No retreat and no surrender.
Those five words aren’t just Bruce Springsteen lyrics -- yes, I know I’m the oldest 30-year-old in the world for referencing him -- they’re also the perfect description of the Suns this season.
No situation is too daunting, no deficit too big, nor time remaining too short to prevent this little team who shouldn’t but couldn’t help themselves win games.
Plain and simple, this team smashes expectations the way Justin Timberlake smashes records during award season.
The man who has surprised more than any -- well, at least to the uninitiated but we’re initiated, aren’t we Suns fans? -- is guard Goran Dragic.
He went from national trade fodder after the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe in the offseason to blossoming star and the little engine that could drive the Suns towards the playoffs. On Wednesday night, he submitted his resume tape for the world to see.
In the Suns’ first nationally televised game of the season, Dragic stood up and said “allow myself to introduce ... myself” and showed that the All-Star game is his bag, baby. His 26 points and nine assists were a game-high and his six rebounds helped the Suns stay close on the boards.
It wasn’t just a one time, big game on the national stage, either. Over his last five games he’s averaged 24.2 points, 6.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds. For the season he's earned 19.1 points, 5.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 48.5 percent from the field per game.
If my advanced math is correct -- and it should be, seeing as I took one math course in college -- when you add that all up it equals Dragic being a Western Conference All-Star.
With Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul out with injuries The Dragon should get a round trip ticket to New Orleans in February. Heck, even the Black Mamba said it’s time for some fresh blood on the Western Conference team.
"My advice would be to vote for some of the younger players, the Damian Lillards of the world, because they're more than deserving to be out there and play during that weekend."
Mark it down, it’s one of the first and only times ever that Suns fans and I will agreed with the Lakers’ star.
The Suns are the surprise team of the season with winning records both at home and on the road. They have the ninth best record in the entire league. Doesn’t that deserve some recognition at All-Star weekend?
“It would mean a lot,” Dragic said of making the team. “When you’re a kid you’re dreaming to play in first division, Euroleague and then NBA. You get all excited when you watch the All-Star game… This is my wish, someday to play. It is hard. The competition is really big.”
The Slovenian sensation is too modest to come out and say he deserves a spot on the roster so let’s say it for him and make it clear to the coaches around the league that he has earned his spot
Let Dragic fulfill a lifetime dream because like his team, throughout his career he’s shown no retreat and no surrender. And neither should we as we try to get him into the game.