56-year old Alvin Gentry did another solid job as the head coach of the Suns last year. With Amare Stoudemire off to the Knicks last season, it often seemed like Gentry was going into gun fights with butter knives, which makes it even more amazing that the Suns almost finished .500 (40-42) in 2010-11. Gentry has now been the Suns’ head coach for parts of three years in which he has compiled a 112-83 (57.4%) record during the regular season and he is 10-6 (62.5%) during the playoffs. Gentry now has a career record of 289-309 (48.3%) during the regular season and he is 12-9 (57.1%) during the playoffs. He looks for the right guy to get the Suns back on the right track.

37-year old point guard Steve Nash keeps rolling along for the Phoenix Suns. He played in 75 games (all starts) last season for the Suns and he averaged 33.3 minutes, 14.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game. Nash has now played in 1,090 games in his NBA career and he is averaging 31.3 minutes, 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. He has been an amazing shooter from everywhere on the basketball court in his NBA career as he has shot 48.9% from the floor, 42.9% from three point range and 90.4% from the free throw line. Nash is now #5 in Suns’ history in games played with 682. He is also the all-time leader in three-pointers made (996), #2 in assists (6,333) and he is #7 (9,940) in Suns’ history.

In his last five games with the Suns, Aaron Brooks is averaging 21.0 minutes, 11.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He has now played in 21 games (4 starts) for the Suns since coming over in the deal with the Rockets and he is averaging 18.3 minutes, 10.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Brooks will likely start to get more P.T. the rest of the year with the Suns out of the playoff hunt, as they will likely want to give Steve Nash a rest a little more often.

27-year old PF/C Channing Frye has been stepping up for the Suns. In his last five games, Frye is averaging 37.2 minutes, 14.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.6 blocked shots per game. He is only shooting 39.4% from the floor in those games but he is 5 of 11 (45.5%) shooting from three point range. The Suns would be ecstatic if Frye could keep up the good work on the boards and on D but I tend to think it’s a mirage as he doesn’t like mixing it up in the paint. Frye has now played in 50 games (37 starts) so far this year and he is averaging 32.4 minutes, 11.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. The Suns hope that Frye keeps up the good work as they are going to need all the help they can get if they want to make the playoffs.

26-year old Marcin Gortat should be starting over Robin Lopez at center. In his last five games, Gortat is averaging 26.4 minutes, 12.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 60% from the floor. Gortat has played in 18 games (1 start) since coming over to the Suns and he is averaging 24.6 minutes, 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. Gortat is a legit big man and I think he would average a double-double if he started and played 30 minutes per night. The Suns need to make the change.