Phx-Suns.Net

The biggest difference between the 1976 team and the 1993 team is that the '93 team had so much natural talent (Barkley, KJ, Ainge, Chambers, Ceballos, Dumas, Miller) and the '76 team had a couple of guys who had great talent (Westphal and Adams) complimented by a bunch of rugged guys who got the most out of their talent (Sobers, Van Arsdale, Awtrey, Heard, Perry).

The '93 team SHOULD have been challenging the Bulls for the title, but the '76 team had no business upsetting Golden State. They were completely over-matched, but they still did it. And then they gave Boston a scare in the Finals.

Fans love over-achievers and that team was two wins away from what no rational person thought was possible.

Don't forget Keith Erickson ... a great sixth man and shooter. Erickson was on the Pre-Alcindor UCLA team that won the NCAAs with no starter taller than 6-5 (Goodrich was a starting guard on that UCLA) team.

Of all the players on all the great teams John Wooden had, he singled out Erickson as the finest athlete he ever coached.

Erickson would later team with Wilt Chamberlain to ramp up pro-beach volleyball on the coast.

40 years ago today.

Every NBA team has a time in their history when they finally feel like they made it. Seattle had the 1978 & 1979 Championship Series, Portland had their 1977 championship, Philadelphia had their 1967 championship, the Lakers had 1972, Golden State had 1975, Boston had 1957, etc., etc.

For the Suns it was the 1976 NBA Playoffs when they upset the defending champion Warriors in the Conference Finals and gave Boston more than they bargained for in the Championship Series. Up to that point they had played in one playoff series in their first six years and they blew a 3-1 lead against the Lakers team that had Chamberlain, West and Baylor, but that was the highlight prior to 1976.

Anyway, for anyone who lived here at the time it was incredibly exciting because the Suns were our only professional team and nobody expected much from them.

That year's team predates my birth by 3 years, so I don't have much connection to them. To me the great Suns team from olden days is the early 90s Barkley Suns. But I've seen clips and highlights and read about the great '70s team. They looked awesome to watch and root for. Can't believe it has been 40 years already. Someday we will celebrate 40 years since Barkley, and 40 years since Nash (which Nash season??).

My 13-year-old self remembers it well.

Hard to believe it was that long ago.

Just happened to catch that NBA TV has a 40th Anniversery special about the Suns-Celtics triple OT game. I'm watching it now. Very entertaining.

These guys look so scrawny compared to today's players.

Awesome thread!

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:Someday we will celebrate 40 years since Barkley, and 40 years since Nash (which Nash season??).

To me, 2005-2006.

SuperBone wrote:My 13-year-old self remembers it well.

JCSunsfan wrote:Hard to believe it was that long ago.

Hard to believe SuperBone is that old!!

Careful! Superbone, JCSunsFan and I appear to all be the same age! And LL? Well, we haven't had him carbon dated yet.....

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:

SuperBone wrote:My 13-year-old self remembers it well.

JCSunsfan wrote:Hard to believe it was that long ago.

Hard to believe SuperBone is that old!!

The Bobster wrote:Careful! Superbone, JCSunsFan and I appear to all be the same age! And LL? Well, we haven't had him carbon dated yet.....

Careful is right!

The Bobster wrote:Careful! Superbone, JCSunsFan and I appear to all be the same age! And LL? Well, we haven't had him carbon dated yet.....

I've had blind dates, but never dated carbon ...as for age, I'm as old as my tongue and slightly older than my teeth ...

LazarusLong wrote:...as for age, I'm as old as my tongue and slightly older than my teeth ...

You're only as old as you feel. I apparently just turned 84!

LazarusLong wrote:
I've had blind dates, but never dated carbon ...

Holy crap, what kind of lifeform do you date? Hortas?

Cap wrote:

LazarusLong wrote:
I've had blind dates, but never dated carbon ...

Holy crap, what kind of lifeform do you date? Hortas?

Right, as in "carbon-based life forms." Silly me.

Cap wrote:

LazarusLong wrote:
I've had blind dates, but never dated carbon ...

Holy crap, what kind of lifeform do you date? Hortas?

Hahaha

LL was around during the ARN world.