Editing Phoenix Suns (section)

====2006–2008: "Seven seconds or less"====
Under coach D'Antoni, the Suns popularized the fast break offense known as ''7 seconds or less'', which was later published in a [[07 Seconds or Less|book]] written by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' writer [[Jack McCallum]]. Though criticized for a supposed lack of defense, the Suns specialized an efficient offense designed to quickly get off shots that made regrouping on defense difficult for the opposing team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/offense/fast-break-offense-suns.html|title=Fast Break Basketball Offense - Phoenix Suns - Transition Offense|website=www.BreakthroughBasketball.com|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=September 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925025242/https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/offense/fast-break-offense-suns.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Shawn Marion.jpg|thumbnail|Shawn Marion, considered a key component of the "7 seconds or less" offense, was traded in 2008 after being drafted by the team in 1999]]
The Suns entered the 2006–07 season aiming to win the first championship in franchise history. From November 20 to December 22, the Suns posted a 15-game win streak, followed almost immediately with a 17-game win streak from December 29 to January 28. On March 14, the 49–14 Suns met the 52–10 Dallas Mavericks in a match-up where both teams were fighting for the top seed in the Western conference and Nash was going for his third consecutive MVP award against [[Dirk Nowitzki]]. Though the Suns won the game in double overtime,<ref>{{cite web |title=Nash, Stoudemire lead Suns past Mavs in double OT |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=270314006 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=November 29, 2019 |date=March 14, 2007 |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221005956/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=270314006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Mavericks would finish with the West's top seed at 67–15, and Nowitzki would narrowly win the MVP award ahead of Nash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/news/dirkmvp_2007.html|title=Dirk Nowitzki Wins 2006-07 MVP Award|website=NBA.com|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=March 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315161923/http://www.nba.com/news/dirkmvp_2007.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

While the Mavericks were upset in the first round by the eight-seed Golden State Warriors, the 61–21 Suns defeated Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in five games in the opening round of the playoffs. This set up a rematch of the 2005 Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs. The series saw the Spurs defeat the Suns in six games, in what many called "the real finals" of the 2006–07 season.<ref name="WhiteAP">{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2008041924&prov=ap|title=Rivalry renewed: Spurs open against Suns (AP)|last=White|first=Elizabeth|date=April 18, 2008|work=Yahoo.com|agency=The Associated Press|access-date=December 13, 2008|archive-date=May 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522220542/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2008041924&prov=ap|url-status=live}}</ref> The Spurs went on to win the championship that year.

On June 6, former [[NBA on TNT|TNT]] TV analyst and NBA three-point specialist, [[Steve Kerr]], was appointed Suns' general manager and president of basketball operations. Kerr was also a part of the Sarver-led investment group that purchased the franchise from [[Jerry Colangelo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/kerr_bio.html|title=Steve Kerr Bio |work=nba.com|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108153555/http://www.nba.com/suns/news/kerr_bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/directory.html|title=Latest Headlines|work=Phoenix Suns|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108152554/http://www.nba.com/suns/news/directory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His first off-season signing was former [[Orlando Magic]] [[small forward]] [[Grant Hill (basketball)|Grant Hill]] on a one-year $1.8 million deal with a player option for a second season at $2 million. Hill, who was previously considered injury-prone, played in the majority of games over the next four seasons as a starter.

The Suns finished 55–27 on the season, two games behind the Lakers who won the division. In the opening round of the playoffs, the Suns lost to the Spurs in five games, the first time they did not advance past the first round in the D'Antoni-Nash era. Some have attributed this to the mid-season acquisition of aging former MVP [[Shaquille O'Neal]] for four-time All Star Shawn Marion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2009/3/4/780023/revisting-the-marion-for-s|title={{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|Revisting}} the Marion for Shaq trade: A bloggers Round Table|date=March 4, 2009|website=BrightSideOfTheSun.com|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109080818/https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2009/3/4/780023/revisting-the-marion-for-s|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://valleyofthesuns.com/2009/06/29/the-shaq-trade-revisited/|title=The Shaq trade revisited|date=June 29, 2009|website=ValleyOfTheSuns.com|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109080723/https://valleyofthesuns.com/2009/06/29/the-shaq-trade-revisited/|url-status=live}}</ref> Though O'Neal was brought in as a physical presence to match with the likes of the Spurs' [[Tim Duncan]], the move all but ended their fast-paced offense which had brought them to the cusp of a Finals appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/02/the-20-worst-trade-deadline-deals-in-nba-history/shaquille-oneal-to-the-suns|title=The 20 Worst Trade Deadline Deals in NBA History14. Shaquille O'Neal to the Suns|website=Complex|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108152234/http://www.complex.com/sports/2013/02/the-20-worst-trade-deadline-deals-in-nba-history/shaquille-oneal-to-the-suns|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 11, 2008, Suns' head coach [[Mike D'Antoni]] left the team and signed with the [[New York Knicks]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/sports/basketball/11knicks.html|title=D'Antoni Accepts Offer to Coach Knicks|last=Beck|first=Howard|date=May 11, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 7, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308080826/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/sports/basketball/11knicks.html|url-status=live}}</ref>