Any Phoenix Suns fans here?  

The main reason of the Suns' decline was Steve Kerr. Since Kerr took over the GM's (general manager) role for the Suns, the team started to go down. There were several head coaching changes and it was highlighted by the failed Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion trade. So why did the Suns fail? Here are some of my observations:

1.) Since Steve Nash returned to Phoenix in 2004, the Suns were designed by Mike D'Antoni to become a highly offensive team that thrives in fast paced basketball. They had achieved success in that and even changed the way the NBA plays right now, more high scoring games plus it is indeed entertaining. When Kerr took over as the GM and Terry Porter as the new head coach, several adjustments were made which affected the Suns type of basketball. Shaq doesn't fit a run-and-gun type of basketball and because of his presence, the Suns have to slow down a bit. Because they aren't putting much emphasis on defense, playing a slow paced basketball didn't do them good.

2.) The Suns are stuck with a very limited roster. Of all the players on their roster, only about 5 or 6 guys are reliable enough. Other teams are as deep as they can get while the Suns revolves on a very limited rotation. They are still facing the same dilemma this season. I really don't understand why Steve Kerr took Shaq instead of younger and cheaper players for Marion. But maybe we could wait for the 2010 offseason, maybe Kerr can pull something off his sleeve, Chris Bosh perhaps?

3.) Age is already starting to take it's toll. Grant Hill is 37 while Steve Nash is 35. Though both are still playing at a high level of basketball, they have indeed slowed down. They can still put up decent numbers game after game but compared against younger players like Chris Paul and Deron Williams on Nash and Kevin Durant on Hill, these younger guys are already way better which means the Suns need more to win games. Amare Stoudemire is forecasted to have a big season but with the limited line-up the Suns have, his efforts might go to waste. Probably a 20-10 season for Stoudemire.

Before Nash retires or probably either he or Stoudemire head somewhere else, I'd really love to see the Suns do the run-and-gun and fun-and-gun basketball. Despite a limited roster they have, with Nash and a healthy Stoudemire and highly athletic Jason Richardson, the Suns is still a very entertaining team to watch.

Phoenix just defeated the Memphis Grizzlies earlier and they once again claimed the number 1 spot for the season with 12-3. It's not yet so sure if they can go on with their winning ways or retain the number 1 seed for the rest of the season. The Suns have a very limited line-up and once fatigue will start to keep up with them, it might sound and spell trouble, especially considering the fact that most of the Suns reliable players are aging (Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Leandro Barbosa) and fragile (Amare Stoudemire).

I just hope that the Suns can pick some more players to further boost their line-up because their shallow roster will really hit them come playoffs time especially against teams like the Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, Nuggets, and even the Trail Blazers and Hornets.

You have the point but Nash and Hill play their best basketball in their career, it seems that Nash did a good job on maintaining his body and taught his teammate well... Look at Dudley how his body lose weight and I read article that Nash is his mentor.

Yes indeed, Steve Nash is one of the most disciplined players in the NBA right now. Seeing somebody as old as him play and even lead a team at a very high level is quite rare. There are a few players that I have seen do that and such names include Michael Jordan and Karl Malone, not a really bad list to belong to. Anyway, though Nash and Hill are playing great, they're already old and I think they're a step slower than younger players. Add to that Phoenix's not so deep roster, I don't think it would be good for the Suns as the season progresses. Though I'm not expecting the Suns to keep in pace with juggernauts like the Lakers and Nuggets in the West and Celtics, Magic, and Cavaliers in the East, the Suns are good enough to go far and give other teams some good challenge. I'm really thinking that this is the Suns last successful season if they intend to keep Nash and Stoudemire as their core. Their age is really a factor to consider for the team's future. Anyway, the 2010 offseason's free agency pool is really so deep and the Suns can really pick somebody up to build up for the future.