It's a new era for the Phoenix Suns. Long time point guard and the former brightest star Steve Nash has left for the brighter lights of Los Angeles. Gorgan Dragic has returned to become the successor of Nash at the point.
The team has brought whole squad of new faces including Dragic, Luis Scola, Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Kendall Marshall, P.J. Tucker and Jermaine O'Neal. Gone are Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress and Ronnie Price.
The team maybe more talented this season than they were with Nash, the Suns have young athletic players that will be coming of the bench like Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall. They have solid veteran back up is Channing Frye and Telfair.
Marcin Gortat gives the team length, athleticism and defense. Plus if Gortat has another season like last year where he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds, he could be an All-Star game candidate. Luis Scola provides a consistent low-post scorer to complement Gortat.
If the team has one issue, it is that they have not played together. But this team has enough talent to pull it together by mid-season and maybe sneak in as the eighth seed in the playoffs.
According to NBA 2K13 the team gets the seventh spot in the Western conference and will face their old point guard Steve Nash in the playoffs. The Lakers dominate and sweep the series. Nash averages a double-double on his former team during the series. But on the brighter side, Dragic does a great job replacing Nash in the regular season averaging 14 points per game and 10 assist.
Here is how the game simulates the Suns' season:
Regular Season Record: 43-39 seventh in the Western Conference
Top scorers: C Marcin Gortat 15.1 PPG, SF Michael Beasley 17.2 PPG, SG Shannon Brown 19.9 PPG
Leading rebounders: SF Michael Beasley 6.4 RPG, PF Luis Scola 6.9 RPG, C Marcin Gortat 10.6 RPG
Assist Leader: SG Shannon Brown 4.1 APG, PG Michael Beasley 4.7 APG, PG Gorgan Dragic 10 APG
Playoff Opponents
Round 1: Los Angeles Lakers, The Lakers win the series 4-0
Round 2: Did not qualify
Conference Finals: Did not qualify
NBA Finals: Did not qualify
Check out our other NBA 2K13 team previews:
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Los Angeles Clippers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Portland Trail Blazers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Washington Wizards
Denver Nuggets