Fanning the Flames

A 2-2 week leaves us with some questions about the seemingly hot and cold week of basketball we have witnessed. Even with strange (and maybe disappointing?) losses, we believe the Suns are just fine. Join us as we cover every piece of this odd week of Suns basketball, from the Warriors and 76ers highs, to the Grizzlies and (3rd string) Thunder lows. Stick around for our Highs, Lows, and Just So Yo...

On this episode of Fanning the Flames, John Voita (@DarthVoita) from the Suns JAM Session podcast (@SunsJAM) joins us to gush about the roll that the Phoenix Suns are on. We dive into: Recent impressive performances by Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Who - if anyone - can stop the Suns. Whether guys like Booker, Ayton, and Mikal Bridges will receive individual accolades from the media. The potenti...

Did we just witness the most fun week of Suns basketball? Yes. I think so. Join us as we cover every piece of an action packed week of Suns basketball, from the OT thriller against the Kings, to the heated battle against Booker's best friends. And let's not forget the efficiency filled game against the Nuggets! Stick around for our MVP thoughts, both about the award itself and how Devin Booker fit...

The Suns injuries just won't stop, as Jae Crowder joined the injury crew. Even thought the Suns continue to play musical chairs with the injury report, they continue to keep stringing wins together. This week was highlighted by fantastic play at every position, with some special shoutouts on the way for Cam Payne and DominAyton! Also, please keep us in your thoughts, as we mourn the loss of our Ke...

The Suns continued their shorthanded play this week, going without a mix of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Cam Johnson. Even with all of those missing pieces, they finished the week 3-1 (and easily could have been 4-0). This week was filled with Mikal heroics, "not so clutch" clutch time, sweet revenge in Miami, and a blowout win over LeBron and the Lakers. Can't really complain about that! Stick ar...

The Phoenix Suns have been woefully shorthanded over the past week, but that has not entirely derailed their winning ways. Plus, it has allowed certain guys (Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Payne) to step up their games in the absence of Devin Booker and Chris Paul. On this week's episode of Fanning the Flames, we recap the past week of Suns basketball and also delve into: What the Sun...

Buckle up listeners, because we have a super sized episode on our hands. The fantastic David Nash joins us for a mega mail bag episode. Topics covered include: Playoff predictions, upcoming contracts, Cam vs. Mikal, Ethan actually reading a book, the Suns' key to success, and so much more! Thanks to all of you who submitted questions on Twitter, and hopefully we can do another one of these soon! P...

It's been a while, but Fanning the Flames returns at a time when it seems as though Planet Orange could use a boost of optimism from the Podcast of Optimism. Sure, Chris Paul is out for the foreseeable future. Sure, the Phoenix Suns are 1-2 since the All-Star Break. But let's not freak out just yet, Suns fans. This team is going to be just fine, and we tell you why that's the case on this episode...

What do you do when you lose Chris Paul? Fans who are set on looking to the future may have asked this already, as the Suns are hoping to build a roster that will stay competitive and relevant well past this year. Unfortunately, this question has surfaced sooner rather than later, as Chris Paul has suffered an avulsion fracture of his right thumb and is slated to miss 6-to-8 weeks. With Cam Payne...

Happy All Star Weekend! Hopefully you are getting some rest and relaxation, just like the majority of the Phoenix Suns players. We take our ASG episode to recap All Star Weekend (highlighted by Devin Booker, Chris Paul and the Suns coaching staff) and talk about what's to come in the last 7 weeks of the regular season. With Chris Paul out for the foreseeable future, the Suns will have plenty of qu...

The Suns may have just had their best week of the season. The Suns pulled off a remarkable 4-0 week, beating the Bulls, Sixers (second night of a back to back) and the defending champs, the Milwaukee Bucks. They also beat the Orland Magic... but somehow that makes it seem less impressive, so we'll bypass that one. We talk about what made this week so special and who really stepped up on some of th...

The Phoenix Suns pulled off yet another 4th quarter masterclass against the MVP “favorite” Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. But does it leave us with more questions than answers? Should the Suns make a trade before Thursday? Has Devin Booker entered the MVP discussion? And, most importantly, are the Suns just another team that can be "punked" by other teams? On this episode of Fanning the F...

Apparently one 10+ win streak wasn't enough, so the Suns decided to do it again! The Suns continue to increase their lead in the West, continually widening the gap between them and (almost) everyone else. We took some time to discuss why the Suns keep rolling, if the Hawks hot shooting was an outlier or a concern, and what the trade deadline looks like for a true contender. Also, make sure you Get...

The Phoenix Suns are riding an 11-game winning streak and are coming off a victory over the Steve Nash-coached Brooklyn Nets. Which begs the question: how does this Suns team compare to Suns teams of the past? Not in a "who would win in a series" sense, but in a "which of these teams do you connect with as a fan" sense. On this episode of Fanning the Flames, we dive into that question, talk about...

Although the Phoenix Suns were "lucky" to be so "healthy" last season (please pick up the heavy sarcasm), the same is not the case this year. The Suns have been consistently without contributors, but they keep on winning. Which begs the question: can anyone stop the Phoenix Suns? On this episode of Fanning the Flames, we discuss whether any other team worries us, the audacity of Grayson Allen and...

The Suns are back to their scorching ways, as they ride a new impressive winning streak into a Jazz-filled week! Talking about the Suns will always be our top priority, BUT it's easier to understand the Suns, their success, and their future by taking the time to assess the league around them. We adjust our normal segments to talk about other teams around the league that may be worthy of our attent...

One week ago, Devin Booker made headlines because of his interaction with a freaking mascot. Since then, Booker has played basketball like someone who is more than human, but not quite a god (a metahuman!!) and he is the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week to show it. As you may be able to guess, this is a DBook episode of Fanning the Flames. We discuss: Book's performances over the pas...

The Suns take care of business, winning against the Raptors, Pacers and Pistons! We recap this week in Phoenix Suns basketball, and do our best to NOT get too upset about the stupid, ridiculous, nonsensical, dumb, phony and indefensible NBA All-Star fan voting. That said... we can't wait to watch Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose start in the All-Star game. Stick around...

Fanning the Flames is back in full force as we discuss the week that was for the Phoenix Suns. Dan’s return is particularly noteworthy as he comes in with what may already be his rant of the year (parental discretion is advised). On top of that, we cover: Devin Booker's dustup with the Toronto Raptors' mascot; General savagery by NBA players (i.e., Ja Morant staring down a child); Whether the Suns...

JaVale or Jalen? We NEVER would've imagined this question being asked, and now, we never would've guessed who our answer may be. The Suns have almost returned to full health, although their pride may be on the Health and Safety list following the smackdown by the Heat. Now that the roster is starting to be fully available, the logjam at center is already starting to show. After last year, it seems...

Happy New Year, Suns fans! It has been a weird start to 2022 for the Suns, as they've seen a number of players and Monty Williams find themselves in the NBA's health and safety protocols. But those circumstances allowed the team to bring in Bismack Biyombo, who's impact was felt immediately, and allowed Jalen Smith to show what he can do. On this episode of Fanning the Flames, we discuss Biyombo's...

Happy New Year! 2021 was a great year for Phoenix Suns basketball, and hopefully 2022 will bring more of the same. Although the Suns' 2021 was fantastic, they've started 2022 in a bit of a precarious position, as COVID protocols have finally made their way to the Suns organization. Since last episode, the Suns went just 2-2, having to rely heavily on Jalen "Stix" Smith and an assortment of new fac...

Merry (NBA) Christmas! NBA Christmas Day is behind us and we are left with plenty to talk about, as Warriors vs. Suns III has left the Warriors with a 2-1 season series lead. The Suns dropped a tough one, but the top two teams in the West still seem to be destined for a playoff clash. We talk about what can be learned from the season series so far, what the Warriors have done well , and the resili...

Dan and Paul take the reigns of Fanning the Flames this week as Justin has to step away to speak with some of his sources (not really, but kind of). The guys discuss: Devin Booker’s 3 point shot and how he’s now shooting (roughly) 93% on the season. The upcoming showdown with the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day and why that team continues to get so much love. Is Deandre Ayton an All-Star? A...

Happy Holidays Suns fans! As we get closer to the much anticipated Christmas clash between the Suns and the Warriors, we take some time to put together our Christmas lists. Grab your cocoa and cookies and join us around the tree as we share our NBA and Phoenix Suns Christmas lists! QUICK NOTE: Thank you for all the kindness shown towards our hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky following last week'...