Every Monday (Tuesday this week due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), Suns.com's Matt Petersen hands out his Suns Player of the Week award based on the previous seven-day stretch. Stats are always a good indicator, but other factors can also come into play (intangible impact, game-swinging spurts, etc.). The runner-up is also included because often, that second guy's impact was just as impressive as the first's.
Player of the Week — Goran Dragic
Dragic And-One
It had been a rough couple weeks for the Dragon. A fever had sapped most of his strength over the entirety of Phoenix's most recent road trip. The effects had started immediately before that trip at home, adding up to a six-game stretch of just 15.8 points per game.
"I had a fever and I didn't have that energy," Dragic said. "I was kind of sleepy. I didn't eat right. It was exhausting. Now I feel great. My energy level is way high...Hopefully I'm not getting sick anymore this season."
He certainly doesn't appear ill now. The veteran playmaker roared to life last week to the tune of 21.0 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting a sizzling 61.7 percent from the field.
Runner-Up Player of the Week — Markieff Morris
Keef's Career Night
Phoenix's franchise-record eight-game homestand needed the right opening tone, and Markieff Morris provided it. The fourth-year forward poured in 35 points on 15-of-21 shooting against Cleveland. The Cavaliers threw everything and everyone at him, from double teams to LeBron James.
Something else worth noticing: Morris has come up with at least one steal in 13 of the last 14 games. His average in that span: 1.8 thefts per contest.