NBA Basketball Odds: Charlotte at Phoenix

The door is not closed on the Phoenix Suns just yet, but it is getting close If Shaquille O’Neal does not start dunking on people again soon and give Phoenix a third weapon besides Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. (AP Images)"]

The Suns (+400 to win the Pacific) lost their identity as the most efficient and fun-to-watch offensive team in the league when Mike D’Antoni left and they hired Terry Porter to focus on defense. Phoenix still has plenty of talent with Nash, Leandro Barbosa and Grant Hill but the clock is ticking, as O’Neal and Hill are 36 and Nash is 34.

In Charlotte new coach Larry Brown has his work cut out from him, as the Bobcats don’t shoot free throws, defend or rebound well. The return of Adam Morrison from injury would give Charlotte another shooter while they are also counting on the return of soft-shooting Sean May.