What? Me worry?

First, a caveat. It was the Bobcats.

Now, to mollify that caveat. The Bobcats are better than the Sonics.

This isn't about the Bobcats, or even the level of the Suns' competition tonight. This is about a Suns team that has a new starting lineup, a new bench, and one that hadn't played to expectations through two-and-a-half games. It is also a Suns team playing without its All NBA center, Amare Stoudemire.

The defense that stymied the Cavaliers in the second half of Sunday's game continued for a full 48 minutes against the Bobcats. Charlotte did not shoot better than 50% in a single quarter, the closest they got coming in a 9-19 third quarter. The 'Cats shot 21-63 the rest of the time (33.3% for the mathematically challenged), including a fourth quarter that saw the Suns' bench empty. That was a 6-20 quarter for the young upstarts, a telling statistic given the Suns' recent history of Fitness Club failures.

It wasn't just the scoring defense, though. The Suns had energy and intensity throughout the game. The Suns were everywhere, forcing 24 Bobcat turnovers, getting into passing lanes for play-disrupting deflections, and beating the Kittens on the boards most of the game. The Suns would have won the battle of the boards if not for a curiously laughable sequence, wherein Jared Dudley missed four consecutive tip-in attempts before finally getting a handle on things for a 10 foot straight-away jumper.

Poor Raymond Felton. He was the most notable victim of the Suns intensity and tenacity, as his legs got tangled with Steve Nash's on a spin move in the lane. Initial X-rays and MRIs proved negative, so I'm hoping the young point guard recovers quickly. He was absolutely manhandled by the Suns, as the contender finally decided that there would be no easy layups. He and Matt Carroll might be having nightmares of Boris Diaw screens and Raja Bell defense between now and their next game in Phoenix.

The Suns asserted themselves, for sure, and it seemed to start with Boris Diaw, who must have gotten the memo I sent about passing from the rim. The French enigma seemed to unravel the riddle of how to play facilitator along side the play making of Steve Nash, as Diaw took Nash feeds strong to the basket for 15 points, and passed to open team mates in rhythm to notch 11 assists. Now the question turns to whether he can take that intelligent, flexible, aggressive play to the court when Amare returns.

Diaw's play was indicative of the team itself. The defense led to a smooth and consistent offensive game that should give Suns fans plenty of reason to remain optimistic. The team actually scored more points (59) in the two quarters that they failed to shoot at least 50% than they did in the first and fourth quarters (56 points, 54.8%). As with the defense, the Suns offense never relented to a scrappy Bobcats team that seemed to be playing more to prove that it could run with the Suns than actually beat them.

That fourth quarter is probably the most encouraging, as the Suns elder statesmen rested the entire period. Only starters Boris Diaw and Raja Bell played significant minutes in the quarter, leaving the door open for Banks, Marks, and Barbosa to maintain a lead that dropped to 21 points before DJ Strawberry (7 minutes) and Alando Tucker (4 minutes) came in to finish the job, extending the lead to the game's final 32 point margin of victory.

That performance by the younger, hungrier, and more athletic bench contrasts last season's debacle against Memphis, in which the Fitness Club coughed up a 34-point fourth quarter lead before the starters had to return and restore order, ultimately winning by nine points. Is it just me, or does 27-22 in favor of the Suns sound more promising than 29-7 against a team of reserves running around like headless chickens?

My boy, DJ Strawberry (a.k.a. the Tasmanian Devil, a.k.a. Tazzy), went scoreless on one shot attempt, but his defensive presence is on par with his new mentor, Raja Bell - maybe even better with his young legs and solid ankles. Two steals in seven minutes is nice, even considering the competition. DJ takes his assignment very seriously, as if he's seen video of last year's reserves. The kid is a tough defender who never takes off a possession, and he plays like he should be the first option off the bench, if only for defensive purposes. My hope is that Coach Mike forgets last season and works DJ into the rotation more as the season continues.

It could prove a difficult decision, though, as the entire bench has stepped up in the first four games of the season. On brutal road trips (four games in five nights), those players will prove invaluable in allowing the big boys to get some much needed rest, as well as allowing Stoudemire the patience to let his knee heal. No hurry, big guy -- the new guys have got your back.

So what do we take from all this? If we're not allowed to panic after three, why should we be allowed so much optimism after four?

1. The team is gelling much quicker than last season. It hasn't taken six months of banging our heads against a brick wall before Boris got the message. Grant Hill is finding his way in the offense, and is proving to bring something very few even considered - defense. And, of course, there's the bench play.

2. Maturity. Amare Stoudemire is now a captain, which speaks mightily towards his development as a player who is serious about winning within the team concept, as well as his ability to maintain a level head throughout adversity. Add to that Nash's even more fiery determination to redeem last year's injustice, Marion's ability to separate the business from the game, the continued development of Diaw and Barbosa, and this team is showing signs that it has indeed turned the corner.

Remember, it is not all about what happens on the court and against which team. It is about attitudes and desires that make this team so fun to watch, so easy to love, and so hard to doubt. Through three games of erratic play and one game of absolute dominance without one captain and All NBA center, the Suns have shown that they understand their goals. They are not as caught up in the trivial matters of trade demands, lack of early season focus, and questionable durability as some reporters here believe that Suns fans are.

I have not worried for a moment whether or not the team would work its way into form eventually. Last season is still fresh in my mind, so how could I panic or think that there are holes to be filled? How could anyone? The only reason that I am so high on last night's win is that it justifies all Suns fans' belief that this team is ready, and that it will go far this season. Four down, 78 to go, and I'm just hoping that the majority of the remaining games look a lot like the one against Charlotte, competition be damned.

This was Phoenix Suns basketball at its finest.