Two years ago, in Jeff Hornacek's first season at the helm, Phoenix was one of the darlings of the NBA. With Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe heading the backcourt, the Suns surprised the league with a now-familiar brand of basketball -- by spreading the floor and hoisting a high volume of 3-pointers.
The strategy worked to the tune of a 48-34 record but, because the Western Conference is unfair, Phoenix missed out on the eighth and final spot by one game. Meanwhile, a 38-win Atlanta Hawks team made the cut in the Eastern Conference.