How could Suns’ management seriously defend trading Amare Stoudemire with the record the team had with him? The Suns are a good team with him and it would have been almost impossible to replace him. If the Suns traded Stoudemire they would have been giving up on the 2009-10 season and that would have been a shame as they are a darn good basketball team right now. Stoudemire has played in 65 games (all starts) for the Suns this season and he is averaging 34.7 minutes, 22.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 blocked shot per game. Even if Stoudemire leaves the Suns as a free agent this summer the front office did the right thing in keeping him for the playoff stretch this season.

21-year old center Robin Lopez really played well in February for the Suns. He has played in 11 games this month and he is averaging 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game on 61% shooting from the floor. Lopez has now played in 39 games (19 starts) for the Suns this season and he is averaging 18.6 minutes, 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game on 61.5% shooting from the floor. Lopez has really given the Suns a boost giving Amare Stoudemire some needed help inside.

Steve Nash and his 36-year-old body have been hurting as of the late, specifically his back and abdomen.  It was bothering him so much that he stayed in Phoenix on Tuesday while the team went to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder.  The Suns were able to escape with a 104-102 win without Nash, but they are not the same team without him.  He returned to the court last night at home against the Philadelphia 76ers and he looked healthy and fresh.  He only played 29 minutes, but he went 8-9 from the field for 20 points, 13 assists, and 4 rebounds in a 106-95 win.  Hopefully Nash’s back/abdomen problem will wear off and they don’t get worse, because if the Suns want to get anywhere in the Western Conference playoffs they are going to need a healthy Nash running the show.

Backup point guard Goran Dragic is really doing a great job this season which has allowed Steve Nash to get the rest needed to stay sharp. Dragic has played in 52 games (1 start) for the Suns this season and he is averaging 17.4 minutes, 8.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. The Suns need Dragic to finish strong so that Steve Nash is fresh and ready to go for the playoffs.

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.