:07 Seconds or Less by Jack McCallum

I enjoy reading a sports book every once in a while. It is usually an easy read on a subject I enjoy reading about. 7 Seconds did not disappoint.

7 Seconds, written by Jack McCallum from Sports Illustrated, tells the story of the Phoenix Suns 2005-06 season. Jack followed the team all year as insider, riding along with them from pre-season through the post-season. It focuses and follows the playoffs, with intermediary chapters about happenings earlier in the season. It is great read because the '05-'06 season was a really interesting one, with Amare Stoudamire out, the change in GMs and a contentious playoff series against the Lakers and Clippers, and the Suns had many interesting characters, especially amongst the coaching staff. I can't tell you how happy reading this book made me about the fact that D'Antoni is now the Knicks coach.

Each chapter(for the most part) is one day during the playoffs (the Suns went 3 rounds that year), whether it was game day or not. It focuses on the day-to-day behavior and interactions of the players and coaches, with enough game detail to keep you riveted but not overwhelmed. McCallum, the long time senior basketball writer for SI, knows and writes basketball well, but also knows how to write about the people playing it. Amongst the players Shawn Marion and Raja Bell emerge as the 2 most interesting characters, both as different flavors of headcases. Shawn is the insecure, supremely talented 3rd banana on the team (behind Steve Nash and the injured Stoudamire, who is prone at times to sulking, poor play, feeling insulted by perceived slights, near transcendent play, all during the same day at times. Raja is the team bad ass, it harshest, meanest defender, its craziest personality and the player most likely to kill Kobe. He is the one true enforcer on the team, but is prone to going to far (he manages to get suspended during the playoffs).

If you like reading, basketball and possibly reading about basketball you will like this book a lot. Even if you just like reading, you will like this book. Though it does help if you aren't a Lakers fan.

Book can be found here (Bargain priced HC, version I bought)
http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Seconds-Less-Season-Phoenix/dp/B000WPM9LG/ref=ed_oe_h_bargain

9 down, 91 to go. Finished 4/09/2009
This post was written listening to Bill Simmons' BS Report, an ESPN podcast