Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Season Review 75-76
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Review75-76
Review75-76
Season
The Suns opened what proved to be one of their most exciting seasons
by winning 14 of their first 23 games. The 14-9 start was the best in 42-40
franchise history. A string of injuries and a puzzling midseason slump had
the Suns winning only four of their next 22, but after the All-Star break the Suns caught
fire going 24-13 and storming into the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics. The team
clinched its first playoff berth in six years by defeating the L.A. Lakers, 113-98, at Veterans
Memorial Coliseum on April 8, 1976.
There were several reasons for the Suns turnaround: a Charlie Scott for Paul Westphal
trade in the offseason, the drafting of Alvan Adams and Ricky Sobers, the acquisition of
Al Bianchi as assistant coach, and the midseason trade that sent John Shumate to Buffalo
and brought Garfield Heard to Phoenix.
Phoenix eliminated Seattle 4-2, then went on to upset the World Champion Golden State
Warriors and Rick Barry, 4-3, to gain a berth in the NBA Finals against the fabled Boston
Celtics, led by Dave Cowens and John Havlicek. The Suns lost the first two games in Boston,
but came back to knot the series with a pair of victories in Phoenix.
Game 5 will no doubt go down in basketball history as one of the most exciting games
ever played: A triple-overtime contest that eluded the Suns by a few precious seconds and
cost them the World Championship. Boston won the series 4-2.
Alvan Adams was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and became only the 10th first-year
player to be named to the midseason All-Star Game. General Manager Jerry Colangelo was
named NBA Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.
FRONT ROW: Ricky Sobers, Phil Lumpkin, John Wetzel, Head Coach John MacLeod, Dick Van Arsdale,
Paul Westphal, Pat Riley.
BACK ROW: Assistant Coach Al Bianchi, Gar Heard, Curtis Perry, Dennis Awtrey, Alvan Adams,
Keith Erickson, Nate Hawthorne, Trainer Joe Proski.
RECORD