But who cares about that? The Suns' fire has been extinguished, and so has mine.
In hindsight, what a great season it was for this team, and what a ride they've taken us on! Saddled with injuries, they played with a big heart and continued their run-and-gun style that many said would not take them to the post-season. Yet there they were, 102 games later, more than any other team had played this year, almost making it to the NBA Finals. In the playoffs, they defeated the L.A. Lakers in 7 games, then the L.A. Clippers in 7 games. But alas, they could not overcome the Dallas Mavericks to take it one step further.
I was lucky enough to see them play live at the US Airways Center in Phoenix three times in the regular season. That in itself was awesome, but what was even more awesome was how, in the final hours before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Billy surprised me with two tickets to the game as we were having dinner right in downtown Phoenix! Our seats? Row 1, midcourt! I was stunned and so excited.
Once the game started, it was only this close to the players that I could see for the first time how hard two-time MVP (and my favorite player) Steve Nash really works; how hard he pounds the ball as he adeptly sidesteps an opponent to get into the paint; how fast 23-year-old Brazilian Leandro Barbosa really is; and how in tune with each other a team should be to wordlessly orchestrate their offense.
That evening, though, my next-favorite player Raja Bell was on the bench with a partial tear in his right calf. Sadly, after surviving so many injuries this season, this was the one that the team couldn't overcome. Raja played but was hampered by this injury when they lost Game 6, and with it, the Western Conference series to Dallas.
And so, what now? I can't believe that the Suns' season is actually over.
The team is heart-broken after having come so close to a trophy only to have it slip away. They were short-handed due to injuries and a not-so-deep bench, and exhausted after playing 102 fast-paced games for so long.
In the end, they have next year to look forward to. As TNT analyst and former player Charles Barkley said, if Amare Stoudemire comes back healthy next year, the Suns are going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks, Phoenix Suns, for working your butts off and playing your hearts out, for giving all you had and even more. We'll see you in November, when your fans will be back to rock the house.
Top photo: Desktop wallpaper from Suns.com.
Game photos, row 1, L-R: Showing off my rally towel in my first row seat; two-time MVP Steve Nash warms up before the game; Dallas Mavericks warming up on the court.
Row 2, L-R: The TNT guys Magic Johnson, EJ, Kenny and Charles Barkley in their pre-game show; the Suns warming up; Billy and me.
Row 3, L-R: playoff ticket (row 1, baby!); Billy waiting for tip-off.
Bottom: Half-page ad in the local paper, the Arizona Republic.
