Small forward Jared Dudley is really playing well for the Suns right now. He will probably see a bump in his minutes due to Leandro Barbosa’s injury. Dudley has played in 49 games (1 start) for the Suns this season and he is averaging 24.0 minutes, 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Dudley is also shooting lights out from three point range hitting 46.9% from that distance. If he keeps playing like he is righty now I have little doubt that he will be starting for the Suns in the near future.

Steve Nash has been playing at an amazing level, especially when you consider the fact that he is 35-years-old.  He is averaging 18.3 points, 11.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds, while shooting 52% from the field and 43% from three.  The Suns have not been playing very well lately though, and they have lost 6 of their last 10 games.  Now news has surfaced that Nash has an abdominal strain and he has been sitting out of practice because of it.  It obviously bothered Nash, as he went 2-10 from the field and 1-6 from three in their 115-111 win over the Houston Rockets last game.  Nash doesn’t need to score to make an impact though, as he had 16 assists and played through the pain in his abdomen.  The Suns are going to need Nash to continue his 18 ppg average if they want to be successful down the stretch of the season and leading into the postseason.  So, hopefully he can get over this abdominal strain quickly.  Nothing heals quickly in the grind of the 82 game season though, especially when your 35.  Some other Suns players need to step it up when it comes to scoring the ball, because this abdominal strain really effects Nash’s shooting.

Amar’e Stoudemire has been a beast for the Phoenix Suns once again this season and has been a very efficient force for them.  Stoudemire has been a great player for the Suns ever since he came into the league in 2002, and he recently reached 10,000 career points.  On the season, Stoudemire has been strong and healthy all year on his way to averages of 20.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.8 steals.  He is making a red-hot 56% of his shots and has been one of the Suns most consistent players.  The Suns have really been struggling this month though, with a record of 5-7 in January.  In each of their losses this month they have given well over 100 points, so everyone including Amar’e needs to step it up on the defensive end.  His rebounding and blocked shots numbers are a little down, so if he could give the Suns an extra boost on the defensive end it could help them get out of the funk they have been in this month.

The Suns will be without SG/SF Leandro Barbosa for about a month as he will undergo surgery to remove a cyst from his right wrist. He has played in 29 games (5 starts) for the Suns this season and he is averaging 19.7 minutes, 10.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. This will hurt the Suns as Barbosa gives them a shot of instant offense off the bench.

The Suns are starting Robin Lopez at center now and it’s really effecting the play of Channing Frye. Frye is only averaging 18.6 minutes, 6.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game this year. Frye’s shot has been way off as he is only hitting 28.1% of his shots from the floor in his last five games. Frye’s overall numbers still look good as he has played in 44 games (41 starts) in which he is averaging 30.1 minutes, 11.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Frye is also shooting 43.2% from three point range which is unheard of for a NBA center.