http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1003sunsprev10030.html
Suns will be fast and hope to be good
Team looks to build on renewed interest
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 3, 2003 12:00 AM
Optimism always runs rampant at the start of training camp, and the Suns were basking in more attention than they've had in three years at their annual media day Thursday at America West Arena.
Of course, the postseason absence of a certain baseball team that works next door might have had something to do with that.
But after a 44-38 season that got the Suns back into the playoffs, and with the emergence of Amare Stoudemire, there is a bit of a buzz around the place again.
Penny Hardaway subscribes to the Big Boom Theory for the renewed interest.
"We showed promise last year," the veteran guard said. "We went further than people thought that we would. And Amare was a big surprise. He came into the league with a big boom, and won Rookie of the Year. Nobody expected that, and that's what has taken us to the next level."
But after a relatively quiet off-season, the Suns traded center Jake Tsakalidis and forward Bo Outlaw on Tuesday, making an already small team even smaller.
They plan to compensate by running and gunning around a core that includes Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury in a Western Conference loaded with talent and size.
"I'm looking forward to it," Stoudemire said. "It's going to make us a better team, totally different. Most teams in the West are big. A lot of teams can't get up and down as fast as we can.
"I think Shawn is probably the fastest small forward in the league. I might be the fastest power forward in the league. Stephon may be the fastest point guard in the league, so you can go right down the line. We can get up and down the court pretty quick.
"I think we've got the advantage, to be honest with you. Big teams are kind of slow on their feet."
Coach Frank Johnson admitted there is some concern about matching up with big teams, but then the Suns have never matched up that well with them anyway.
"We have skilled 6-foot-11 and 6-9 guys on the perimeter, and they have to guard us as well," he said. "We won't be able to pound it inside, but we didn't do that last year. Hopefully, we can open up the middle for Stephon and give Shawn and Amare more room to operate."
The trade also figures to open up playing time for veteran Tom Gugliotta and rookie Zarko Cabarkapa, a 6-foot-11 forward from Serbia and Montenegro.
Gugliotta figures the faster pace will help him, especially since he has shed about 10 pounds.
"We don't have a lot of size," he said. "We're not a half-court team. It isn't going to benefit us to stay in the half-court even half the time.
"We're going to be better off running and wearing the other teams' big guys out."
Side notes:
Suns camp report
Penny will apply
Guard Penny Hardaway read with interest that coach Frank Johnson has opened up the off-guard job.
"I just laugh at it," he said. "It doesn't matter. I'm just going to play basketball. I have to prove myself over and over again. So what? I know how my game is right now, and I don't worry about anything.
"I want to win a championship. However we're going to go about doing it, let's do it together. I'm not going to ruffle any feathers; just think about somebody always saying your job is open every year."
Here today
Guard Brevin Knight reported after the Suns waived a physical on him to complete Tuesday's trade, but there already is speculation that Knight could move on eventually. The Suns are looking to trim payroll, and Knight is in the last year of a contract.
Utah was reportedly interested in him, and the Jazz have enough salary-cap space to absorb Knight's contract without having to give anything more than a draft pick in return.
But Jazz coach Jerry Sloan told reporters in Utah: "I'm not going to bring a veteran in. I'm going to play these young guys. If we get into a bind and maybe have to do something like that, I'll approach that bridge later."
Injury update
Center Jake Voskuhl was held out of court work Thursday because of Achilles' tendinitis. Forward Amare Stoudemire missed the workout because of a sore throat.
Suns will be fast and hope to be good
Team looks to build on renewed interest
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 3, 2003 12:00 AM
Optimism always runs rampant at the start of training camp, and the Suns were basking in more attention than they've had in three years at their annual media day Thursday at America West Arena.
Of course, the postseason absence of a certain baseball team that works next door might have had something to do with that.
But after a 44-38 season that got the Suns back into the playoffs, and with the emergence of Amare Stoudemire, there is a bit of a buzz around the place again.
Penny Hardaway subscribes to the Big Boom Theory for the renewed interest.
"We showed promise last year," the veteran guard said. "We went further than people thought that we would. And Amare was a big surprise. He came into the league with a big boom, and won Rookie of the Year. Nobody expected that, and that's what has taken us to the next level."
But after a relatively quiet off-season, the Suns traded center Jake Tsakalidis and forward Bo Outlaw on Tuesday, making an already small team even smaller.
They plan to compensate by running and gunning around a core that includes Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury in a Western Conference loaded with talent and size.
"I'm looking forward to it," Stoudemire said. "It's going to make us a better team, totally different. Most teams in the West are big. A lot of teams can't get up and down as fast as we can.
"I think Shawn is probably the fastest small forward in the league. I might be the fastest power forward in the league. Stephon may be the fastest point guard in the league, so you can go right down the line. We can get up and down the court pretty quick.
"I think we've got the advantage, to be honest with you. Big teams are kind of slow on their feet."
Coach Frank Johnson admitted there is some concern about matching up with big teams, but then the Suns have never matched up that well with them anyway.
"We have skilled 6-foot-11 and 6-9 guys on the perimeter, and they have to guard us as well," he said. "We won't be able to pound it inside, but we didn't do that last year. Hopefully, we can open up the middle for Stephon and give Shawn and Amare more room to operate."
The trade also figures to open up playing time for veteran Tom Gugliotta and rookie Zarko Cabarkapa, a 6-foot-11 forward from Serbia and Montenegro.
Gugliotta figures the faster pace will help him, especially since he has shed about 10 pounds.
"We don't have a lot of size," he said. "We're not a half-court team. It isn't going to benefit us to stay in the half-court even half the time.
"We're going to be better off running and wearing the other teams' big guys out."
Side notes:
Suns camp report
Penny will apply
Guard Penny Hardaway read with interest that coach Frank Johnson has opened up the off-guard job.
"I just laugh at it," he said. "It doesn't matter. I'm just going to play basketball. I have to prove myself over and over again. So what? I know how my game is right now, and I don't worry about anything.
"I want to win a championship. However we're going to go about doing it, let's do it together. I'm not going to ruffle any feathers; just think about somebody always saying your job is open every year."
Here today
Guard Brevin Knight reported after the Suns waived a physical on him to complete Tuesday's trade, but there already is speculation that Knight could move on eventually. The Suns are looking to trim payroll, and Knight is in the last year of a contract.
Utah was reportedly interested in him, and the Jazz have enough salary-cap space to absorb Knight's contract without having to give anything more than a draft pick in return.
But Jazz coach Jerry Sloan told reporters in Utah: "I'm not going to bring a veteran in. I'm going to play these young guys. If we get into a bind and maybe have to do something like that, I'll approach that bridge later."
Injury update
Center Jake Voskuhl was held out of court work Thursday because of Achilles' tendinitis. Forward Amare Stoudemire missed the workout because of a sore throat.
