2011–12 Phoenix Suns season
Professional basketball season
NBA professional basketball team 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 .
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
June 23, 2011 : The 2011 NBA draft took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey .[ 1]
July 1, 2011 : The current NBA collective bargaining agreement expires, leading owners to impose a lockout of its players until a new agreement is reached.[ 2]
November 22, 2011 : Aaron Brooks signs with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the CBA . As a result, he can't reunite with the team until the 2011–12 CBA season is officially over.
December 9, 2011 : The new and improved NBA free agency begun; Grant Hill stays with Phoenix; Shannon Brown and Sebastian Telfair join Phoenix; Mickaël Piétrus tried to get traded to the Toronto Raptors ; Vince Carter and Gani Lawal are waived .
December 10, 2011 : The Mickaël Piétrus trade is permanently suspended; training camp begins.
December 13, 2011 : Zabian Dowdell is waived and replaced with Ronnie Price .
December 18, 2011 : Training camp ends.
December 22, 2011 : Mickaël Piétrus is waived.
December 26, 2011 : The NBA season begins for Phoenix.
December 29, 2011 : Michael Redd signs with Phoenix.
January 2, 2012 : Garret Siler is waived.
February 8, 2012 : Markieff Morris gets represented as a rookie for the 2012 Rising Stars challenge .
February 9, 2012 : Steve Nash gets his 8th All-Star representation ; 6th as a reserve and 6th as a representative of the Phoenix Suns (which ties a record previously set by Walter Davis ).
February 24, 2012 : The 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend begins.
April 18, 2012 : The Suns officially induct former head coach John MacLeod in the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor .
Offseason
NBA draft
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
2011–12 Phoenix Suns roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
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
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
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
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
Lincoln HS (NY)
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
(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
Regular season
Standings
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)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
5
January 2
Golden State
W 102–91
Steve Nash (21)
Channing Frye (10)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 14,793
2–3
6
January 4
@ Dallas
L 89–98
Marcin Gortat (22)
Channing Frye ,Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (12)
American Airlines Center 19,885
2–4
7
January 6
Portland
W 102–77
Jared Dudley (18)
Robin Lopez (12)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 16,235
3–4
8
January 8
Milwaukee
W 109–93
Marcin Gortat (18)
Markieff Morris (10)
Steve Nash (17)
US Airways Center 13,420
4–4
9
January 10
@ L. A. Lakers
L 83–99
Channing Frye (17)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (8)
Staples Center 18,997
4–5
10
January 12
Cleveland
L 90–101
Steve Nash (16)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (15)
US Airways Center 14,636
4–6
11
January 13
New Jersey
L 103–110
Marcin Gortat (20)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Ronnie Price (8)
US Airways Center 15,191
4–7
12
January 15
@ San Antonio
L 91–102
Marcin Gortat (24)
Marcin Gortat (15)
Steve Nash (10)
AT&T Center 18,581
4–8
13
January 17
@ Chicago
L 97–118
Steve Nash (25)
Marcin Gortat (15)
Steve Nash (9)
United Center 21,347
4–9
14
January 18
@ New York
W 91–88
Steve Nash (26)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (11)
Madison Square Garden 19,763
5–9
15
January 20
@ Boston
W 79–71
Marcin Gortat (24)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (9)
TD Garden 18,624
6–9
16
January 23
@ Dallas
L 87–93
Marcin Gortat ,Grant Hill (19)
Marcin Gortat (17)
Steve Nash (12)
American Airlines Center 19,944
6–10
17
January 24
Toronto
L 96–99
Marcin Gortat (21)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (14)
US Airways Center 15,404
6–11
18
January 27
@ Portland
L 71–109
Grant Hill (12)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (7)
Rose Garden 20,664
6–12
19
January 28
Memphis
W 86–84
Steve Nash (21)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 14,903
7–12
20
January 30
Dallas
L 99–122
Marcin Gortat (17)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Sebastian Telfair (6)
US Airways Center 13,132
7–13
February: 7–7 (home: 3–3; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
21
February 1
@ New Orleans
W 120–103
Steve Nash (30)
Marcin Gortat (11)
Steve Nash (10)
New Orleans Arena 13,598
8–13
22
February 3
@ Houston
L 81–99
Jared Dudley ,Marcin Gortat (15)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (9)
Toyota Center 15,941
8–14
23
February 4
Charlotte
W 95–89
Michael Redd (17)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 14,928
9–14
24
February 6
@ Atlanta
W 99–90
Steve Nash (24)
Channing Frye ,Marcin Gortat (9)
Steve Nash (11)
Philips Arena 11,823
10–14
25
February 7
@ Milwaukee
W 107–105
Marcin Gortat (21)
Josh Childress (12)
Steve Nash (11)
Bradley Center 13,203
11–14
26
February 9
Houston
L 89–96
Channing Frye (21)
Channing Frye (10)
Steve Nash (13)
US Airways Center 16,122
11–15
27
February 11
@ Sacramento
W 98–84
Jared Dudley (20)
Jared Dudley (10)
Steve Nash (15)
Power Balance Pavilion 16,964
12–15
28
February 13
@ Golden State
L 96–102
Marcin Gortat (25)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (14)
Oracle Arena 19,106
12–16
29
February 14
@ Denver
L 92–109
Markieff Morris (21)
Marcin Gortat (14)
Ronnie Price (6)
Pepsi Center 17,873
12–17
30
February 15
Atlanta
L 99–101
Steve Nash (22)
Channing Frye (11)
Steve Nash (16)
US Airways Center 15,392
12–18
31
February 17
@ L. A. Lakers
L 99–111
Marcin Gortat (21)
Marcin Gortat (16)
Steve Nash (17)
Staples Center 18,997
12–19
32
February 19
L. A. Lakers
W 102–90
Jared Dudley (25)
Marcin Gortat (15)
Steve Nash (14)
US Airways Center 18,023
13–19
33
February 20
Washington
W 104–88
Marcin Gortat (20)
Channing Frye (11)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 13,921
14–19
34
February 22
Golden State
L 104–106
Channing Frye (22)
Marcin Gortat (15)
Steve Nash (9)
US Airways Center 14,558
14–20
All-Star Break
March: 11–6 (home: 8–2; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
35
March 1
Minnesota
W 104–95
Grant Hill (20)
Steve Nash (8)
Steve Nash (17)
US Airways Center 15,071
15–20
36
March 2
L. A. Clippers
W 81–78
Jared Dudley (22)
Channing Frye ,Marcin Gortat (14)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 18,091
16–20
37
March 4
Sacramento
W 96–88
Steve Nash (19)
Marcin Gortat (17)
Steve Nash (7)
US Airways Center 15,026
17–20
38
March 7
@ Oklahoma City
L 104–115
Marcin Gortat (28)
Jared Dudley ,Marcin Gortat (11)
Steve Nash (13)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
17–21
39
March 8
Dallas
W 96–94
Jared Dudley (18)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 15,498
18–21
40
March 10
Memphis
W 98–91
Jared Dudley (19)
Marcin Gortat (9)
Steve Nash (15)
US Airways Center 16,350
19–21
41
March 12
Minnesota
L 124–127
Jared Dudley (28)
Jared Dudley (9)
Steve Nash (10)
US Airways Center 14,568
19–22
42
March 14
Utah
W 120–111
Channing Frye (26)
Channing Frye (9)
Steve Nash (16)
US Airways Center 14,076
20–22
43
March 15
@ L. A. Clippers
W 91–87
Shannon Brown (21)
Jared Dudley ,Channing Frye ,Marcin Gortat ,Markieff Morris (6)
Sebastian Telfair (8)
Staples Center 19,060
21–22
44
March 16
Detroit
W 109–101
Jared Dudley (23)
Channing Frye (13)
Steve Nash (17)
US Airways Center 17,148
22–22
45
March 18
Houston
W 99–86
Michael Redd (25)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 15,645
23–22
46
March 20
@ Miami
L 95–99
Grant Hill (19)
Marcin Gortat (8)
Steve Nash (10)
American Airlines Arena 20,212
23–23
47
March 21
@ Orlando
L 93–103
Jared Dudley (17)
Marcin Gortat (9)
Marcin Gortat ,Sebastian Telfair (3)
Amway Center 18,930
23–24
48
March 23
@ Indiana
W 113–111
Marcin Gortat (23)
Marcin Gortat (8)
Steve Nash (17)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 14,786
24–24
49
March 25
@ Cleveland
W 108–83
Marcin Gortat ,Markieff Morris (22)
Marcin Gortat (8)
Steve Nash (13)
Quicken Loans Arena 17,307
25–24
50
March 27
San Antonio
L 100–107
Shannon Brown (32)
Marcin Gortat (14)
Steve Nash (8)
US Airways Center 16,573
25–25
51
March 28
@ L. A. Clippers
L 86–103
Marcin Gortat (23)
Channing Frye ,Marcin Gortat (7)
Steve Nash (15)
Staples Center 19,060
25–26
April: 8–7 (home: 4–3; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
52
April 1
New Orleans
W 92–75
Jared Dudley (21)
Channing Frye (11)
Steve Nash (14)
US Airways Center 15,753
26–26
53
April 3
@ Sacramento
W 109–100
Marcin Gortat (20)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (12)
Power Balance Pavilion 12,462
27–26
54
April 4
@ Utah
W 107–105
Michael Redd (19)
Marcin Gortat (8)
Steve Nash (9)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
28–26
55
April 6
@ Denver
L 99–105
Shannon Brown (18)
Marcin Gortat (14)
Steve Nash (11)
Pepsi Center 19,155
28–27
56
April 7
L. A. Lakers
W 125–105
Shannon Brown (24)
Marcin Gortat (9)
Steve Nash (11)
US Airways Center 18,237
29–27
57
April 9
@ Minnesota
W 114–90
Markieff Morris (21)
Shannon Brown ,Marcin Gortat (7)
Sebastian Telfair (7)
Target Center 17,274
30–27
58
April 11
@ Memphis
L 93–104
Marcin Gortat (19)
Markieff Morris (6)
Steve Nash (10)
FedExForum 15,239
30–28
59
April 13
@ Houston
W 112–105
Marcin Gortat (20)
Marcin Gortat (15)
Steve Nash (10)
Toyota Center 18,223
31–28
60
April 14
@ San Antonio
L 91–105
Sebastian Telfair (21)
Robin Lopez ,Markieff Morris (9)
Markieff Morris ,Sebastian Telfair (4)
AT&T Center 18,581
31–29
61
April 16
Portland
W 125–107
Marcin Gortat (20)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (13)
US Airways Center 15,322
32–29
62
April 18
Oklahoma City
L 97–109
Jared Dudley (21)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (5)
US Airways Center 14,873
32–30
63
April 19
L. A. Clippers
W 93–90
Jared Dudley (18)
Marcin Gortat (14)
Steve Nash (6)
US Airways Center 14,644
33–30
64
April 21
Denver
L 107–118
Shannon Brown (28)
Marcin Gortat (11)
Steve Nash (13)
US Airways Center 15,877
33–31
65
April 24
@ Utah
L 88–100
Jared Dudley ,Michael Redd (15)
Marcin Gortat (12)
Steve Nash (11)
EnergySolutions Arena 19,911
33–32
66
April 25
San Antonio
L 106–110
Shannon Brown (21)
Marcin Gortat (10)
Steve Nash (7)
US Airways Center 17,172
33–33
2011–12 season schedule
Player statistics
Season
Awards, records and milestones
Awards
Week/Month
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
Trades
Free agents
Additions
^ 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
^ 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
^ "Report: NBA draft moving to Newark" . ESPN.com . October 27, 2010. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010 .
^ "League locks out players until new collective bargaining agreement is reached – ESPN" . ESPN.com . July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ "Markieff Morris NBA & ABA Statistics" . basketball-reference.com . July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ "Phoenix Suns trade Goran Dragic, pick for Rockets' Aaron Brooks" . wearesuns.com . February 24, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ "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 .
^ "Suns extend qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks" . nbasports.com . October 27, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ "Elston Turner, the new defensive coordinator for the Phoenix Suns" . ESPN.com . July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ "Suns delay Vince Carter contract deadline, extend qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks" . azcentral.com . June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ "Phoenix Suns Team Salary – NBA News & NBA Rumors" . hoopsworld.com . July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011 .
^ Zabian Dowdell Agrees To Terms With Gran Canaria
^ "Siler to play in China again | ABC 6 WJBF-TV" . Archived from the original on February 9, 2013.
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