Amare Tests His Toes

[jbeecham]

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/tribune_030903.html

Amaré Testing Out His Toes

By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
East Valley Tribune
Sept. 3, 2003

Amare Stoudemire is back on the floor, competing in live action. Stoudemire, who underwent surgery on his right foot in June, took part in three-on-three, halfcourt scrimmaging Tuesday at the start of the Suns' informal "open gym" workouts.

He said he should be ready to go in fullcourt, five-on-five action in a matter of days.

"I'm a little out of shape," he said on Tuesday. "I got a little winded. No, a lot winded,"

Stoudemire had a bunion removed from his big toe and had a dislocated second toe repaired as well.

Overall, "I feel good," Stoudemire said after his Tuesday workout. "My toe feels great."

Still, he acknowledged that sometimes he feels "a little pain" after he works out. "I probably won't be 100 percent for another month."

Suns president Bryan Colangelo said Stoudemire "isn't in basketball condition," but otherwise looked good in his Tuesday workout.

In addition to the group scrimmages, Stoudemire is working on his own with Suns coaches, as he as for the past couple of weeks. On Tuesday, he concentrated on hitting mid-range shots. He spent much of his summer in Los Angeles, where he has relatives, and near his old home in Orlando, Fla., where he worked out on weights.

The first workout drew 16 players, including Suns veterans Stoudemire, Tom Gugliotta, Joe Johnson, Casey Jacobsen and Jake Voskuhl. Among the others taking part were Cedric Ceballos, the former Suns and Lakers star, and Jason Capel, a guard who played at North Carolina.

Barbosa and Brazil

Suns rookie Leandro Barbosa averaged 12 points over eight games in Brazil's unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2004 Olympic basketball tournament.

In some games, Barbosa, drafted in the first round by the Suns in June, outscored teammate Nene Hilario — the Denver Nuggets power forward — in the competition at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

[jbeecham]

Another Similar Article

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/workout_030902.html

Informal Workouts Begin at AWA

By Steven Koek, Suns.com
Posted: September 2, 2003

No more white clothes until Memorial Day.
School zones delay travel times throughout the valley.
And Phoenix Suns basketball is just around the corner.

Labor Day weekend is over and there is no better sign that fall is on the way than hearing the squeak of gym shoes on the Suns' practice court. A handful of Suns players scrimmaged with European-league and local hoopsters at America West Arena Monday as informal workouts began in preparation for the start of training camp at the end of September.

Guards Joe Johnson and Casey Jacobsen continue to impress as they have in workouts and summer league play the entire offseason. Tom Gugliotta has been working out in Phoenix nearly the entire summer and Jake Voskuhl has returned to the Valley after a couple months of scrimmages at the Houston Rockets' facility not far from his hometown of Katy, Texas.

Amaré Stoudemire was also on hand, but last season’s Rookie of the Year was limited to shooting drills as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery.

Former Suns forward and long-time fan favorite Cedric Ceballos was among those in attendance and showed he can still throw it down on the break, while ASU’s Curtis Millage was the lone returnee from the Suns’ pre-draft and summer league workouts.

Johnson has been working hard all summer to gain back the confidence he had late last season, which seemed to dissipate in the playoffs. He has attended every event or workout the team has conducted this offseason, and took home All-Tournament honors at July’s Rocky Mountain ***** in Utah.

“It feels great to get out there and get to compete, and play with a bunch of competitive guys,” JJ said. “My main thing out there on the court is for me to play with a bunch of confidence. I came out and played with great confidence this summer, and I’m just trying to carry it over into the season.”

Voskuhl is happy to be back in Phoenix, where he and his wife Jennifer have recently bought a home. The Texas native seemed to hit his stride last season with the Suns and is looking forward to his fourth in the NBA.

“It’s just good to get out here with our guys and play with them,” he said. “We’re working with the coaches to improve and get our confidence back. Everyone on our team is excited about next year and excited about all the growth last year, and taking it into this year.”

Informal workouts will continue until young players and free agents report to camp on September 28, with the veterans due October 3.

So put away the white pants, take it slow through those school zones and mark your calendar for October 28.

There are only 56 days until the opening tip-off in San Antonio.

 

[elindholm]

I'm sure it's fine, but it is a little disturbing that Stoudemire is still feeling some pain. How come every injury involving a Suns player ends up being more serious than the team first reports? They aren't making any new friends with this constant misinformation.

 

[SweetD]

WOW! Season is coming up soon. YA can't wait.

 

[SirStefan32]

I can't wait. I think this is going to be a very good season for the Suns, and for the NBA in general.

 

[Chaz]

Alright!

Only 56 days!

 

[Wally]

Originally posted by elindholm
I'm sure it's fine, but it is a little disturbing that Stoudemire is still feeling some pain. How come every injury involving a Suns player ends up being more serious than the team first reports? They aren't making any new friends with this constant misinformation.

What makes you say it's misinformation. I doubt that anyone expected anything serious and I also doubt that it is anything to worry about. "Feeling some pain" really doesn't mean much and any time an operation is preformed, pain can result for some time. I had an operation on my hand around 1990 and I still have times I "feel some pain".

Again, I wouldn't worry.

So, it's really 55 days - right?

 

[PhiLLmattiC]

Toe injuries never fully heal. I got turf toe almost a year ago and it still hurts everyonce in awhile especially when i walk for too long or play basketball.

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by PhiLLmattiC
Toe injuries never fully heal. I got turf toe almost a year ago and it still hurts everyonce in awhile especially when i walk for too long or play basketball.

Turf toe take ALONG time to heal... a year isnt long enough.

 

[kps0001]

I just broke my toe. Damn time flies can't believe Suns are almost getting ready to get it goin. Looking forward to seeing how Amare will improve this season.

 

[Billythekid]

i'm excited for Googs. hopefully he can come in as close to 100% healthy as possible. I think he can still be a big part of this team. Kind of like Danny Manning when he career was winding down here. A versatile valuable vet presence.

Can't wait to get this season started.

 

[jimjames1]

I was rumaging around some old tapes that I had, and I put one in the VCR of that Sacremento game in Phoenix I think from the 2001-2002 season. That's the game, if you guys forget, that we were up by 28 points at halftime, and I think were behind after the 3rd quarter ended. It was quite a collapse, but if there was anything positive I did see, it was Tom Gugliota. With a starting lineup of Jason Kidd, Tony Delk, Shawn Marion, Cliff Robinson, and Jake Tsakalidis, at about 6 minutes to go in the first quarter Cliffy subbed out, and to the roar of the home crowd, Googs checked in. The announcers started talking about how he had remarkably recovered from one of the worst knee injuries in basketball history, and how he was just coming off a 25 point, 13 rebound game the night before. 25 points, 13 rebounds! And watching him play in the Kings game, he wasn't the same stiff, slow-moving Tom Gugliota we saw briefly this season, he seemed quick out there, and probably more importantly, he seemed confident as well.

It made me definately think that if he could do that then, just coming off of a huge reconstructive knee surgery, then he could certainly do it now, given some consistent playing time and an opportunity to build some confidence. I still truly believe he can be a very valuable help to this team behind Amare.

 

[slinslin]

If Googs could play anything like that he would start along with Amare.