When you consider they lost the division to the Los Angeles Lakers by two games even with all the problems associated with bringing in Shaq, the Suns are still a threat in the Pacific.

But the Lakers will be better with Andrew Bynum back. Utah is strong. New Orleans (James Posey) and Houston (Ron Artest) both improved their already formidable cores a lot. The Spurs always have hiccups during the season but finish strong. And then there is Dallas and all that talent up in Portland, now anchored by Greg Oden. If the Suns finish better than fifth in that group, they will have had quite a season.

Kerr is reading all the naysayers who have buried the Suns, and he likes it. The Suns had a lot of expectations on their shoulders over the last few years and have been going backward (third round, second round, first round). Now, for the first time since 2004, there is room to surprise, and the pressure is somewhat lifted.