The 2005–06

Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...

season was the 38th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Suns were led by head coach Mike D'Antoni, posting a 54–28 record, third best in the Western Conference. All home games were played at the former

America West Arena Footprint Center (formerly known as America West Arena, US Airways Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena and Phoenix Suns Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Built in the regional population center of the southwestern United Sta ...

, which changed its name to US Airways Center in January 2006. The Suns looked to improve on their league-best 62–20 record and a trip to the Western Conference Finals in the 2004–05 Phoenix Suns season, 2004–05 season. The Suns suffered a major setback before the season, when All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee. Stoudemire returned for three games, before undergoing another surgery on his right knee. The team was led by defending NBA Most Valuable Player Award, MVP Steve Nash and All-Star Shawn Marion. Marion led the team in points (21.8), rebounds (11.8), steals (2.0) and blocks (1.7) per game. Nash led the league in assists with 10.5 a game, while posting a career- high 18.8 points a game, earning his second consecutive MVP award. With injuries to Stoudemire and backup forward-center Kurt Thomas (basketball), Kurt Thomas, the Suns looked to second-year forward Boris Diaw to fill in the middle. Listed in the Suns' media guide as a guard before the season, the 6-foot 8-inch Diaw started at small forward, power forward and center throughout the season, posting 13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and a block a game, earning NBA Most Improved Player Award, Most Improved Player honors. In the first round of the playoffs, the Suns fell into a 1–3 hole against their longtime rivals, the 2005-06 Los Angeles Lakers season, Los Angeles Lakers. They became (at that time) the eighth team in NBA history to recover from a 3–1 deficit, winning the final three games of the series to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, they defeated the Lakers' Staples Center co-tenants, the 2005-06 Los Angeles Clippers season, Los Angeles Clippers, in another seven-game series. The Suns fell in the Conference Finals to the 2005-06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas Mavericks in six games.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

Game log

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , April 23 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
W 107–102
, Tim Thomas (basketball), Tim Thomas (22) , Tim Thomas (basketball), Tim Thomas (15) , Steve Nash (10) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 , April 26 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
L 93–99
, Steve Nash (29) , Shawn Marion, Marion, Tim Thomas (basketball), Thomas (9) , Steve Nash (9) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 , April 28 , @ 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
L 92–99
, Shawn Marion (20) , Shawn Marion, Marion, Steve Nash, Nash (7) , Steve Nash (11) , Staples Center
18,997 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 , April 30 , @ 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
L 98–99 (OT)
, Steve Nash (22) , Shawn Marion (12) , Steve Nash (11) , Staples Center
18,997 , 1–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 , May 2 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
W 114–97
, Boris Diaw (25) , Boris Diaw (10) , Boris Diaw (9) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 2–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 , May 4 , @ 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
W 126–118 (OT)
, Steve Nash (32) , Shawn Marion (12) , Steve Nash (13) , Staples Center
18,997 , 3–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 7 , May 6 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers
W 121–90
, Leandro Barbosa (26) , Shawn Marion (10) , Boris Diaw, Diaw, Steve Nash, Nash (9) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 4–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , May 8 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
W 130–123
, Steve Nash (31) , Shawn Marion (15) , Steve Nash (12) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 , May 10 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
L 97–122
, Raja Bell (20) , Shawn Marion (6) , Steve Nash (8) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , May 12 , @ 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
W 94–91
, Shawn Marion (32) , Shawn Marion (19) , Steve Nash (10) , Staples Center
19,877 , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 , May 14 , @ 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
L 107–114
, Raja Bell (33) , Shawn Marion (10) , Steve Nash (11) , Staples Center
19,897 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 , May 16 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
W 125–118 (2OT)
, Shawn Marion (36) , Shawn Marion (20) , Steve Nash (13) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 6 , May 18 , @ 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
L 106–118
, Shawn Marion (34) , Boris Diaw, Diaw, Shawn Marion, Marion (9) , Steve Nash (11) , Staples Center
19,985 , 3–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 7 , May 22 , 2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers season, L.A. Clippers
W 127–107
, Shawn Marion (30) , Shawn Marion (9) , Steve Nash (11) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 4–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , May 24 , @ 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas
W 121–118
, Boris Diaw (34) , Shawn Marion (13) , Steve Nash (16) , American Airlines Center
20,789 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 , May 26 , @ 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas
L 98–105
, Boris Diaw (25) , Shawn Marion (19) , Steve Nash (11) , American Airlines Center
20,934 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 , May 28 , 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas
L 88–95
, Steve Nash (21) , Shawn Marion (18) , Steve Nash (7) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , May 30 , 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas
W 106–86
, Leandro Barbosa (24) , Boris Diaw (9) , Steve Nash (7) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 5 , June 1 , @ 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas
L 101–117
, Tim Thomas (basketball), Tim Thomas (26) , Shawn Marion (10) , Steve Nash (11) , American Airlines Center
20,977 , 2–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 6 , June 3 , 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas
L 93–102
, Boris Diaw (30) , Boris Diaw, Diaw, Shawn Marion, Marion (11) , Steve Nash (9) , US Airways Center
18,422 , 2–4 , -

Awards and honors

Week/Month

* Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February. * Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 21 through November 27. * Shawn Marion was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 26 through January 1. * Steve Nash was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 2 through January 8.

All-Star

* Steve Nash was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, All-Star Game. It was his fourth All-Star selection. Nash finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 1,818,230 votes. * Shawn Marion was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, All-Star Game. It was his third All-Star selection. Marion finished ninth in voting among Western Conference forwards with 285,505 votes. * Raja Bell was selected to compete in the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout, Three-Point Shootout. Bell did not participate due to personal issues and was replaced by Gilbert Arenas. * Steve Nash was selected to compete in the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge, Skills Challenge. Nash lost the competition to Dwyane Wade. * Team Phoenix, consisting of Shawn Marion, Kelly Miller (basketball player), Kelly Miller and Dan Majerle, competed in the NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars Competition, Shooting Stars Competition, losing to Team San Antonio.

Season

* Steve Nash received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, Most Valuable Player Award. * Boris Diaw received the NBA Most Improved Player Award, Most Improved Player Award. * Steve Nash was named to the All-NBA First Team. * Shawn Marion was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Marion also finished seventh in NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year voting. * Steve Nash led the league in assists per game with a 10.5 average, and total assists with 826. * Steve Nash led the league in free throw percentage, making 92.1% of his attempts. * Raja Bell finished 13th in NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, Defensive Player of the Year voting, and 23rd in NBA Most Improved Player Award, Most Improved Player voting. * Leandro Barbosa finished seventh in NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, Sixth Man of the Year voting. * Eddie House finished 13th in NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Player statistics

Season

, - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 57 , , 11 , , 27.9 , , .481 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , .444 , , .755 , , 2.6 , , 2.8 , , .8 , , .1 , , 13.1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , * , , 2 , , 0 , , 10.5 , , .429 , , .000 , , 1.000^ , , 1.5 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 4.5 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 79 , , 79 , , 37.5 , , .457 , , .442 , , .788 , , 3.2 , , 2.6 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , 14.7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 42 , , 0 , , 8.2 , , .496 , , .286 , , .619 , , 1.7 , , 0.4 , , .1 , , .3 , , 3.4 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , * , , 1 , , 0 , , 5.0 , , .333 , , .000 , , .667 , , 1.0 , , 0.0 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 4.0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 81 , , 70 , , 35.5 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , .526† , , .267 , , .731 , , 6.9 , , 6.2 , , .7 , , 1.0 , , 13.3 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 3 , , 0 , , 4.3 , , .667† , , . , , . , , 1.0 , , 0.0 , , .0 , , .3 , , 1.3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 21 , , 2 , , 11.8 , , .415 , , . , , .875 , , 2.7 , , 0.3 , , .2 , , .1 , , 2.9 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 81 , , 0 , , 17.5 , , .422 , , .389 , , .805 , , 1.6 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , .1 , , 9.8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , * , , 27 , , 1 , , 15.6 , , .295 , , .222 , , .692 , , 2.4 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , .2 , , 3.7 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 75 , , 24 , , 23.6 , , .418 , , .386 , , .851 , , 3.4 , , 0.8 , , .5 , , .7 , , 9.3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 81 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 81 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 40.3 , , .525 , , .331 , , .809 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 11.8 , , 1.8 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 2.0 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 1.7 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 21.8 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 79 , , 79 , , 35.4 , , .512 , , .439 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , .921^ , , 4.2 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 10.5 , , .8 , , .2 , , 18.8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 3 , , 3 , , 16.7 , , .333 , , .000 , , .889 , , 5.3 , , 0.7 , , .3 , , 1.0 , , 8.7 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 53 , , 50 , , 26.6 , , .486 , , . , , .815 , , 7.8 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , 1.0 , , 8.6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , * , , 26 , , 10 , , 24.4 , , .435 , , .429 , , .667 , , 4.9 , , 0.7 , , .6 , , .2 , , 11.0 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 10 , , 0 , , 4.3 , , .440 , , .364 , , 1.000^ , , 1.1 , , 0.1 , , .3 , , .1 , , 2.8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , * , , 12 , , 0 , , 7.2 , , .364 , , .333 , , .667 , , 1.7 , , 0.3 , , .1 , , .2 , , 2.8 * – Stats with the Suns.
† – Minimum 300 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , 3 , , 31.6 , , .470 , , .391 , , .862 , , 1.6 , , 2.7 , , .8 , , .2 , , 14.2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 17 , , 17 , , 39.6 , , .479 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , .465^ , , .829 , , 2.8 , , 2.2 , , .6 , , .2 , , 13.6 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 3 , , 0 , , 2.3 , , .500 , , .500^ , , .000 , , 1.0 , , 0.0 , , .0 , , .3 , , 1.7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , 39.8 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , .526 , , .429 , , .761 , , 6.7 , , 5.2 , , .9 , , 1.1 , , 18.7 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , 5 , , 0 , , 2.4 , , .333 , , . , , .000 , , 0.4 , , 0.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 0.4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 14 , , 0 , , 9.3 , , .365 , , .214 , , .750 , , 0.6 , , 0.4 , , .1 , , .1 , , 3.1 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , 6 , , 17.7 , , .341 , , .308 , , .846 , , 3.6 , , 0.3 , , .3 , , .9 , , 4.3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 42.5 , , .489 , , .314 , , .881 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 11.7 , , 1.6 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 1.9 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 1.2 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20.4 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , 39.9 , , .502 , , .368 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , .912 , , 3.7 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 10.2 , , .4 , , .3 , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20.4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 1 , , 0 , , 6.0 , , . , , . , , .500 , , 1.0 , , 0.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 1.0 , - align="center" bgcolor="" , , , style="background:#FF8800;color:#423189;" , 20 , , 14 , , 31.8 , , .491 , , .444 , , .776 , , 6.3 , , 1.3 , , .9 , , .4 , , 15.1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" , , , 4 , , 0 , , 2.0 , , .000 , , .000 , , .500 , , 0.3 , , 0.5 , , .0 , , .0 , , 0.3 ^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2005-06 Phoenix Suns season Phoenix Suns seasons