And so it begins...

[Chaplin]

Excited to see Z play...

And Tryblockski is on the active roster...

Suns tip off 2003-04 in San Antonio Tuesday night
Let the Season Begin


By Steven Koek, Suns.com
Posted: Oct. 27, 2003
The alarm has sounded that the 2003-04 NBA season is about to begin.

Literally.

As the Suns wrapped up their last practice before heading out for the regular season opener in San Antonio, the emergency sirens went off at the practice court, a false alarm undoubtedly triggered by the ongoing renovation construction at America West Arena.

The basketball will be tipped up for real Tuesday night (6 p.m. Arizona time) when the Suns face the reigning NBA Champion Spurs and Frank Johnson will make his way to the bench for his second full season as head coach.

“I’m excited to see how our guys respond,” Johnson said, “Expectations of us are higher; so let’s see how we respond to that. Last year, the expectations were a little lower and we had an attitude about that.”

The last time the Suns played a game of meaning, they were looking to extend their first round playoff series with the Spurs last April and send it back to San Antonio for a Game 7. Instead, the Suns lost, ending a dramatic and well-played series and season, and the Spurs went on to win their second NBA title.

“It left a bitter taste in our mouths throughout the past couple of months,” said All-Star guard Stephon Marbury, “knowing the situation we were in as far as threatening against a championship team and putting ourselves in a situation to win. Now we pretty much want to finish up where we left off.”

Before 2003-04 can get going, however, the Suns will have to watch as the Spurs raise another banner and dole out championship rings, something that the Suns will try to use as motivation on opening night.

“That’s going to hurt a little bit,” admitted All-Star forward Shawn Marion. “But if we go in and give them a nice butt whipping, it would be awful good.”

“It’s going to be nice for them,” added third-year guard Joe Johnson. “They’ll get their rings, but we’re going to come in, we’re going to work hard and try to come out of there with a victory.”

After an altered and abbreviated training camp and a disappointing 2-6 preseason record, Coach Johnson and his players are anxious to get out of the practice mode and start the clock on games that count in the standings.

“I sense that we are ready to go,” he said. “I sense that our guys were ready to put this exhibition season behind some time ago. If you look around, these guys are gamers. They want to go out and play.”

While there have been some changes in the club’s personnel and game plan strategies, the core of young talented players remain from a team that surprised many by reaching the playoffs in 2002-03. And the main addition to the staff has been another year’s worth of experience and a productive summer of conditioning and learning.

“Experience and playing with each other,” Marbury responded when asked of the differences between this year’s roster and last. “I think our chemistry as far as playing with each other has definitely improved because of just being with each other, playing with each other and then having that year under our belts with each other.”

As pumped up as the guys will be to get the season underway, Marbury downplays the significance of playing the defending champs and, as always, places winning above everything else.

“It’s a big game because it’s a game we’re playing,” he said. “Our mindset as a team is to just go in and do what we need to do to win the game. Everthing else is secondary. We’re going to go out there and give it everything we’ve got.”

JJ confident to start

Forgoing the game-day decision he was flirting with last week, Frank Johnson decided on Sunday that Joe Johnson would get the starting nod at the shooting guard position over veteran Penny Hardaway to begin the season for the second year in a row.

JJ carried his strong offseason work into the exhibition schedule and finished with averages of 17.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in eight preseason games.

“He’s playing like a whole other player right now,” Marbury said. “His development is definitely going to be a big factor as we move forward.”

After being relegated to the bench just four games into last season, Johnson worked hard during the offseason to get the confidence needed to consistently show off his considerable talents.

“I think I’ve improved a lot,” JJ said. “I worked so hard this summer, working out and just preparing myself, not only physically, but mentally as well. Mentally, I just feel like I’m ready. I just want to keep my confidence and keep working hard, and I think the sky’s the limit.”

Zarko recovered and ready

One of the factors in FJ’s decision to start JJ at shooting guard was the connection he saw between Hardaway and rookie forward Zarko Cabarkapa, who returned to the court after recovering from hernia surgery at the start of training camp.

“I based that decision yesterday on the fact that I saw Z and Penny play together and they were fabulous,” Johnson said. “They have very good chemistry.

“The last two days Z’s been very impressive. I think a lot of people are going to enjoy playing with him because he makes basketball plays. He is a basketball player. He picked up right where he left off (before the surgery). It was like he hadn’t been gone at all. He will get some minutes tomorrow night.”

Opening night roster set

The Suns today set their roster for the opening of the team’s 36th NBA season. In addition to the 12 active players, the club placed forward Robert Archibald and center Scott Williams on the injured list.

Each player will miss at least the first five games of the season and will be eligible to return to action prior to the game on Nov. 10 at Golden State.

Archibald has a sprained toe (left foot) and Williams is recovering from successful left thumb surgery on Oct. 4.

 

[3rdside]

come on season - would ya just start already? aaaaaaaaaaagh!

<realising there's less than 24 hours>

 

[Phill11]

Just take ou the stupid and put him

 

[Chaz]

Suns set 12-man roster

Associated Press
Oct. 27, 2003 05:29 PM


The Phoenix Suns placed center Scott Williams and forward Robert Archibald on the injured list Monday as they finalized their 12-man roster.

Williams is recovering from ligament surgery on his left thumb and will be out at least another two weeks. Archibald has a sprained left toe.


Sprained toe...

 

[Dr. Dumas]

I've waited for so long for the season to begin. Only problem is that it's my 3 year anniversery tonight. Dohhhhhh-the wife is gonna want to go out to dinner. Any suggestions aside from the typical bar/resturant with a TV, which would surely land me in the dog-house?

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Hmmm...

Maybe I am just whipped but...

Suns 82 days/games

Anniversary 1 day

Watch for the highlights on Foxsports and spend the night making some highlights of your own

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by Dr. Dumas
I've waited for so long for the season to begin. Only problem is that it's my 3 year anniversery tonight. Dohhhhhh-the wife is gonna want to go out to dinner. Any suggestions aside from the typical bar/resturant with a TV, which would surely land me in the dog-house?

Get your priorities straight man!

Fake an illness, so you can stay home and watch the game.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by Dr. Dumas
I've waited for so long for the season to begin. Only problem is that it's my 3 year anniversery tonight. Dohhhhhh-the wife is gonna want to go out to dinner. Any suggestions aside from the typical bar/resturant with a TV, which would surely land me in the dog-house?

TIVO!

If you have Cox digital cable they rent/lease a DVR(tivo) cable box now. You could record the game and watch it when ever.

Watching the game late is less than ideal but so is having to watch covertly from a resturant or upsetting the wife.

 

[elindholm]

Three years ago, why on earth did you plan your wedding so close to the start of the NBA season? It's the same time every year...

 

[Chaz]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
Hmmm...

Maybe I am just whipped but...

Suns 82 days/games

Anniversary 1 day

Watch for the highlights on Foxsports and spend the night making some highlights of your own

Excellent advice Chris.

 

[Yuma]

The best advice of all, I could give to any of you UNMARRIED guys, is marry a female Suns fan! That way you could spend your anniversary together at the GAME!! Nice day on the riverwalk in SA, followed by a nice game that night, then victory sex after the game!!! Otherwise you guys will have to convert your wives into a Suns fan, which may be MUCH harder to do!! I have been working on it for 15 years now!!!

 

[scotsman13]

dumas take her to p.f. chang's. if you like spicy food try to changs spciy chicken it is their best. set up the vcr to record the game and leave work early to take her out that way you get back and can start watching the suns beat the spurs.

 

[Yuma]

I LOVE PF CHANGS Spicy Chicken!! You had me at PF CHANGS!!!

 

[Dr. Dumas]

I was thinking that I would get home and watch the game from 6-8pm. Get in the car and turn on 620AM for the ride to dinner. I'll probably end up taping the remainder before I leave the house.
My wife is somewhat of a semi Suns fan. She is more into individual players on the previous/current Suns team then anything. She does however hate the Jazz as a whole. So I guess that should count for something . She also let me put up a satelite dish up on the house when we lived in San francisco, so I wouldn't miss a single game.

Thanks for the advice folks, I always know where to go for some good humor.

 

[slinslin]

LOL

They put Trybanski on the active roster and Archibald on the IR but they play Archibald almost twice as much as Trybanski during preseason.
That seems logical.

 

[SweetD]

I will be in class tonight and will be missing the first game of the season since 1987