<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns ended last season knowing they had a mountain to climb. To reach the peak of NBA basketball, they would have to reach the heights of the San Antonio Spurs. They acquired Kurt Thomas and Raja Bell with the idea of conquering that mountain. Phoenix found a peak last season but to get to another, they would need long legs and there are not many of those around these days. Thomas is out until at least the Western Conference finals and any Amar? Stoudemire comeback chance is gone after Wednesday's surgery to remove debris and drain a cyst in his right knee. So now what? Are the Suns still game for the hike? "They've played well all year so it's not like they took something away from us," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It's our identity. We definitely could've been better with him but we're confident we know we can do it (win a championship). We do have a chance. We have the fourth best record. "Detroit is the only team we haven't beat all year so we feel we can beat anybody." Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver acknowledged the difficulty of Phoenix's path without its projected starting post men but said, "I'm still pretty optimistic about it." "Title?" Los Angeles Clippers guard Sam Cassell said Wednesday before his team's victory dropped Phoenix to 7-8 since March 9. "Oooph. Anything's possible but it'll be tough for them." Although it won't be said aloud at US Airways Center, there may be some relief in Stoudemire's status. The prospect of another Stoudemire return was daunting. It did not go well the first time for Stoudemire's health or the team's well being, considering a mostly made-over roster had not played with him. "They've played better since Amar?'s been gone because they're more focused," Suns analyst Tom Chambers said. "This team only wins when they're really precise and really click. One little thing can make it go away. When Amar? came back, they were looking over their shoulders." ESPN NBA Fastbreak's Ric Bucher reported Tuesday that Stoudemire's return created jealousy in the locker room, naming Shawn Marion in particular. "I don't know what the (expletive) they're talking about," Marion said. "There ain't no jealousy here. We're a team." The Suns at least know who they are and what arms they will have for the playoff battle. They are undoubtedly small, counting on converted swingmen Boris Diaw and Tim Thomas and Brian Grant's aching knees to man the posts with Marion. "They're good enough to beat top teams on any given night," Chambers said. "A seven-game series certainly makes it tougher. Can the Suns shut a team down when they're not scoring? The jury's still out." On the upside, the Suns would have home-court advantage, be favored and avoid Western Conference frontrunners San Antonio and Dallas until the conference finals. "They're still a dangerous team but I don't see them beating San Antonio but I do see them having a chance against Dallas because they don't play defense as well," ESPN analyst Greg Anthony said. "That (Suns) team is not equipped right now to win the championship. Not having an interior presence and a guy who can dominate in the paint in the playoffs is big. "As dominant as Amar? was (in last year's playoffs against the Spurs), Phoenix only won one game. They're going to have to rely on a lot of guys who don't have playoff experience but I don't see why they can't get to the conference finals."</div> Source
