
PHOENIX - Oops. Now that's awkward.
Host an NBA All-Star Game one day. Fire your coach the next. And maybe trade your two All-Stars by Thursday.NBA roundup
NBA All-Star weekend
- Kobe, Shaq lift West to All-Star win
- Knicks' Robinson wins dunk contest
FOXSports.com analysis
- NBA Slam Dunk Contest Top 5
- O'Connor: Shaq good, Suns bad
- Rosen: Carmelo in a comfort zone
- Galinsky: NBA Power Rankings
Video
- Johnson: Are Jazz ready to surge?
- Hill: So long, Stoudemire?
- Dwight Howard: Ladies' Man
Photos
- NBA All-Star Game
- Slam Dunk Contest
Such is the embarrassing state of the Phoenix Suns. Once the fun-and-gun Suns, they've deteriorated, in less than a year, to arguably the most underachieving team in the league.
All of the organization's warts were on display during All-Star weekend, which ended Sunday with the West's 146-119 victory against the East.
In the Valley of the sinking Suns, Phoenix coach Terry Porter is expected to be fired Monday morning and replaced by assistant Alvin Gentry.
Porter is the defense-minded coach who replaced Mike D'Antoni, the offensive genius who did everything but beat the San Antonio Spurs in a magical run here.
Owner Robert Sarver is the banker personally shopping his only All-Stars, Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire. Both could be gone by the trade deadline.
Awkwardly, they gave hometown fans who have watched Planet Orange spiral out of orbit toward the Black Hole of the lottery something to finally cheer about Sunday.
Shaq played just 11 minutes, but once again stole the show from his former sparring partner, Kobe Bryant, who scored 27 points. So what's new?
In their first game together since their celebrated split up in Los Angeles in 2004, O'Neal shared MVP honors with Bryant. The Big Cactus stole the show even before he took the floor for his 15th, and, likely, last All-Star Game.
During introductions, he brought down the house. Wearing a mime mask, he pop locked with the group Jabbawockeez.
"I wanted to do something a little different and unique,'' the playful giant said. "I realized this possibly may be my last one, so I wanted to make it memorable for myself and the fans.''
Bryant, his newest buddy, even gave him an A-plus.
"I appreciate that,'' said O'Neal, then threw a bouquet at Bryant. "Kobe is the best player in the league. So A-plus on that side. And A-plus for being a great guy. He even let me take the trophy home for my boys.''
Must-read:
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Must-see:
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- Hill: NBA All-Star spectacle
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Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: February 16, 2009