2011–12 Phoenix Suns season

The 2011–12 Phoenix Suns season was the 44th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as the last season the Suns had point guard Steve Nash on the team. The season was shortened to sixty-six games due to the 2011 NBA Lockout. Going into the All-Star break with a 14–20 record, the Suns went 14–6 in their next 20 games to push back into playoffs contention. Towards the end of the season, the eighth-seeded Suns were still in the hunt, but a loss after their second-to-last game on the road against the Utah Jazz eliminated them from playoff contention. They went 8–7 in April, finishing the season with a 33–33 record, 10th-best in the West.

2011–12 Phoenix Suns season
Head coachAlvin Gentry
General managerLance Blanks
OwnersRobert Sarver
ArenaUS Airways Center
Results
Record33–33 (.500)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Arizona
RadioKTAR

Nash led the team in assists per game (10.7; second-best average in the league, most assists in total), three-point percentage (.390%), and free throw percentage (.894%), while averaging a career-high in field goal percentage (.532%). Center Marcin Gortat led the team in most statistical categories, including games played (66), games started (66), minutes per game (32.0), field goal percentage (.555%), rebounds per game (10.0), blocks per game (1.5), and points per game (15.4). Nash was the lone member of the Suns selected for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, his eighth appearance. In a game against the Denver Nuggets on April 21, Nash passed Oscar Robertson for fifth all-time in total assists.

Key dates

Offseason

NBA Draft
Main article: 2011 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 13 Markieff Morris Forward  United States Kansas

The Suns used their only draft pick to select power forward Markieff Morris from Kansas. Morris averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his last year with the Jayhawks.[3] The Suns traded their other first-round pick, which they acquired from the Orlando Magic, to the Houston Rockets when they dealt Goran Dragić for Aaron Brooks.[4] Their second-round pick was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Hakim Warrick in a sign and trade.[5] Around a year and a half later, the Suns ended up with the 14th draft pick in Marcus Morris, who would be a part of the team for two or so seasons before being traded himself in 2015.

Free agency

Veteran forward Grant Hill became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2010–11 season. Newly acquired point guard Aaron Brooks became a restricted free agent at the end of the season. On June 23, the Suns extended a $3 million qualifying offer to Brooks.[6] However, due to the lockout, Brooks signed a contract with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association on November 22. With no opt-out clause, Brooks had to complete the CBA season before returning to the NBA. On February 6, 2011, reserve point guard Zabian Dowdell was signed for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, with a team option for a second year.

Coaching changes

On July 14, the Suns signed Elston Turner as an assistant coach. Turner is considered to be a defensive specialist and has been called the Suns' unofficial "defensive coordinator".[7]

Roster
Roster listing
2011–12 Phoenix Suns roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 26 Brown, Shannon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1985–11–29 Michigan State
G/F 1 Childress, Josh 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1983–06–20 Stanford
F 3 Dudley, Jared 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1985–07–10 Boston College
F 8 Frye, Channing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1983–05–17 Arizona
C 4 Gortat, Marcin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1984–02–17 Poland
F 33 Hill, Grant (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1972–10–05 Duke
C 15 Lopez, Robin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1988–04–01 Stanford
F 11 Morris, Markieff 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1989–09–02 Kansas
G 13 Nash, Steve (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1974–02–07 Santa Clara
G 2 Price, Ronnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1984–06–21 Utah Valley State
G 22 Redd, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1979–08–24 Ohio State
G 31 Telfair, Sebastian 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1985–06–09 Abraham Lincoln HS (Brooklyn, New York)
F 21 Warrick, Hakim 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 219 lb (99 kg) 1982–07–08 Syracuse
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Salaries

The final year of Vince Carter's contract was non-guaranteed. Carter's contract stipulated that if he was not waived by the Suns before the start of free agency on July 1, his $18 million would become fully guaranteed. However, with the onset of the lockout, the Suns delayed the deadline until the date on which free agency began at the end of the lockout. Since he was waived by the time the lockout ended and the free agency period officially began that season, he would receive a guaranteed $4 million outside of the team instead.[8] The second-year contracts of Gani Lawal and Garret Siler were non-guaranteed.[9]

Preseason
2011 pre-season game log
Pre-season: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 December 20 @ Denver L 110–127 Marcin Gortat,
Hakim Warrick (14)		 Marcin Gortat,
Markieff Morris (8)		 Steve Nash,
Sebastian Telfair (5)		 Pepsi Center
11,475		 0–1
2 December 22 Denver L 85–110 Jared Dudley (17) Markieff Morris (7) Steve Nash (8) US Airways Center
12,613		 0–2
2011–12 season schedule

Regular season

Standings
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y-Los Angeles Lakers 41 25 .621 0.0 26–7 15–18 9–5 66
x-Los Angeles Clippers 40 26 .606 1.0 24–9 16–17 7–7 66
Phoenix Suns 33 33 .500 8.0 19–14 14–19 9–5 66
Golden State Warriors 23 43 .348 18.0 12–21 11–22 7–8 66
Sacramento Kings 22 44 .333 19.0 16–17 6–27 3–10 66
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-San Antonio Spurs * 50 16 .758 – 66
2 y-Oklahoma City Thunder * 47 19 .712 3.0 66
3 y-Los Angeles Lakers * 41 25 .621 9.0 66
4 x-Memphis Grizzlies 41 25 .621 9.0 66
5 x-Los Angeles Clippers 40 26 .606 10.0 66
6 x-Denver Nuggets 38 28 .576 12.0 66
7 x-Dallas Mavericks 36 30 .545 14.0 66
8 x-Utah Jazz 36 30 .545 14.0 66
9 Houston Rockets 34 32 .515 16.0 66
10 Phoenix Suns 33 33 .500 17.0 66
11 Portland Trail Blazers 28 38 .424 22.0 66
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 26 40 .394 24.0 66
13 Golden State Warriors 23 43 .348 27.0 66
14 Sacramento Kings 22 44 .333 28.0 66
15 New Orleans Hornets 21 45 .318 29.0 66

Record vs. opponents
2011-12 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK OKC ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Boston 0–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Charlotte 0–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Chicago 0–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Cleveland 0–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Dallas 0–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Denver 0–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Detroit 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00—00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Golden State 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Houston 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Indiana 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
L.A. Clippers 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
L.A. Lakers 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Memphis 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Miami 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—1–20–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Milwaukee 1–20–32–10–44–00–10–23–11–01–00–40–11–00–12–1—1–03–00–14–00–10–41–20–22–00–11–03–00–13–1
Minnesota 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—00—00—00—00—1—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
New Jersey 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—00—00—0
New Orleans 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
New York 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Oklahoma City 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00—00–00–00–0
Orlando 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Philadelphia 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00—0
Phoenix 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00—0
Portland 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–0
Sacramento 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–0
San Antonio 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–0
Toronto 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–00–0
Utah 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—0–0
Washington 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—

Game log

All games from November 1 through December 24 were canceled due to the 2011 NBA Lockout. A new schedule was created with games starting on December 25.

2011–12 game log
Total: 33–33 (Home: 19–14; Road: 14–19)
December: 1–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–1)
January: 6–10 (Home: 4–4; Road: 2–6)
February: 7–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 4–4)
March: 11–6 (Home: 8–2; Road: 3–4)
April: 8–7 (Home: 4–3; Road: 4–4)
2011–12 season schedule

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
Phoenix Suns statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Shannon Brown591923.7.420.362.8082.71.2.7.311.0
Josh Childress34014.4.485.167.0002.81.0.4.22.9
Jared Dudley656031.1.485.383.7264.61.7.8.312.7
Channing Frye645926.1.416.346.8905.91.4.71.110.5
Marcin Gortat666632.0.555.000.64910.00.9.71.515.4
Grant Hill494628.1.446.264.7613.52.2.8.610.2
Robin Lopez64014.0.461.000.7143.30.3.3.95.4
Markieff Morris63719.5.399.347.7174.41.0.7.77.4
Steve Nash626231.6.532.390.8943.010.7.6.112.5
Ronnie Price36814.4.377.295.8001.61.9.9.13.6
Michael Redd51215.1.400.318.7931.50.6.3.08.2
Sebastian Telfair60114.9.412.314.7911.52.3.7.26.1
Hakim Warrick35014.4.411.100.7682.60.9.2.16.4

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

All-Star

Records
  • Josh Childress broke the record for the most number of minutes played in one season without making a free throw with 491 minutes played this season.

Team Records
  • Steve Nash surpassed Dick Van Arsdale as the third-most played Suns player ever.
  • Steve Nash made his 1,000th 3 pointer with the Phoenix Suns on December 31, 2011.
  • Steve Nash becomes the #1 assist leader of all Phoenix Suns players on February 1, 2012, surpassing the mark previously set by Kevin Johnson.

Milestones

Team Milestones
  • The Suns committed the franchise's lowest turnover count in a game with 3 turnovers against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 7, 2012.

Injuries/Missed games
  • 12/20/11: Marcin Gortat: Non-displaced right thumb fracture; out until December 25
  • 12/30/11: Michael Redd: Left knee; placed on injured list until January 12
  • 01/13/12: Grant Hill: Strained right quadriceps; did not play
  • 01/13/12: Steve Nash: Bruised right quadriceps; did not play
  • 01/25/12: Robin Lopez: League suspension (making contact with a referee): did not play
  • 01/30/12: Steve Nash: Bruised left thigh; did not play
  • 02/04/12: Jared Dudley: Bruised thigh; did not play
  • 02/14/12: Grant Hill: Rest; did not play
  • 02/14/12: Steve Nash: Rest; did not play
  • 03/15/12: Grant Hill: Rest; did not play
  • 03/15/12: Steve Nash: Rest; did not play
  • 03/27/12: Grant Hill: Right knee inflammation; did not play
  • 03/28/12: Grant Hill: Right knee inflammation; did not play
  • 03/28/12: Markieff Morris: Flu; did not play
  • 03/30/12: Grant Hill: Surgery to repair torn meniscus in right knee; out until April 13
  • 04/16/12: Grant Hill: Right knee; did not play
  • 04/18/12: Grant Hill: Right knee; did not play
  • 04/19/12: Grant Hill: Right knee, did not play
  • 04/21/12: Grant Hill: Right knee, did not play
  • 04/24/12: Channing Frye: Subluxed right shoulder; did not play
  • 04/25/12: Channing Frye: Subluxed right shoulder; did not play
  • 04/25/12: Grant Hill: Right knee; did not play

Transactions

Additions
Player Signed Former Team
Sebastian Telfair Signed a 1-year deal that was worth $1.5 Million. Minnesota Timberwolves
Shannon Brown Signed a 1-year deal that was worth $3.5 Million. Los Angeles Lakers
Grant Hill Signed a 1-year deal that was worth $6.5 Million. Phoenix Suns
Ronnie Price Signed a 1-year deal that was worth $854,389. Utah Jazz
Michael Redd Signed a 1-year deal that was worth $1.3 Million.[a] Milwaukee Bucks

^ a: Michael Redd signed onto the team two games after the beginning of the 2011–12 season. However, he didn't start playing until January 12, 2012 due to Redd fully recovering from some knee injuries during his last two seasons in Milwaukee.

Subtractions
Player Reason Left New Team
Aaron Brooks Lockout Concerns Guangdong Winnerway (Hongyuan) Southern Tigers
Gani Lawal Lockout Concerns / Waived[b] Zastal Zielona Góra / San Antonio Spurs / Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers / Chorale Roanne Basket
Vince Carter Waived[c] Dallas Mavericks
Zabian Dowdell Waived Anadolu Efes Pilsen Spor Kulübü / Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria – Claret, S.A.D.[d][10]
Mickaël Piétrus Waived[e] Boston Celtics
Garret Siler Waived[f] Jiangsu Nangang Dragons[g][11]

^ b: Gani Lawal originally left due to the 2011 NBA lockout in concerns of playing the season. He signed with Zastal Zielona Góra in Poland before returning to Phoenix once the lockout ended. However, Gani was waived by the team alongside Vince Carter once the season began, and he tried a stint with the San Antonio Spurs for their training camp before being waived again. He later found a new team in the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers, but due to personal problems, he returned to playing with Zastal once more before finishing his season with Chorale Roanne Basket in France.
^ c: Vince Carter was paid $4 million in order to get out of his contract with the Suns.
^ d: Zabian Dowdell originally signed a deal to play with Anadolu Efes Pilsen Spor Kulübü in Turkey on January 18, 2012. However, due to a failed physical, he would be waived from the team before even having a change to play for them. He would then play with Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria – Claret, S.A.D. on March 17, 2016 after passing their own physical exam.
^ e: Mickaël Piétrus was paid $1.2 million in order to get out of his contract with the Suns.
^ f: Garret Siler was waived after the January 2 game against the Golden State Warriors. He didn't play a single game with the Phoenix Suns in the regular season.
^ g: Garret Siler signed with the Jiangsu Nangang Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association quite some time after this season ended.

See also

References
  1. "Report: NBA draft moving to Newark". ESPN.com. October 27, 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  2. "League locks out players until new collective bargaining agreement is reached – ESPN". ESPN.com. July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  3. "Markieff Morris NBA & ABA Statistics". basketball-reference.com. July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  4. "Phoenix Suns trade Goran Dragic, pick for Rockets' Aaron Brooks". wearesuns.com. February 24, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  5. "Bulls sign-and-trade Hakim Warrick to Suns". insidehoops.com. July 9, 2010. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  6. "Suns extend qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks". nbasports.com. October 27, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  7. "Elston Turner, the new defensive coordinator for the Phoenix Suns". ESPN.com. July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  8. "Suns delay Vince Carter contract deadline, extend qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks". azcentral.com. June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  9. "Phoenix Suns Team Salary – NBA News & NBA Rumors". hoopsworld.com. July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  10. Zabian Dowdell Agrees To Terms With Gran Canaria
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