The Suns' success should come as no coincidence with the emergence of these three players:
All three are young guys who in the previous season would conveniently be considered average role player/ maybe a filler in trades such as Dudley.
But all three together have a breakout season and therefore contribute a lot to the Suns' rise to a championship contending status.
Before beating Dallas in the first round, I thought Spurs were very dangerous and thought they could win the title as a 6th seed or lower since 1994 Houston Rockets. After they beat Dallas, I was convinced they would be an automatic shoo-in to the WCF to give the Lakers all they can handle, possibly advance to the NBA Finals and win it.
But now, these Suns hold a 3-0 lead on the Spurs. No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit in a 7 game playoffs series... I believe in all pro sports, not only in basketball.
Back to these guys, they're at least the 3 reasons why the Suns are so good this year. Dudley is a sniper on offense and his defense sparks the intensity and rubs on his teammates to do the same.
Before this season, Frye had only hit 40+ three pointers. This year ALONE, dude tripled, almost quadrupled that makes. Go figure... He has transformed himself from one-dimensional, no defense, soft to one of the most dangerous (if not the most dangerous after Dirk) shooting C/ PF, a mix-it-up on defense player.
Then Goran Dragic... I believe this kid is something special. Mark my words he will be an All Star within 2-3 years. He has that smoothness and unteachable instincts in running a team. He knows how to distribute on the break, in a half-court, he knows when to get his own points, and plays defense. Kid has a complete package.
Well, why the heck would I post this on this site? Because I believe that's what the Nuggets can count on. The development of their own young guys:
- Arron Afflalo... let's just start by saying here that he is a gym rat. He will get better and better. I really see AAA to raise his game to the next level offensively and defensively in 2010-2011 season. Offensively, I see him average 14-15 ppg as a starter and this will include improvements (by Kobe definition: "adding something you didn't have previously") such as isolation post up or one-on-one in halfcourt sets. Some pull-ups off the dribble consistently would be huge for him. It will also include learning the tricks how to get to the free throw line... it will add automatic, easy 5-6 ppg to his stats. Having a mid-range game that opponents respect will make him extremely dangerous as he can go for the 3 or just be as dangerous inside. He will be everything we hoped J.R. would be. He will be so dangerous offensively that he can be that CONSISTENT 14-15 ppg (hear me J.R.?) Robin to Melo's batman. And it will not peak as he will get better and better each season. Defensively, he will play the same exact clean defense on superstars such as Kobe/ Roy/ Wade... but dude should also bulk up and be more physical when opponents have him down low. If you expect AAA to stay a 9ppg player with nice defense... you're WRONG... and if you think he will peak at 14-15 ppg... you're WRONG. AAA will only get better and better... if not, all the hard workers should stop working hard because if AAA can't get better, they won't. LOL. He will be that legitimate Robin guy we've wanted to put alongside Melo. I believe this guy can, in his prime, average 17-18 ppg and possibly be named an All Star once/ twice in his career. But shoot, never limit yourself... achieve as much as you can. If you want to count on somebody in this L, not only on Nuggets, to get better, it's this guy.
- Ty Lawson... high character guy, right attitude... he should improve in the summer and give us more.
- Joey Graham... is that 19 pt 2nd quarter a fluke or is it the turning point of his career? I found out Joey has touch and is not a stiff. Resign dude, we have to.
- Johan Petro... I really think either or even BOTH KMart and Nene could be gone by next November. If so, perhaps it would mean more consistent minutes for Petro. He should fully take advantage of opportunity and show he can play...
- ???... and hopefully through some trades involving Nene, KMart, and J.R. we can get that throw-in guy like Jared Dudley who was a role player nobody cares about in 2009-2010 and gives the Nuggets inspiring performance in 2010-2011.
We have at least 4 cards to play with... improving from within... but each of these guys must take their game to the next level by quantum leaps. And we can be special.
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