2004–05 Phoenix Suns season

2004–05 Phoenix Suns season
Division champions
Head coach Mike D'Antoni
General manager Bryan Colangelo
Owner(s) Robert Sarver
Arena America West Arena
Results
Record 62–20 (.756)
Place Division: 1st (Pacific)
Conference: 1st (Western)
Playoff finish West Conference Finals
(Lost to Spurs 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Radio KTAR

The 2004–05 NBA season was the 37th for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the offseason, the Suns re-acquired All-Star guard Steve Nash from the Dallas Mavericks, and signed free agent Quentin Richardson. The Suns got off to a fast start winning 31 of their first 35 games, but then lost six straight afterwards. They finished with the best record in the NBA at 62–20 under head coach Mike D'Antoni. Three members of the team, Nash, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion were all selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns also gained solid play from Richardson and Joe Johnson. Nash finished the season averaging 11.5 assists per game, while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season. He ended up winning the MVP award. D'Antoni was awarded Coach of the Year, and Bryan Colangelo Executive of the Year.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four straight games, then in the semifinals defeated Nash's former team, the Dallas Mavericks in six games. However, in the Western Conference Finals, they would lose to the 2nd-seeded and eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in five games. Following the season, Johnson was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, and Richardson was dealt to the New York Knicks.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 7 Luol Deng Forward  United Kingdom Duke
Head coach Mike D'Antoni

The Suns drafted Luol Deng with the 7th pick, who was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls for second-round pick Jackson Vroman, a conditional first-round pick (which conveyed as the 21st overall pick in 2005), and cash considerations.[2][3] The Suns received the 16th pick (Kirk Snyder) in a trade with the New York Knicks, but traded the pick to the Utah Jazz. The Suns second-round pick was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2003.

Free agency

After trading Stephon Marbury (owed $76 million through 2008–09) and Penny Hardaway (owed $30.4 million through 2005–06), the Suns freed enough cap space to sign free agent point guard Steve Nash to a 6-year, $65.6 million deal, with a sixth-year team option, and swingman Quentin Richardson to a 6-year, $43.5 million deal, with a sixth-year player option.[4] The Suns also signed Steven Hunter, Yuta Tabuse and Derrick Dial as free agents. Hunter played the season as a back-up center, Tabuse played 4 games before being waived in December, and Dial was waived before the start of the season.

Regular season

Before the season, the Suns were widely predicted to finish in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference.[4] Defying expectations, Phoenix won 31 of its first 35 games.[1] The team then lost its next six games, in large part due to a thigh injury suffered by Nash.[5] Despite this minor blip, the Suns finished with a record of 62–20.[1] The 33-win improvement over the 2003–04 campaign constituted the third-best year-to-year jump in NBA history.[4] Nash won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, while three Suns – Nash, Stoudemire, and Marion – were named to an All-NBA Team.[6]

In their first full year under D'Antoni, the Suns channeled his particular basketball philosophy, which emphasized rapid ball movement, pick-and-rolls, and high-volume three-point shooting.[7][8][9] This style of play benefitted from rule changes enacted in 2002, which including new penalties against hand check fouls committed on the perimeter.[4] Over the course of the season, Phoenix led the NBA in a large number of metrics, including points per possession, points per game, three-point shots attempted, and three-point shooting percentage.[6][10] The Suns' fast style of play earned them the moniker "Seven Seconds or Less."[11][12]

Playoffs

The Suns swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. In the second round, Phoenix beat the Dallas Mavericks in six games. In the Western Conference Finals, the Suns fell to the San Antonio Spurs in five games.[13]

Legacy

Writing for the Washington Post in 2017, Tim Bontemps credited D'Antoni and his Suns teams – starting with the 2004–05 squad – with demonstrating the possibility of success for a team built to play small ball, run a high-tempo offense, and shoot a large number of three-pointers. Bontemps argued that the Suns' model inspired teams around the league to adopt many of D'Antoni's offensive principles, leading to dramatic changes in the NBA's style of play.[11] Other writers have made similar arguments in favor of the proposition that the "Seven Seconds or Less" Suns revolutionized the modern game of basketball.[4][7]

Multiple commentators have drawn direct parallels between D'Antoni's Phoenix teams and the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors, who also shot a large number of three-pointers and used small ball lineups.[14] The Stephen Curry-led Warriors set the regular season record of 73 wins before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.

The team's roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16 [15], NBA 2K17, and NBA 2K18.

Roster

Phoenix Suns roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOB (Y-M-D)From
G 10 Brazil Barbosa, Leandro 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1982-11-28 Brazil
C 45 United States Hunter, Steven 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1981-10-31 DePaul
G 21 United States Jackson, Jim 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970-10-14 Ohio State
G 2 United States Johnson, Joe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1981-06-29 Arkansas
F 31 United States Marion, Shawn (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978-05-07 UNLV
F 0 United States McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974-02-01 Kentucky
G 13 Canada Nash, Steve (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1974-02-07 Santa Clara
F 46 United States Outlaw, Bo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971-04-13 Houston
G/F 3 United States Richardson, Quentin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 223 lb (101 kg) 1980-04-13 DePaul
F 17 United States Shirley, Paul 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1977-12-23 Iowa State
F/C 32 United States Stoudemire, Amar'e (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1982-11-16 Cypress Creek HS
C 43 United States Voskuhl, Jake 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1977-11-01 Connecticut
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Results

Standings

Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Phoenix Suns 6220.756–31–1031–1012–4
x-Sacramento Kings 5032.6101230–1120–2110–6
Los Angeles Clippers 3745.4512527–1410–316–10
Los Angeles Lakers 3448.4152822–1912–296–10
Golden State Warriors 3448.4152820–2114–276–10
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Phoenix Suns6220.756—
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5923.7203
3 y-Seattle SuperSonics5230.63410
4 x-Dallas Mavericks5824.7074
5 x-Houston Rockets5131.62211
6 x-Sacramento Kings5032.61012
7 x-Denver Nuggets4933.59813
8 x-Memphis Grizzlies4537.54917
9 Minnesota Timberwolves4438.53718
10 Los Angeles Clippers3745.45125
11 Los Angeles Lakers3448.41528
12 Golden State Warriors3448.41528
13 Portland Trail Blazers2755.32935
14 Utah Jazz2656.31736
15 New Orleans Hornets1864.22044

Record vs. opponents

2004-05 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —1–31–30–40–41–10–21–30–21–10–30–21–10–20–41–21–10–31–11–31–31–30–20–20–20–20–21–20–20–4
Boston 3–1—4–02–21–20–20–21–31–11–11–22–01–11–11–23–11–11–32–03–13–01–31–11–10–20–22–03–12–03–1
Charlotte 3–10–4—0–40–40–21–12–10–22–00–30–20–20–21–30–41–10–41–11–33–10–30–20–21–10–20–21–21–10–4
Chicago 4–02–24–0—2–21–11–12–21–10–22–20–21–12–01–32–22–00–41–14–03–02–10–22–01–10–21–13–02–01–2
Cleveland 4–02–14–02–2—1–11–12–22–00–21–31–11–12–00–32–21–11–32–01–33–10–31–12–00–20–20–23–12–01–2
Dallas 1–12–02–01–11–1—2–11–13–12–21–11–22–24–02–02–02–22–04–02–01–11–11–24–03–11–33–12–03–02–0
Denver 2–02–01–11–11–11–2—1–12–21–22–02–12–24–01–12–02–21–14–01–11–11–10–43–11–22–22–22–02–22–0
Detroit 3–13–11–22–22–21–11–1—2–02–02–22–02–00–22–12–21–12–12–03–03–13–11–11–11–11–11–13–11–14–0
Golden State 2–01–12–01–10–21–32–20–2—1–21–10–41–31–30–22–01–20–22–21–11–11–12–22–23–10–32–21–12–11–1
Houston 1–11–10–22–02–02–22–10–22–1—1–13–02–23–11–11–11–22–03–11–12–02–02–24–02–22–23–11–12–21–1
Indiana 3–02–13–02–23–11–10–22–21–11–1—0–21–12–03–12–22–02–21–12–21–30–41–12–00–21–10–22–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers 2–00–22–02–01–12–11–20–24–00–32–0—2–21–31–11–11–31–13–11–11–11–10–42–20–40–42–11–12–21–1
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–01–11–12–22–20–23–12–21–12–2—0–30–22–02–11–13–01–11–10–20–42–11–30–41–31–11–30–2
Memphis 2–01–12–00–20–20–40–42–03–11–30–23–13–0—1–12–03–12–03–11–11–12–02–23–10–33–10–32–03–00–2
Miami 4–02–13–13–13–00–21–11–22–01–11–31–12–01–1—4–01–13–02–04–04–02–21–11–12–01–10–23–12–04–0
Milwaukee 2–11–34–02–22–20–20–22–20–21–12–21–10–20–20–4—1–12–11–12–12–10–40–20–20–20–21–12–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–11–11–10–21–12–22–21–12–12–10–23–11–21–31–11–1—2–04–01–11–12–01–34–03–11–21–30–23–11–1
New Jersey 3–03–14–04–03–10–21–11–22–00–22–21–11–10–20–31–20–2—2–03–11–33–10–21–11–10–20–22–22–01–3
New Orleans 1–10–21–11–10–20–40–40–22–21–31–11–30–31–30–21–10–40–2—1–10–21–10–42–11–20–40–30–22–21–1
New York 3–11–33–10–43–10–21–10–31–11–12–21–11–11–10–41–21–11–31–1—1–23–10–21–10–21–10–21–32–02–1
Orlando 3–10–31–30–31–31–11–11–31–10–23–11–11–11–10–41–21–13–12–02–1—2–20–21–11–11–11–12–22–02–2
Philadelphia 3–13–13–01–23–01–11–11–31–10–24–01–12–00–22–24–00–21–31–11–32–2—0–21–10–20–21–13–11–12–1
Phoenix 2–01–12–02–01–12–14–01–12–22–21–14–04–02–21–12–03–12–04–02–02–02–0—3–02–21–22–12–03–11–1
Portland 2–01–12–00–20–20–41–31–12–20–40–22–21–21–31–12–00–41–11–21–11–11–10–3—1–31–21–31–12–20–2
Sacramento 2–02–01–11–12–01–32–11–11–32–22–04–03–13–00–22–01–31–12–12–01–12–02–23–1—1–31–31–12–12–0
San Antonio 2–02–02–02–02–03–12–21–13–02–21–14–04–01–31–12–02–12–04–01–11–12–02–12–13–1—2–21–12–21–1
Seattle 2–00–22–01–12–01–32–21–12–21–32–01–23–13–02–01–13–12–03–02–01–11–11–23–13–12–2—2–03–10–2
Toronto 2–11–32–10–31–30–20–21–31–11–11–21–11–10–21–32–22–02–22–03–12–21–30–21–11–11–10–2—2–01–3
Utah 2–00–21–10–20–20–32–21–11–22–20–22–23–10–30–21–11–30–22–20–20–21–11–32–21–22–21–30–2—0–2
Washington 4–01–34–02–12–10–20–20–41–11–12–21–12–02–00–43–11–13–11–11–22–21–21–12–00–21–12–03–12–0—

Playoffs

Game log

2005 playoff game log
First Round: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Conference Finals: 1–4 (Home: 0–3; Road: 1–1)
2005 playoff schedule

Awards and honors

Week/Month

  • Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 14 through November 20.
  • Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 21 through November 27.
  • Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 5 through December 11.
  • Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 12 through December 18.
  • Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 19 through December 25.
  • Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played February 6 through February 12.
  • Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Month for November.
  • Amar'e Stoudemire was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April.
  • Mike D'Antoni was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for December.

All-Star

Season

Injuries/Missed games

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Leandro Barbosa63617.3.475.367.7972.12.00.50.17.0
Žarko Čabarkapa*303.7.571†.1.000^1.00.0.0.03.0
Steven Hunter76313.8.614†.000.4793.00.20.11.34.6
Jim Jackson*40324.9.435.459.960^3.92.40.30.18.8
Casey Jacobsen*40019.2.414.382.7741.70.90.3.05.3
Joe Johnson828239.5.461.478+.7505.13.51.00.317.1
Maciej Lampe*1607.4.347.667+.6672.00.10.10.12.8
Shawn Marion818138.8.476.334.83311.31.92.01.519.4
Walter McCarty*28012.6.388.385.5002.20.40.40.23.5
Steve Nash757534.3.502.431.887^3.311.51.00.115.5
Bo Outlaw3905.5.353..5561.40.30.20.30.7
Smush Parker*506.8.467.250.0.60.80.4.03.0
Quentin Richardson797835.9.389.358.7396.12.01.20.314.9
Paul Shirley903.3.455..5000.20.3.0.01.3
Amar'e Stoudemire808036.1.559†.188.7338.91.61.01.626.0
Yuta Tabuse404.3.1671.000+1.000^1.00.8.0.01.8
Jake Voskuhl3819.5.458..6842.40.40.10.32.1
Jackson Vroman*1015.7.375..5711.30.70.30.21.6

* – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
+ – Minimum 55 three-pointers made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Leandro Barbosa1209.7.343.400.5001.41.00.2.02.5
Steven Hunter15014.2.558..6002.50.20.11.24.2
Jim Jackson15631.6.488.516.8754.11.50.70.511.0
Joe Johnson9939.4.504.556.6974.33.31.10.418.8
Shawn Marion151542.3.484.419.76911.81.51.41.717.6
Walter McCarty806.9.222.333.0000.80.40.20.20.8
Steve Nash151540.7.520.389.9194.811.30.90.223.9
Bo Outlaw102.0.000..0.01.01.0.00.0
Quentin Richardson151537.6.403.390.6395.11.71.30.211.9
Paul Shirley000.0...0.00.0.0.00.0
Amar'e Stoudemire151540.1.539.000.78110.71.20.72.029.9
Jake Voskuhl000.0...0.00.0.0.00.0

Transactions

Trades

June 22, 2004
 To Charlotte Bobcats---- To Phoenix Suns----
June 24, 2004
 To Chicago Bulls---- To Phoenix Suns----
January 3, 2005
 To Golden State Warriors---- To Phoenix Suns----
January 21, 2005
 To New Orleans Hornets---- To Phoenix Suns----
February 8, 2005
 To Boston Celtics---- To Phoenix Suns----

Free agents

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