http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1205sunsnb1205.html
Colangelo downplays Outlaw loss
Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 5, 2003 12:00 AM
Forget sticks and stones. Words sometimes can get to Suns Chairman Jerry Colangelo, especially those critical of the team's trade of Bo Outlaw on Sept. 30.
"A lot is being said (on local radio shows) about Bo Outlaw and the trade," Colangelo said. "He was a player whom we recognized for what he brought to us in terms of energy and effort. Let me tell you, our coaches ... well, it wasn't always a positive while he was here."
As often witnessed, Outlaw was not one to mince words - on the floor, on the bench, in the locker room or in meetings.
Zarko missed
How much is rookie forward Zarko Cabarkapa missed while the Suns offense is sputtering?
"It hurt us a lot, but people don't realize it," coach Frank Johnson said of Cabarkapa, who will be sidelined five to seven more weeks because of a fractured right wrist. "Just in terms of the lineup, it hurt. It messes up your personnel rotation, and you start searching. During that stretch with him, we had a good rotation set up. But we're not going through anything that other teams aren't going through."
Cabarkapa had 17 points and nine rebounds in his first NBA start against Dallas before Danny Fortson shoved him on a slam-dunk attempt and left him with a broken wrist.
"We've been dealt a bad card on Zarko," Colangelo said. "First, he missed all of training camp with the hernia, then he breaks his wrist. In his last two games before the injury, he demonstrated what he can do. By the way, another reason that we traded Bo was to free minutes up for Zarko, who also brings energy to us."
Boston 'black eye'
The Suns' visit to Boston last season produced a win and loud complaints from the Celtics, who claimed they were mugged by Phoenix, especially when guard Paul Pierce blindly ran into the Suns' Amare Stoudemire and found himself doing a three-cushion bank around the court.
Johnson doesn't expect ill will to resurface when the teams meet tonight.
"No, they're trying to survive right now just like we are, so I don't think they're really worried about it," he said. "Besides, it was (color analyst) Tommy Heinsohn who complained about it more than anyone. If you look at the play, Amare went straight up and Pierce just ran into him and went down."
Colangelo downplays Outlaw loss
Tim Tyers
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 5, 2003 12:00 AM
Forget sticks and stones. Words sometimes can get to Suns Chairman Jerry Colangelo, especially those critical of the team's trade of Bo Outlaw on Sept. 30.
"A lot is being said (on local radio shows) about Bo Outlaw and the trade," Colangelo said. "He was a player whom we recognized for what he brought to us in terms of energy and effort. Let me tell you, our coaches ... well, it wasn't always a positive while he was here."
As often witnessed, Outlaw was not one to mince words - on the floor, on the bench, in the locker room or in meetings.
Zarko missed
How much is rookie forward Zarko Cabarkapa missed while the Suns offense is sputtering?
"It hurt us a lot, but people don't realize it," coach Frank Johnson said of Cabarkapa, who will be sidelined five to seven more weeks because of a fractured right wrist. "Just in terms of the lineup, it hurt. It messes up your personnel rotation, and you start searching. During that stretch with him, we had a good rotation set up. But we're not going through anything that other teams aren't going through."
Cabarkapa had 17 points and nine rebounds in his first NBA start against Dallas before Danny Fortson shoved him on a slam-dunk attempt and left him with a broken wrist.
"We've been dealt a bad card on Zarko," Colangelo said. "First, he missed all of training camp with the hernia, then he breaks his wrist. In his last two games before the injury, he demonstrated what he can do. By the way, another reason that we traded Bo was to free minutes up for Zarko, who also brings energy to us."
Boston 'black eye'
The Suns' visit to Boston last season produced a win and loud complaints from the Celtics, who claimed they were mugged by Phoenix, especially when guard Paul Pierce blindly ran into the Suns' Amare Stoudemire and found himself doing a three-cushion bank around the court.
Johnson doesn't expect ill will to resurface when the teams meet tonight.
"No, they're trying to survive right now just like we are, so I don't think they're really worried about it," he said. "Besides, it was (color analyst) Tommy Heinsohn who complained about it more than anyone. If you look at the play, Amare went straight up and Pierce just ran into him and went down."
