Phoenix Suns 2010-11 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

Season Review 94-95
174
Review94-95
Review94-95
Season
RECORD
A flurry of offseason activity brought free agents Danny Manning and
Wayman Tisdale to a talent-laden roster as six current or former All-Stars 59-23
suited up. While the team appeared ready to take their final step toward
an NBA title, injuries plagued the club early and often. Charles Barkley strained an
abdominal muscle during preseason and missed the first 11 games. Kevin Johnson sat out
35 games during the year with leg injuries. Most damaging was the season-ending knee
injury Manning suffered February 6, after averaging 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 46 games.
Rookie Wesley Person, Elliot Perry and Dan Majerle enabled the Suns to withstand the
injury firestorm and hold the NBA’s top mark (38-10) at the break. Person earned a place on
the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. Perry finished second in voting for the NBA’s Most
Improved Player award, while Majerle became the first reserve to be voted to start on an
All-Star team.
Majerle, Barkley and the rest of the West team were coached to a win by Suns Head
Coach Paul Westphal at the 45th annual All-Star Game at America West Arena.
The Suns won eight of their last nine games to capture their third Pacific Division title
and earn the second seed in the playoffs.
The Suns swept Portland, 3-0, setting up a rematch with Houston. Gaining momentum in
the second round, the Suns took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven-game series. But the
defending champions refused to give up and battled back to win three-straight, including
an overtime victory in Game 5 and a one-point win in Game 7, on their way to a secondstraight
NBA championship.
FRONT ROW: Assistant Coach Scotty Robertson, Assistant Coach Lionel Hollins, Head Coach Paul Westphal,
Trevor Ruffin, Wesley Person, Charles Barkley, Danny Ainge, Kevin Johnson, Elliot Perry, Video Coach Garrick Barr,
NBA Scout Todd Quinter, Trainer Joe Proski.
BACK ROW: Strength Coach Robin Pound, Aaron Swinson, A.C. Green, Wayman Tisdale, Joe Kleine, Dan Schayes,
Danny Manning, Antonio Lang, Dan Majerle, Assistant Trainer Aaron Nelson, Equipment Manager Rich Howell.