The Suns have lost starting power forward Channing Frye for the next 2-3 weeks due to a dislocated right shoulder. Frye has played in 61 games (48 starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 32.5 minutes, 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. While Frye is out of action, Hakim Warrick will need to step up for the Suns. Warrick has played in 59 games (1 start) so far this year for the Suns this season and he is averaging 17.5 minutes, 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Warrick isn’t nowhere near the outside shooter that Frye is, but he’s a good offensive player so the Suns should be o.k.

The Suns are going to be without 24-year old backup point guard Goran Dragic for several games due to the fact that he needed 9 stitches to close a gash on his left foot. He stepped on some glass. Dragic has played in 45 games (2 starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 18.4 minutes, 7.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. This is going to hurt the Suns in more ways than one. Dragic was allowing the Suns to watch 36-year old point guard Steve Nash’s minutes and it has kept him healthy and fresh. Nash will likely be asked to play more minutes until Dragic returns unless 26-year old rookie Zabian Dowdell steps up. Dowdell has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 6.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Nash is having an outstanding year for the Suns as he has played in 43 games (all starts) in which he is averaging 32.9 minutes, 17.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game. The Suns really hope Dowdell is ready for prime time because he’s the only other real point guard on the roster besides Nash & Dragic.

The Suns were expecting a lot more out of 27-year old SG/SF Josh Childress when they dealt for him over the summer. He has played in 31 games (3 starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 17.2 minutes, 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Childress is shooting 54.4% from the floor so far this year but only 56% from the free throw line. With the Suns being a run and gun team, Childress isn’t likely to see a bump in P.T. any time soon as offense is not his strength.

The Suns thought that 31-year old forward Hedo Turkoglu would benefit from the fast paced style of offense they ran. But to this point, Turkoglu has been a disappointment. Turkoglu has played in 19 games (16 starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 27.0 minutes, 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He is shooting 40% from three point range which is pretty solid but he is only hitting 68.8% from the free throw line and he’s better than that. If Turkoglu doesn’t pick up the pace soon he’s going to start losing more minutes to Hakim Warrick.

The Suns will be without center Robin Lopez for about a month due to sprains of his left MCL and PCL. He has played in 9 games (all starts) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 17.8 minutes, 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.1 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. The Suns will need Channing Frye to step up as he will replace Lopez in the starting lineup. Frye has played in 10 games (1 start) for the Suns so far this year and he is averaging 28.2 minutes, 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. The Suns are going to need Frye to get on the glass because they are a tad undersized when Lopez isn’t on the floor.