 1993.
It makes sense to start with the least interesting, right? Mark West is probably the least memorable member of the ’93 Suns—not because he was an unproductive or unimportant player, but because his teammates were so much bigger.
It’s interesting to see how nearly identical Robin Lopez’s production is to West’s, resulting in almost matching graphs. Neither was called upon to be an offensive force, but both could provide some solid post defense.
Technically Channing Frye started more games than Lopez this year, but I used Lopez here since (1) he’s the starter now, and (2) the graph made a better comparison. So did the 2010 or 1993 team have a better starting center? Gotta call it a wash.
Small forwards are next.
In 2010, we have Grant Hill—37 years old, and a defensive specialist. He can put the ball in the bucket when he needs to, but his job is to shut down Kobe Bryant or whatever athletic perimeter player needs containing.
In 1993, there was 23-year-old Cedric Ceballos—23 years old, and primarily an offensive threat. He might have taken some breaks on defense, but he led the league in field goal percentage that year. The Suns’ small forward spot was full of youthful athleticism in 1993—Ceballos split the starting role with rookie Richard Dumas.
With them having totally different roles, it’s hard to give either squad the advantage at the position. I call it even.
Now it gets interesting. Dan Majerle was a deadly shot from beyond the arc, but I’d forgotten that he could jump the passing lanes as well. All in all, Majerle had better numbers in assists and steals, which makes him shake out like a more versatile Jason Richardson.
Which surprises me. For how important Richardson’s production is to the Suns winning, his graph doesn’t paint him as the big-time scorer he comes across as. He may only put in less than 16 points per game on average, but it’s absolutely critical that he does.
This is the first matchup where we have to give an advantage. It’s not a big one, but Thunder Dan and the ’93 Suns have the advantage here.
There’s something great about putting Steve Nash and Kevin Johnson on the same graph. These two guys have had an enormous impact on the history of the Phoenix Suns franchise.
Much like Majerle’s edge over Richardson, KJ shows a defensive advantage over Nash (I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised to find the ’93 team a bit more equipped on the defensive end, even with Alvin Gentry’s renewed focus on D). The two line up in more than a couple categories: points per game, field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks. KJ, like Nash, was a pass-first point.
Nash, as is clear from the graph, has the edge in assists. This is where the two split on the offensive end—the 2010 Suns always, always run their offense through Nash, whereas the 1993 Suns moved it around. I have a hunch that if you added Johnson’s and Majerle’s assists together, you’d equal Nash’s.
This is another matchup where it’s hard to give an edge—Nash is better offensively, KJ was better on defense. Despite their similar production, one was 26 years old and had made two All-Star teams, the other is 35 and has won two MVPs. The graphs make them too close to call, but the context gives Nash and 2010 the edge.
Finally, we come to this fantastic, fantastic showdown between Charles Barkley and Amare Stoudemire.
Before we go too far it’s worth reminding ourselves of the physical differences between these two monsters. Stoudemire is a legit 6’10″, 249 lbs. Barkley was officially listed at 6’6″, but the Round Mound of Rebound admits to actually being around 6’4″—and a few pounds heavier than Stoudemire.
Stoudemire might not have put up the flashiest numbers of his career this season, but he’s come a long way in maturity and consistency. The weak bottom-and-left of his graph gives away his defensive shortcomings, but the top of his graph reveals him as the monster he is on offense—including his 56% shooting from the field, giving a nod to the high-percentage shots he likes to take (we usually call them dunks).
Unfortunately, Stoudemire is just getting outclassed here. Barkley won the MVP in this 1993 year (over the likes of Jordan, Olajuwon, Malone, etc.). His Spider Graph is outrageously well-balanced for a big man—he scored a lot and efficiently, but he also pulled down his share of boards, dished out his share of outlet passes, blocked some shots, and even got his hands on some steals.
Putting Stoudemire up against a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest power forwards of all time shines a spotlight on how far STAT has to go if he is to be truly great. While he’s been an important part of the Suns’ considerable success this year, it’s not the same as the way Barkley led his team by furious, determined example—and they would have won an NBA Title if not for the Bulls (who, honestly, could have let somebody else win one).
Ultimately, we have to give the edge to the ’93 Suns, mostly on the back of Dan Majerle’s versatility and Charles Barkley’s ridiculous dominance.
I’ve said little about the difference in style between the Alvin Gentry Suns and the Paul Westphal Suns, but a quick breakdown might surprise you. We know the current Suns like to run, and can be suspect on defense—they averaged 95.3 possessions per game, and were 1st in the league in offense and 23rd in defense.
The Suns of the past, though, ran even more. They averaged an even quicker 99.8 possessions per game, while also finishing 1st in the league in offense—but also finishing 9th in the defense. Don’t say it can’t be done.
So, the 1993 Suns have the edge. But we’ve seen the 2010 Suns get hot, and they’ve got a fighting chance to take out the Lakers and move on. When they’re hitting their shots, anything can happen.
And maybe someday we’ll compare a future team to them.
I think the one place where the 2010 team starts catches up the most on the 1993 team the most is the bench.
The 93 had Danny Ainge, Oliver Miller, Tom Chambers, Frank Johnson and Dumas/Ceballos. Three of those players were on an obvious decline at that point in their careers.
The 2010 team’s bench, however, includes a five players on the upswing (Dragic, Barbosa, Frye, Dudley and Amundson).
I think the edge has to go to the 2010 team there.