Ira Winderman

You ask, we (try to) answer:

Q: Could the Phoenix Suns be a top-four Western Conference team this year by going back to their run-and-gun offense?
— Steve, Sparta, N.J.

Q: How far can the Phoenix Suns go with their run-and-fun style this year and how does their talent stack up with the rest of the Western Conference?
— Steve, Vancouver, B.C.

A: Steve meet Steve. Brilliant Steve minds apparently think alike.

I do think the Suns again are legit, simply because they are playing to the strengths of their best player (a novel idea, isn't it?).

Speaking of Steves, it's as if Steve Nash is sending a message to both Terry Porter and Shaquille O'Neal that he's not going anywhere any time soon, and that he remains very much relevant.

Now, there remains an issue of whether someone of Nash's age and someone with his history of back pain can endure through an 82-game season and beyond, but I wouldn't bet against him.

As a bonus, with Amare Stoudemire in a contract year, it's not as if he is going to be backing down, especially when he'll be squaring off against Chris Bosh on the free-agent market.

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Beyond that, it appears as if Jason Richardson has also settled into the Suns' approach, and that Channing Frye has finally found his special purpose.

As far as where the Suns will finish, with New Orleans clearly having its issues, and with Utah seemingly a shell of its former self, I do think a case could be made for the Suns possibly grabbing a No. 4 seed.

The West clearly is down this season. But the Suns, under Alvin Gentry, seem to be back up.

Oh, and they're a hoot to watch, too.

Q: Why didn't the Hornets fire Byron Scott after they were eliminated in the playoffs by the Nuggets? It was obvious that the players quit on him and they were not playing well.
— Vince, Benalmadena, Malaga (Spain)

A: Why? Because Byron still was due $5 million and with the Hornets' financial state, every million counts.

Also, that simply was too soon. As it turned out, Denver was last season's destiny team in the West, advancing all the way to the conference finals before losing to the Lakers, so it wasn't as if New Orleans was eliminated by a second-tier outfit.

What I do find interesting amid all the fallout of Scott's dismissal is how seemingly unbending Byron was. It seems to be a trait of so many who have fallen from the Pat Riley tree. In fact, I'm wondering if Kurt Rambis' adamant approach with the triangle offense won't lead to his own issues with a Timberwolves roster clearly not designed to run such an approach.

Q: This may be too soon to answer, but who do you think will be traded to a contender to help them out in their push to go deep in the playoffs and what team do you think will strike first? I feel like the Cavs got a reality check early this season.
— Kurtis, Swanzey, N.H.

A: Good call on the Cavs. With the uncertainty surrounding Delonte West, and with the lack of a definitive scorer on the wing opposite LeBron James, I think they remain prime players in what should come down to a Stephen Jackson lottery.

Failing that, Cleveland already has worked out Antonio Daniels, who could be brought onboard on short notice.

I don't think Cleveland is done making moves because I don't think it can afford to be. Danny Ferry has to show LeBron that he will continue to be proactive.

Q: Given the recent media coverage, what are the real the odds of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade being teammates in Miami? The way the cap situation looks, and how LeBron wants to play with a superstar and have a chance to win, Miami seems to be a top choice in my opinion.
— Gus, Greece

A: Like everyone else, I still give the overwhelming edge to the Cavaliers to retain LeBron.

But should Cleveland fail to make it at least as far as a competitive Eastern Conference finals (in other words, a step back from last season), then I think all bets are off.

I still don't see New York making sense, because of the dearth of talent in place.

But remember, if Cleveland does think there is a legitimate chance of losing LeBron, then a sign-and-trade could open it up to any team, not just those with cap space.

Does Miami remain a possibility? Sure. And until that possibility is extinguished, Pat Riley isn't spending his money anywhere else.

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