What the season could bring...
It seems that everyone is equally excited for the start of the season, the players, the coaching staff, the sports medicine staff, the organization, and the greatest fans in the NBA (Suns fans, of course)!
I had to take time off from blogging during the preseason as it seems like a season within itself. Obviously, I am excluding the beginning of preseason with our trip to Europe which is a unique situation to the normal NBA preseason rigor. The preseason becomes a little long and players tend to lose interest in the games, although it is better than scrimmaging each other every day.
I will reiterate that we have a great group of guys which will hopefully equate to a great team and eventually an NBA title. We have had our share of bumps and bruises throughout the preseason, but as we head into the season opener against the Lakers tomorrow, we seem to be overall healthy. Again, I must say how lucky I am to have a great staff around me. Mike (Elliott) and Erik (Phillips) help make my job a lot easier, while our team doctors, Dr. Carter and Dr. Phelps, help me maintain sanity by having several conversations with me each week in regards to the well-being of our team. We all share in the daily receiving of information from those who have the cure all for our guy’s ailments. I really believe that there are individuals who think our staff just sits around and looks at our players hoping only time will heal their injury. On the contrary, we all discuss almost daily new modalities, nutrition, psychological advancements, and just ways to stay ahead in the world of sports medicine. Some individuals are never ending in there quest to push their product, but my staff and I do evaluate the information and try to decide what to do with it. It is a challenge when you are dealing with players worth millions of dollars, so we make sure anything we do use or try is supported by research. For all of the Sun’s fans who have a question about what we actually do to treat our injured players, I can only tell you to believe me when I say that we take pride in giving our players great care.
Now, back to the thought of winning a championship. I am fortunate enough to be around these guys several hours a day almost every day of the season. We all spend a lot of time together and I can reassure you that chemistry is a vital part of winning at any level. These guys possess the chemistry it takes, and hopefully with a few breaks here and there(not the boney kind), we will have our shot. Our coaches do an unbelievable job of preparing the team for both practice and games. Case in point, the Sunday NFL games are shut off in the training room prior to practice so the coaches can review game tape with certain players. I guess that is a sacrifice worth making as long as we win!
Hopefully I can bring more exciting news in the seasonal blog, and hopefully it is the good, fun kind. Just remember, our guys do feed off of a rowdy crowd, so anyone reading this who comes to any of the games, get those around you screaming and yelling (no profanity please) because it will help drive this team. We all get to do our part!!
Comments
Wiago - saskatoon
The suns can win quarters, win games, get the the playoffs, get to wester conference finals, and now that they have STAT back, this will be a Chapionship team. I have no doubt they win it all sometime in the next couple of years, maybe not this year, but some year soon.
Keep Your Hopes Up Suns Fans!
Britney - Los Angeles
I think Mike Elliott is the hottest trainer in the NBA. Is he single?
Chad - Peoria
Great blog, Nelson! I've enjoyed all the players' blogs, but really appreciate yours. You provide some unique insight into the Suns' season that we as fans can't find in the newspaper or anywhere else, for that matter. Keep it up!
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