PHOENIX -- After one of the worst seasons in the franchises 48-year history, the Phoenix Suns believe they finally are headed in the right direction.A team plagued by injury and internal problems mostly traced to the presence of disgruntled Markieff Morris went 23-59 last season, the second-worst record in franchise history. Only the inaugural season of 1968-69 (16-66) was worse.But the Suns found a budding star in guard Devin Booker and drafted a pair of promising teenage power forwards -- Dan Bender as the No. 4 pick overall, Marquese Chriss as No. 8. General manager Ryan McDonough brought in a pair of popular ex-Suns, Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa, to provide veteran leadership.With Eric Bledsoe healthy and 37-year-old coach Earl Watson preaching enthusiasm and a family attitude, these Suns expect to be competitive, or at least entertaining.Phoenixs six-year playoff drought probably wont end, but this teams personality and energy might begin to win back some of a disillusioned fan base that once was among the most faithful in the NBA.Watson, who took over on an interim basis after Jeff Hornacek was fired, calls his team a group of high-character guys with enthusiasm and energy.Were really lucky to have this group, he said.Every Suns player stayed in Phoenix through the summer, playing together on the court and spending a lot of time together off it.Our foundation was built in stages, Watson said, relationships first, bonding, creating a unity of compassion for each other, which resulted in love and, when we got into the preseason, sacrificing roles.The players dont want to hear anything about low expectations.Were all about winning and winning now. Booker said. I dont feel like were in a rebuilding phase. I feel like were built.Here are some things to consider as the Suns enter the season.BOOKERS TEAM: Booker turns 20 on Oct. 30 and already is the face of the franchise.He averaged 13.8 points last year and made the all-rookie team, but he really blossomed when Brandon Knight and Bledsoe both were out with injuries. After Jan. 1, he averaged 18.3 points per game, second among rookies. Booker became the third-youngest player to reach 1,000 points. Only LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant did it at an earlier age.In a survey of general managers, Booker was voted the player most likely to have a breakout 2016-17 season.Just taking it all in, at the same time using it as motivation, he said of the accolades. I know where Im at right now and I know where Im trying to get. So Im just staying focused, staying humble and every time I touch the floor giving it my all.KNIGHTS SACRIFICE: Watson calls Brandon Knight the most important player on the team after he was relegated to a sixth man role with Bledsoe and Booker the starting guards.Knight teammates understand how important it is for Knight to accept what has happened.B-Knight has been the biggest sacrifice for our family, center Tyson Chandler said, because hes a starter. Hes a great player in this league. So him coming off the bench is going to be huge for us.IMPRESSIVE CHRISS: The 6-foot-10 Chriss was impressive in the preseason and is ahead of Bender in terms of being ready for the NBA game. Expect the ex-University of Washington star to be part of the rotation right away.Hes a raw talent, Bledsoe said. Hes got some stuff you really cant teach.Chriss, who turned 19 in July, impressed his teammates in a confrontation with Dallas Andrew Bogut in a preseason game.He kind of reminds me of me out there last year, Booker said. ... I think you see him in the Dallas game push Bogut around and thats what we need, someone who wont back down on anybody, so Im really proud of him.HEALTHY AT LAST: Bledsoe is back after missing 51 games and undergoing another knee surgery. Knight is healthy after missing 30 games. Small forward T.J. Warren is kind of a forgotten man after missing most of last season with a broken foot. Small forward P.J. Tucker expects to be back by the second game of the season after undergoing back surgery.YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM: Nine of Phoenixs core players are 26 or younger. Bledsoe is the old man at 26. Knight is just 24, Warren and center Alex Len 23.They bring enthusiasm that rubs off on everyone.An older team, you kind of relax and take it easy, said Chandler, at 34 the oldest player on the roster. But these guys have so much energy, they go non-stop. It kind of gets you going. Cheap Fake Air Max 95 . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Vapormax Plus Wholesale . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-china-yeezy-boost/yeezy-boost-350-v3.html . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Air Jordan Wholesale China . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Yeezy Boost China Cheap . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee forward John Fulkerson has a dislocated right elbow that will keep him from playing for at least six weeks.Fulkerson hurt his elbow Thursday in a 92-77 victory over Lipscomb. Tennessee coach Rick Barnes announced the severity of the 6-foot-7 freshmans injury Saturday.Six weeks at a minimum, and well go from there, Barnes said. But in the meantime, weve got a group of guys that I think can play. Were going to keep working and figure out what we can do. Weve had injuries all year weve had to deal with. Were working through it, and well do the same here.Barnes said Utah State graduate transfer Lew Evans probably would fill Fulkersons spot in the starting lineup Sunday when Tennessee (6-4) faces No. 8 Gonzaga (10-0) in Nashville, Tennessee.But again, weve started ddifferent guys all year long, and well do what we need to do from game to game, Barnes said.ddddddddddddFulkerson had started each of Tennessees last six games. He is averaging 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.Barnes said forward Admiral Schofields status for Sundays game is uncertain. Schofield missed the Lipscomb game with an injured left ankle.He was a little bit limpy in practice today, Barnes said. He went and tried to get through it. Hopefully hell be able to give us some minutes.Tennessee has been without guard Jordan Bone, who has missed seven games with a stress fracture in his left foot.---More AP College Basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '