2011–12 Phoenix Suns season explained

Team:Phoenix Suns
End Year:2012
Wins:33
Losses:33
Division:Pacific
Division Place:3rd
Conf Place:10th
Coach:Alvin Gentry
Gm:Lance Blanks
Owners:Robert Sarver
Arena:US Airways Center
Television:Fox Sports Arizona
Radio:KTAR
Playoffs:Did not qualify
Bbr Team:PHO

The 2011–12 Phoenix Suns season was the 44th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as the last season the Suns had point guard Steve Nash on the team. The season was shortened to sixty-six games due to the 2011 NBA Lockout. Going into the All-Star break with a 14–20 record, the Suns went 14–6 in their next 20 games to push back into playoffs contention. Towards the end of the season, the eighth-seeded Suns were still in the hunt, but a loss after their second-to-last game on the road against the Utah Jazz eliminated them from playoff contention. They went 8–7 in April, finishing the season with a 33–33 record, 10th-best in the West.

Nash led the team in assists per game (10.7; second-best average in the league, most assists in total), three-point percentage (.390%), and free throw percentage (.894%), while averaging a career-high in field goal percentage (.532%). Center Marcin Gortat led the team in most statistical categories, including games played (66), games started (66), minutes per game (32.0), field goal percentage (.555%), rebounds per game (10.0), blocks per game (1.5), and points per game (15.4). Nash was the lone member of the Suns selected for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, his eighth appearance. In a game against the Denver Nuggets on April 21, Nash passed Oscar Robertson for fifth all-time in total assists.

Key dates

Offseason

NBA draft

See main article: 2011 NBA draft.

The Suns used their only draft pick to select power forward Markieff Morris from Kansas. Morris averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his last year with the Jayhawks.[3] The Suns traded their other first-round pick, which they acquired from the Orlando Magic, to the Houston Rockets when they dealt Goran Dragić for Aaron Brooks.[4] Their second-round pick was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Hakim Warrick in a sign and trade.[5] Around a year and a half later, the Suns ended up with the 14th draft pick in Marcus Morris, who would be a part of the team for two or so seasons before being traded himself in 2015.

Free agency

Veteran forward Grant Hill became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010–11 season. Newly acquired point guard Aaron Brooks became a restricted free agent at the end of the season. On June 23, the Suns extended a $3 million qualifying offer to Brooks.[6] However, due to the lockout, Brooks signed a contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association on November 22. With no opt-out clause, Brooks had to complete the CBA season before returning to the NBA. On February 6, 2011, reserve point guard Zabian Dowdell was signed for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, with a team option for a second year.

Coaching changes

On July 14, the Suns signed Elston Turner as an assistant coach. Turner is considered to be a defensive specialist and has been called the Suns' unofficial "defensive coordinator".[7]

Roster

Salaries

The final year of Vince Carter's contract was non-guaranteed. Carter's contract stipulated that if he was not waived by the Suns before the start of free agency on July 1, his $18 million would become fully guaranteed. However, with the onset of the lockout, the Suns delayed the deadline until the date on which free agency began at the end of the lockout. Since he was waived by the time the lockout ended and the free agency period officially began that season, he would receive a guaranteed $4 million outside of the team instead.[8] The second-year contracts of Gani Lawal and Garret Siler were non-guaranteed.[9]

Preseason

|- bgcolor="ffcccc"| 1| December 20| @ Denver| | Marcin Gortat,
Hakim Warrick (14)| Marcin Gortat,
Markieff Morris (8)| Steve Nash,
Sebastian Telfair (5)| Pepsi Center
11,475| 0–1|- bgcolor="ffcccc"| 2| December 22| Denver| | Jared Dudley (17)| Markieff Morris (7)| Steve Nash (8)| US Airways Center
12,613| 0–2

Regular season

Game log

All games from November 1 through December 24 were canceled due to the 2011 NBA Lockout. A new schedule was created with games starting on December 25.

|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 1| December 26| New Orleans| | Robin Lopez (21)| Markieff Morris (9)| Steve Nash (12)| US Airways Center
17,776| 0–1|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 2| December 28| Philadelphia| | Ronnie Price (16)| Channing Frye,
Marcin Gortat (8)| Ronnie Price (4)| US Airways Center
16,360| 0–2|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 3| December 30| @ New Orleans| | Hakim Warrick (18)| Channing Frye (16)| Steve Nash (12)| New Orleans Arena
15,790| 1–2|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 4| December 31| @ Oklahoma City| | Markieff Morris,
Hakim Warrick (15)| Marcin Gortat,
Markieff Morris (6)| Steve Nash (6)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 1–3|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 5| January 2| Golden State| | Steve Nash (21)| Channing Frye (10)| Steve Nash (9)| US Airways Center
14,793| 2–3|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 6| January 4| @ Dallas| | Marcin Gortat (22)| Channing Frye,
Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (12)| American Airlines Center
19,885| 2–4|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 7| January 6| Portland| | Jared Dudley (18)| Robin Lopez (12)| Steve Nash (9)| US Airways Center
16,235| 3–4|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 8| January 8| Milwaukee| | Marcin Gortat (18)| Markieff Morris (10)| Steve Nash (17)| US Airways Center
13,420| 4–4|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 9| January 10| @ L. A. Lakers| | Channing Frye (17)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (8)| Staples Center
18,997| 4–5|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 10| January 12| Cleveland| | Steve Nash (16)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (15)| US Airways Center
14,636| 4–6|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 11| January 13| New Jersey| | Marcin Gortat (20)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Ronnie Price (8)| US Airways Center
15,191| 4–7|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 12| January 15| @ San Antonio| | Marcin Gortat (24)| Marcin Gortat (15)| Steve Nash (10)| AT&T Center
18,581| 4–8|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 13| January 17| @ Chicago| | Steve Nash (25)| Marcin Gortat (15)| Steve Nash (9)| United Center
21,347| 4–9|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 14| January 18| @ New York| | Steve Nash (26)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (11)| Madison Square Garden
19,763| 5–9|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 15| January 20| @ Boston| | Marcin Gortat (24)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (9)| TD Garden
18,624| 6–9|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 16| January 23| @ Dallas| | Marcin Gortat,
Grant Hill (19)| Marcin Gortat (17)| Steve Nash (12)| American Airlines Center
19,944| 6–10|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 17| January 24| Toronto| | Marcin Gortat (21)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (14)| US Airways Center
15,404| 6–11|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 18| January 27| @ Portland| | Grant Hill (12)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (7)| Rose Garden
20,664| 6–12|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 19| January 28| Memphis| | Steve Nash (21)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (6)| US Airways Center
14,903| 7–12|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 20| January 30| Dallas| | Marcin Gortat (17)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Sebastian Telfair (6)| US Airways Center
13,132| 7–13|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 21| February 1| @ New Orleans| | Steve Nash (30)| Marcin Gortat (11)| Steve Nash (10)| New Orleans Arena
13,598| 8–13|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 22| February 3| @ Houston| | Jared Dudley,
Marcin Gortat (15)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (9)| Toyota Center
15,941| 8–14|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 23| February 4| Charlotte| | Michael Redd (17)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (10)| US Airways Center
14,928| 9–14|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 24| February 6| @ Atlanta| | Steve Nash (24)| Channing Frye,
Marcin Gortat (9)| Steve Nash (11)| Philips Arena
11,823| 10–14|- bgcolor=cccffcc| 25| February 7| @ Milwaukee| | Marcin Gortat (21)| Josh Childress (12)| Steve Nash (11)| Bradley Center
13,203| 11–14|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 26| February 9| Houston| | Channing Frye (21)| Channing Frye (10)| Steve Nash (13)| US Airways Center
16,122| 11–15|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 27| February 11| @ Sacramento| | Jared Dudley (20)| Jared Dudley (10)| Steve Nash (15)| Power Balance Pavilion
16,964| 12–15|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 28| February 13| @ Golden State| | Marcin Gortat (25)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (14)| Oracle Arena
19,106| 12–16|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 29| February 14| @ Denver| | Markieff Morris (21)| Marcin Gortat (14)| Ronnie Price (6)| Pepsi Center
17,873| 12–17|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 30| February 15| Atlanta| | Steve Nash (22)| Channing Frye (11)| Steve Nash (16)| US Airways Center
15,392| 12–18|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 31| February 17| @ L. A. Lakers| | Marcin Gortat (21)| Marcin Gortat (16)| Steve Nash (17)| Staples Center
18,997| 12–19|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 32| February 19| L. A. Lakers| | Jared Dudley (25)| Marcin Gortat (15)| Steve Nash (14)| US Airways Center
18,023| 13–19|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 33| February 20| Washington| | Marcin Gortat (20)| Channing Frye (11)| Steve Nash (11)| US Airways Center
13,921| 14–19|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 34| February 22| Golden State| | Channing Frye (22)| Marcin Gortat (15)| Steve Nash (9)| US Airways Center
14,558| 14–20|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break

|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 35| March 1| Minnesota| | Grant Hill (20)| Steve Nash (8)| Steve Nash (17)| US Airways Center
15,071| 15–20|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 36| March 2| L. A. Clippers| | Jared Dudley (22)| Channing Frye,
Marcin Gortat (14)| Steve Nash (6)| US Airways Center
18,091| 16–20|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 37| March 4| Sacramento| | Steve Nash (19)| Marcin Gortat (17)| Steve Nash (7)| US Airways Center
15,026| 17–20|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 38| March 7| @ Oklahoma City| | Marcin Gortat (28)| Jared Dudley,
Marcin Gortat (11)| Steve Nash (13)| Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203| 17–21|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 39| March 8| Dallas| | Jared Dudley (18)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (11)| US Airways Center
15,498| 18–21|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 40| March 10| Memphis| | Jared Dudley (19)| Marcin Gortat (9)| Steve Nash (15)| US Airways Center
16,350| 19–21|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 41| March 12| Minnesota| | Jared Dudley (28)| Jared Dudley (9)| Steve Nash (10)| US Airways Center
14,568| 19–22|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 42| March 14| Utah| | Channing Frye (26)| Channing Frye (9)| Steve Nash (16)| US Airways Center
14,076| 20–22|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 43| March 15| @ L. A. Clippers| | Shannon Brown (21)| Jared Dudley,
Channing Frye,
Marcin Gortat,
Markieff Morris (6)| Sebastian Telfair (8)| Staples Center
19,060| 21–22|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 44| March 16| Detroit| | Jared Dudley (23)| Channing Frye (13)| Steve Nash (17)| US Airways Center
17,148| 22–22|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 45| March 18| Houston| | Michael Redd (25)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (11)| US Airways Center
15,645| 23–22|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 46| March 20| @ Miami| | Grant Hill (19)| Marcin Gortat (8)| Steve Nash (10)| American Airlines Arena
20,212| 23–23|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 47| March 21| @ Orlando| | Jared Dudley (17)| Marcin Gortat (9)| Marcin Gortat,
Sebastian Telfair (3)| Amway Center
18,930| 23–24|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 48| March 23| @ Indiana| | Marcin Gortat (23)| Marcin Gortat (8)| Steve Nash (17)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
14,786| 24–24|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 49| March 25| @ Cleveland| | Marcin Gortat,
Markieff Morris (22)| Marcin Gortat (8)| Steve Nash (13)| Quicken Loans Arena
17,307| 25–24|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 50| March 27| San Antonio| | Shannon Brown (32)| Marcin Gortat (14)| Steve Nash (8)| US Airways Center
16,573| 25–25|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 51| March 28| @ L. A. Clippers| | Marcin Gortat (23)| Channing Frye,
Marcin Gortat (7)| Steve Nash (15)| Staples Center
19,060| 25–26

|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 52| April 1| New Orleans| | Jared Dudley (21)| Channing Frye (11)| Steve Nash (14)| US Airways Center
15,753| 26–26|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 53| April 3| @ Sacramento| | Marcin Gortat (20)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (12)| Power Balance Pavilion
12,462| 27–26|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 54| April 4| @ Utah| | Michael Redd (19)| Marcin Gortat (8)| Steve Nash (9)| EnergySolutions Arena
19,911| 28–26|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 55| April 6| @ Denver| | Shannon Brown (18)| Marcin Gortat (14)| Steve Nash (11)| Pepsi Center
19,155| 28–27|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 56| April 7| L. A. Lakers| | Shannon Brown (24)| Marcin Gortat (9)| Steve Nash (11)| US Airways Center
18,237| 29–27|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 57| April 9| @ Minnesota| | Markieff Morris (21)| Shannon Brown,
Marcin Gortat (7)| Sebastian Telfair (7)| Target Center
17,274| 30–27|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 58| April 11| @ Memphis| | Marcin Gortat (19)| Markieff Morris (6)| Steve Nash (10)| FedExForum
15,239| 30–28|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 59| April 13| @ Houston| | Marcin Gortat (20)| Marcin Gortat (15)| Steve Nash (10)| Toyota Center
18,223| 31–28|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 60| April 14| @ San Antonio| | Sebastian Telfair (21)| Robin Lopez,
Markieff Morris (9)| Markieff Morris,
Sebastian Telfair (4)| AT&T Center
18,581| 31–29|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 61| April 16| Portland| | Marcin Gortat (20)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (13)| US Airways Center
15,322| 32–29|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 62| April 18| Oklahoma City| | Jared Dudley (21)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (5)| US Airways Center
14,873| 32–30|- bgcolor=ccffcc| 63| April 19| L. A. Clippers| | Jared Dudley (18)| Marcin Gortat (14)| Steve Nash (6)| US Airways Center
14,644| 33–30|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 64| April 21| Denver| | Shannon Brown (28)| Marcin Gortat (11)| Steve Nash (13)| US Airways Center
15,877| 33–31|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 65| April 24| @ Utah| | Jared Dudley,
Michael Redd (15)| Marcin Gortat (12)| Steve Nash (11)| EnergySolutions Arena
19,911| 33–32|- bgcolor=ffcccc| 66| April 25| San Antonio| | Shannon Brown (21)| Marcin Gortat (10)| Steve Nash (7)| US Airways Center
17,172| 33–33

Player statistics

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
59 19 23.7 .420 .362 .808 2.7 1.2 .7 .3 11.0
34 0 14.4 .485 .167 .000 2.8 1.0 .4 .2 2.9
65 60 31.1 .485 .383 .726 4.6 1.7 .8 .3 12.7
64 59 26.1 .416 .346 .890 5.9 1.4 .7 1.1 10.5
66 66 32.0 .555 .000 .649 10.0 0.9 .7 1.5 15.4
49 46 28.1 .446 .264 .761 3.5 2.2 .8 .6 10.2
64 0 14.0 .461 .000 .714 3.3 0.3 .3 .9 5.4
63 7 19.5 .399 .347 .717 4.4 1.0 .7 .7 7.4
62 62 31.6 .532 .390 .894 3.0 10.7 .6 .1 12.5
36 8 14.4 .377 .295 .800 1.6 1.9 .9 .1 3.6
51 2 15.1 .400 .318 .793 1.5 0.6 .3 .0 8.2
60 1 14.9 .412 .314 .791 1.5 2.3 .7 .2 6.1
35 0 14.4 .411 .100 .768 2.6 0.9 .2 .1 6.4

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

All-Star

Records

Team Records

Milestones

Team Milestones

Injuries/Missed games

Transactions

Free agents

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer Team
Sebastian TelfairSigned a 1-year deal that was worth $1.5 Million.Minnesota Timberwolves
Shannon BrownSigned a 1-year deal that was worth $3.5 Million.Los Angeles Lakers
Grant HillSigned a 1-year deal that was worth $6.5 Million.Phoenix Suns
Ronnie PriceSigned a 1-year deal that was worth $854,389.Utah Jazz
Michael ReddSigned a 1-year deal that was worth $1.3 Million.Milwaukee Bucks

Subtractions

PlayerReason LeftNew Team
Aaron BrooksLockout Concerns Guangdong Winnerway (Hongyuan) Southern Tigers
Gani LawalLockout Concerns / Waived Zastal Zielona Góra / San Antonio Spurs / Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers / Chorale Roanne Basket
Vince CarterWaivedDallas Mavericks
Zabian DowdellWaived Anadolu Efes Pilsen Spor Kulübü / Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria – Claret, S.A.D.[10]
Mickaël PiétrusWaivedBoston Celtics
Garret SilerWaived Jiangsu Nangang Dragons[11]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Report: NBA draft moving to Newark. ESPN.com. October 27, 2010. October 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101030154621/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5733121. 30 October 2010 . live.
  2. Web site: League locks out players until new collective bargaining agreement is reached – ESPN. ESPN.com. July 19, 2011. July 1, 2011.
  3. Web site: Markieff Morris NBA & ABA Statistics . basketball-reference.com. July 19, 2011. July 19, 2011.
  4. Web site: Phoenix Suns trade Goran Dragic, pick for Rockets' Aaron Brooks . wearesuns.com. July 19, 2011. February 24, 2011.
  5. Web site: Bulls sign-and-trade Hakim Warrick to Suns. insidehoops.com. July 19, 2011. July 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100912074613/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=6185. September 12, 2010. dead.
  6. Web site: Suns extend qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks. nbasports.com. July 19, 2011. October 27, 2010.
  7. Web site: Elston Turner, the new defensive coordinator for the Phoenix Suns . ESPN.com. July 19, 2011. July 14, 2010.
  8. Web site: Suns delay Vince Carter contract deadline, extend qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks . azcentral.com. July 19, 2011. June 23, 2011.
  9. Web site: Phoenix Suns Team Salary – NBA News & NBA Rumors . hoopsworld.com. July 19, 2011. July 19, 2011.
  10. http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/219309/Zabian_Dowdell_Agrees_To_Terms_With_Gran_Canaria Zabian Dowdell Agrees To Terms With Gran Canaria
  11. Web site: Siler to play in China again | ABC 6 WJBF-TV . https://archive.today/20130209095912/http://www2.wjbf.com/sports/2012/oct/17/siler-play-china-again-ar-4777515/ . 9 February 2013 . dead.