Despite Season of ‘Coasting,’ Suns Still Rise to Occasion

Last season was the honeymoon.

This season was the marriage.

The Phoenix Suns, lost in the backwash of Houston’s 22-1 start and Seattle’s 26-5 finish, nagged by injuries--only Dan Majerle started as many as 70 games--finished No. 3 in the West.

Charles Barkley, the most valuable player in his first season in town, fell off in scoring (26 to 22), rebounding (12.2 to 10.9), assists (5.1 to 4.7) and games (76 to 71).

His back hurt, his best friends in the game had retired and some nights he looked bored.

“He’s played for nine years,” Denver’s Reggie Williams said after an April game in which Barkley had four field goals, three rebounds and six turnovers.

“He might just be getting tired. It was like he was coasting out there.”

In the Suns’ organization, there was concern that he wasn’t the only one coasting. Late in the season, Paul Westphal, steaming over a loss at Sacramento, closed practice and asked the driver of the team’s bus to wait outside as he delivered a tongue-lashing.

The Suns clicked off seven consecutive victories to end the season. With Barkley and Kevin Johnson, they’re still the only contender with two potentially unstoppable players.