Suns' wheels? Officially OFF

If you read this site regularly, you know that I've already bailed on the Suns -- this year, next year, any year as long as the core of the team looks more or less the way it does now. However, I know that many of you out there are in the "give them time to gel" camp. No need. You could legitimately make that argument if the Suns were losing games because of lousy offense. Then you could say, "Well, you have to give them time to get Shaq integrated into the system." But the Suns are losing on the defensive end. (For example, Philly scored 119 points tonight. Yup, 119...and that was after hitting only three three-pointers.) Shaq is about as integrated on defense as he's going to get. In fact, he's showing unusual hustle. The problem is (broken record alert), this was a team built on offense, with defense as an afterthought.

My advice? When the season's done, get rid of Mike D'Antoni, get rid of everybody but Shaq (because you won't be able to unload that contract) and Amare (because you can tolerate his crappy defense when he has offensive numbers like he does), and start over. Again.

Footnote: Am I suggesting that we get rid of Nash? Yup. I love Steve Nash. I love his style of play. I love that he takes the game so seriously. But he's the main ingredient in a recipe that has turned out badly. Time for him to go...or get used to a role as back-up to a defense-minded point guard.

Anklenote: If you're still holding out hope for the Suns, I've got two questions for you: (1) why is no one saying, "Give Paul Gasol time to adapt to the triangle"?; and (2) why is no one saying, "Yeah, well, things will turn around for the Lakers when Andrew Bynum comes back"?