SUNS GETTING HOT AS WEATHER COOLS OFF IN THE DESERT

BY AARON KEEL

In a city known for its blistering summers, ironically it's the cold of winter in Phoenix that has seen the hometown Suns heat up in this still early NBA season.

A team that reached the conference finals two years running, the Suns stumbled out of the gates this season going 3-6 through their first nine games.

For most fans, 3-6 would not be a huge cause for concern since there are 73 games left in the season to right the ship.

For fans of the team picked by many, including Sports Illustrated and Slam Magazine, to win the title?

In one word.

Anarchy.

From an outside perspective one might have thought that the apocalypse as upon the people in Phoenix as everyone from the bus driver to the local sports writers weighed in on what was wrong with their Suns.

Anyone looking for answers needed to look no further then the Suns' own season commercial in which they explain how all their "negatives' weren't a problem.

Well, in their slow start all those "negatives" that weren't supposed to be problems were definitely a huge problem.

Let's see.

Too wide open?

Check.

Overmatched?

Check.

Not enough "D"?

Check and double check.

These problems were making the natives restless at the thought of another title-less season.

The elections?

"Who cares when the Suns are sitting in the division cellar"!

The city braced for the looting and rioting that would surely happen if the season got any worse.

But then, it happened.

Just as suddenly as winter had started to show its face in Arizona , the Suns started playing like a championship caliber team rattling off six straight wins going into Tuesday night's game against the division leading Sacramento Kings.

The streak started in true Phoenix Suns fashion in a thrilling 113-110 road victory over Golden State . Reigning MVP Steve Nash, who had missed the previous two games with a bad back, nailed the GW 3 pointer with 4.1 seconds left in the game.

The streak has continued with wins over the Nets, Hornets, and Rockets as well as the Blazers and Bucks.

So what happened to the team that started 3-6?

For that we go to the numbers.

A team that was 0-4 on the road before the start of this streak has gone 2-0 away from their friendly confines.

A team that had the tendency to play soft with big leads has learned to finish games strong.

A defense that was giving up 107 points a game during their 3-6 start has only allowed an average of 99 points during the win streak.

Amare Stoudamire, a question mark coming into this season after micro facture surgery, has been a beast recording four straight games of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

You get the picture.

The Suns are close to being back to their winning ways. A five game road trip that starts the 7 th and includes a date with a powerful Orlando Magic will be the true test to determining if this team is all the way back.

The natives are calmed and the rioting has been called off for now.

Winter is here and fans of the Suns can take comfort in the fact that they can draw warmth from a team that's getting hot at the right time.

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