Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns

I grew up in Phoenix and was seven years old when the Suns played their first game. I have many fond memories of this team, and just as many agonizing memories. The team has usually played a very entertaining game, and has received great support from the city. The fact that so many ex-Suns players continue to be affiliated with the team is a testament to the special nature of this franchise. I think the author did a great of reporting the good (and not so good) aspects of the 2005-2006 season. He really hit the nail on the head as he described the team's lack of a killer instinct. I wonder if there is any team that has blown more double-digit leads over the years than the Suns. Certainly the Suns have pulled some major chokes in the playoffs, being one of only a handful of teams to give-up a 3-1 edge in a series as well as losing a series (more than once) by having a 2-0 lead (and winning both on the road). This is an excellent chronicle of a season that exceeded the expectations of the fans - I highly recommend this book.

If you are a sports fan, this is the book for you. This is a no holds barred, behind the scenes look of an NBA team. I was amazed to learn about the players and coaches behind the scenes. What you see on TV and in press conferences is not always the entire picture. I highly recommend this book!

Jack McCallum's outstanding ":07 Seconds or Less" chronicles a season (2005-2006) spent inside the Phoenix Suns organization. McCallum uses 40 years of journalism skills and his decades as SI's top NBA writer to give us a compelling story of the Sun's tremendous achievements last year. Beset by season-ending injuries to stalwarts Amare Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and his staff somehow piece together 54 victories and two already-classic 4-3 series victories against the Lakers and Clippers before simply running out of gas against the Mavs. The centerpiece of the book are the three playoff series, especially the stirring comeback from a 1-3 hole against the Lakers. There's probably 100+ pages on those games alone. Whoever made the editing decision to front-load and spotlight that material deserves an award. By starting out with that series, the book takes a two-fisted grab of your attention and never lets go. For those curious about the title, it alludes to Coach D'Antoni's philosophy that his offense has the best chance to score if it gets a shot off within the first seven seconds of its 24-second possession. It's that philosophy that makes the Suns so exciting and refreshing to watch. McCallum and the coaching staff make the point that the NBA is, in general, over-coached and, well, flat-out boring. Let's hope more teams see the product and the results that D'Antoni is getting and sign up. [Eddie Jordan's Wizards look to be on pace this year.] I'm sure players around the league are dying to play for D'Antoni. McCallum's book can only reinforce that perception. He comes across as a good guy and a talented coach who has the respect of his players. The one eye-opening surprise in the book is the fragility of Shawn Marion's ego and psyche. The staff has to spend a lot of time and emotional energy stroking the guy because he seems to feel slighted by, well, just about everything. If you like basketball, you'll love this book. And there's no better team to cover than the Suns, the most exciting team in the NBA. I love the quote McCallum elicits from Lawrence Frank, coach of the Nets: "Playing the Suns is like being a passenger in a car going 75 miles an hour. When you're driving, like they are, you feel comfortable. But when you're the passenger, you feel uncomfortable. The trick is to figure out how to be the a driver. But they don't let you do that." And that, boiled down to its essence, is what makes Mike D'Antoni a successful coach.

I really enjoyed McCallum's cult hit "Foul Lines," and this is the non-fiction equivalent. The author takes advantage of some unbelievable access to give real sense of the inner workings of a team - of a coaching staff, in particular. The writing is top notch as well. This is really on the short list of fine sports books.

Finished the book in 2 days, amazing read, and well written. You laugh at the pranks,and player banter, and you see the daily struggles of life within a bright spotlight. You see Nash crying at a long season of overcoming doubters and pouring everything into this team and still coming up short of the NBA finals. You see a team, that was always doubted in there skills, there ability and there desire, but rising to challenge after challenge. This book makes you feel apart of the team, and part of the inner circle and of a very special season. Jack McCallum is one of the best sports writers in my generation.