2012 Phoenix Suns All-Time Tournament: Phoenix Suns Fantasy Basketball

Steve Nash may be the most beloved baller in franchise history, making it no surprise that the Orange Crusaders selected the two-time MVP as their first-round cornerstone in the draft. However, despite Nash's court command, vision and downtown dexterity, it's a formidable frontcourt that carries the Crusaders over Tizzy's Team in the opening round of the Phoenix Suns All-Time Tournament.

The Crusaders came out guns a' blazing, with shooting guard Raja Bell scoring nine of the squad's first 17 points and All-Star Dick Van Arsdale contributing an array of runners and put-backs. Combined with the opposition's struggle to remove the lid from the rim in the first half, the Crusaders glided to a seven-point advantage heading into the break.

Yet Tizzy's Team would not go quietly into the night. Spurred by the guidance of big man Alvan Adams and a scoring barrage from Paul Westphal and Jay Humphries, Tizzy's Team rallied to tie the contest going into the final quarter.

Unfortunately, the Crusaders' clout down low was too much aptitude to overcome, as Shaquille O'Neal and Tom Chambers dominated the glass on both ends of the floor, combining for 44 points as the Orange Crusaders knocked off Tizzy's Team 114 to 110. Chambers was especially clutch, sealing the game with four free throws in the final nine seconds.

The Big Cactus earns Player of the Game honors, finishing with 18 points and 19 boards. Chambers led the Crusaders in scoring with 26 points, while the captain Nash chipped in 16 assists and seven points. In the losing effort, Westphal paced Tizzy's Team with 33 points, while Adams finished with a triple-double of 14 points, 11 boards and 10 dimes.

Rosters: The Orange Crusaders (GM: Brad Faye) - Tizzy's Team (GM: Tom Leander)

Player of the game: Shaquille O'Neal (18 points, 19 rebounds)

Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: The Orange Crusaders 62.0% - Tizzy's Team 38.0%

Average Score of 1,001 Simulations: The Orange Crusaders 113.3 - Tizzy's Team 109.1

Flaunting a scoreboard-lighting roster, the Purple Haze appear to be a title contender on paper. Alas, though the Haze's depth and deftness are unparalleled, the team was sent packing in a fog thanks to Truck Robinson.

Few could catch fire like Walter Davis, and the one affectionately known as "The Greyhound" put this proficiency on display in the first quarter, scoring 12 points in placing the Haze out to an eight-point lead. Amar'ediculous would cut the deficit to four heading into halftime, driven by the trio of Penny Hardaway, Leandro Barbosa and the aforementioned Robinson.

The onset of the third quarter was one dominated by defense, as both crews strained to find any offensive consistency. Nevertheless, the Haze augmented their advantage, pulling ahead by seven as the game rolled into the final period.

Yet off-the-bench contributions from Jason Richardson pulled the game close, and Hardaway's drive-and-dish artistry could not be contained. With 30 seconds left, a Charlie Scott jumper brought Amar'ediculous within one. The Haze were thwarted on the other end, giving Amar'ediculous a chance to pull off the comeback. As the clock hit zero, Robinson attempted a fadeaway jumper that hit nothing but net, giving Amar'ediculous a 111-110 victory.

Amar'ediculous boasted seven players in double-digit scoring, with Robinson and Scott leading the way with 22 and 19, respectively. Hardaway added 19 points, nine assists and five boards, while the team's namesake, Amar'e Stoudemire, finished with 14 points and six rebounds. In defeat, Cedric Ceballos provided 24 points and six rebounds for the Haze, while Maurice Lucas cleaned the glass with 11 boards and added 14 points.

Rosters: Purple Haze (GM: Stefan Swiat) - Amar'ediculous (GM: Bob Adlhoch)

Player of the game: Truck Robinson (22 points, 12 rebounds)

Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: Amar'ediculous 54.8% - Purple Haze 45.2%

Average Score of 1,001 Simulations: Amar'ediculous 111.3 - Purple Haze 109.6

It was a battle of contrasting styles as the Cotton Express went small at guard and big in the post, starting point guards Kevin Johnson and Stephon Marbury, forwards Curtis Perry and Larry Nance, and center Jim Fox. Majerle's Mavens countered with no true point guard, placing Jeff Hornacek and Dan Majerle in the backcourt, while multipurpose forwards Shawn Marion, Grant Hill and Boris Diaw roamed the frontcourt.

Which style would rule the day appeared anyone's guess as the teams went back and forth to start the game. Near the five-minute mark of the first quarter, Marion set up Hornacek for a three-pointer that put Majerle's Mavens ahead 24-23. It turned out to be a lead the team would not relinquish.

Though the Cotton Express kept within striking distance most of the game, any hopes of a rally were quelled as Majerle's Mavens expanded their lead to 17 late in the fourth quarter. The Mavens ultimately notched a 114-104 win.

Marion demonstrated his versatility in the victory, scoring 30 points, including three triples, to go along with 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Thunder Dan added 20 points and eight boards, while Hornacek finished with 16 points and six dimes.

Marbury and Johnson combined for 22 assists in the loss. The Cotton Express used their superior size to outrebounded Majerle's Mavens 56 to 46, including 15 boards from Fox. Nance led the team in the scoring column with 21 points and added 10 rebounds of his own. The team connected on just four of 15 three-point tries, three by reserve Ron Lee.

Rosters: Majerle's Mavens (GM: Dan Hilton) - The Cotton Express (GM: Jeramie McPeek)

Player of the game: Shawn Marion (30 points, 10 rebounds)

Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: Majerle's Mavens 61.4% - The Cotton Express 38.6%

Average Score of 1,001 Simulations: Majerle's Mavens 107.8 - The Cotton Express 104.0

A masterful performance by Jason Kidd nearly proved enough to dethrone Charles Barkley and Shazam!, as the tournament's No. 7 seed, the Purple Gang From PHX, fell just short in an upset bid.

The Purple Gang enjoyed strong first quarter play from Eddie Johnson (10 points) and Clifford Robinson (seven points) to earn a 29-23 advantage. Shazam! appeared to cut the deficit to three on a bank shot by Gail Goodrich with one second left in the half, but the Purple Gang called a timeout and Kidd connected on a three-pointer to put his team ahead 57-51 heading into the break.

Shazam! could not be held at bay in the second half, as they captured the lead and watched it balloon to as many as 15 points with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. The Purple Gang fought back, however, and Johnson's three-pointer with 30 seconds left closed the gap to two. Kidd then picked Barkley's pocket on the ensuing possession and found Johnson for the tie, but his jumper missed with three seconds remaining. Shazam! secured the rebound and the 110-108 victory.

Though the player of the game customarily comes from the winning team, Kidd's line is too impressive to ignore. He finished with 19 points, 22 assists, 11 rebounds and four steals. Tom Gugliotta added a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards, while Johnson finished with 23 points in the loss.

Barkley earned his Round Mound of Rebound moniker, collecting 17 boards for Shazam! to go along with 16 points. Marcin Gortat notched 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Goodrich led his squad with 21 points and 10 assists.

Rosters: Shazam! (GM: Al McCoy) - Purple Gang From PHX (GM: Greg Esposito)

Player of the game: Jason Kidd (18 points, 22 assists, 11 rebounds)

Winning Percentage of 1,001 Simulations: Shazam! 52.5% - Purple Gang From PHX 47.5%

Average Score of 1,001 Simulations: Shazam! 109.9 - Purple Gang From PHX 109.4%