Headline article on CBS Sportsline:
March 1, 2004
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine.com Executive Editor
When the 'old man' in your starting lineup is 26, the NBA is not going to be your oyster. The highs will be just as extreme as the lows. The respite will be consistency, the diametric opposite of a coach's goal.
"The challenge is what makes it fun," said the 'old man,' better known as Phoenix Suns All-Star Shawn Marion. "This is a business, the organization made a business decision, and now we're going in a different direction. The big thing is we're getting better all the time."
That's the hope anyway. With a starting lineup that averages 23 years old, led by Marion, Amare Stoudemire (21) and Joe Johnson (22), there's nowhere to go but up for the Suns, who set early and have stayed deeply entrenched in the Western Conference cellar.
'Old man' Shawn Marion says, 'The big thing is we're getting better all the time.'(Getty Images)
In other words, this season hasn't been easy for the Suns, who actually were done before the season even started. Sinking revenues for both the Suns and the Diamondbacks -- owned by Jerry Colangelo and his partners, forced their hand a little bit. Team president Bryan Colangelo sent Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis to Memphis in a salary dump. They lost 13 of the first 21 games and coach Frank Johnson was fired, replaced by top assistant Mike D'Antoni. Things didn't improve, and three weeks later, Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway were traded to New York in a blockbuster deal to dump two maximum salaries, handing the team over to the youngsters.
But the good news is they won two in a row entering the weekend after dropping eight in succession. Progress comes in small doses, but building around that young trio, along with gifted but raw foreign rookies Leandro Barbosa and Zarko Cabarkapa, has produced cautious optimism.
"They're in every game ... if they were getting blown out every game it would be disheartening," D'Antoni said. "We've had a chance to win every game, so they're learning. Every practice, every game, they're getting better and feeling good about it."
In many ways, because of the youth, they are like a college team. Veterans Howard Eisley and Antonio McDyess bring a positive presence, if only for the short term. And then there is uber-assistant Tim Grgurich still bumping, grinding and prodding the youngsters as he has done for two generations. The vibe is so positive, there is no chance of a losing attitude seeping in.
"These are great kids who are listening, working hard and learning Mike's system and getting better all the time," Grgurich said. "With two minutes to go in just about every game, it can go either way. They just have to learn how to finish off games. These are tough lessons right now, but as long as they keep the approach they have right now, it will come."
They all feed off of Stoudemire, the 6-10, 250-pound rookie of the year last season. Following Friday night's win in Seattle, Stoudemire is averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks -- a rare combination these days of supreme low-post power and the quickness to stay with smaller players. Marion may be the established All-Star, but Stoudemire -- and perhaps Johnson -- are the key to the long-range goals.
Fresh out of high school as the ninth pick of the 2002 draft, Stoudemire has been a breath of fresh air with enormous talent, undying optimism and a love for being in the gym. About the only issue is, "The biggest thing we're trying to break him of is being 21 years old," D'Antoni quipped, not really meaning it. In other words, they love him just the way he is.
"This is good for us to deal with now because it's early in our careers," Stoudemire said. "This isn't supposed to be easy. Our team is younger than the Stanford University team right now. We're students of the game, too. We just have to be patient and everybody else has to be patient with us. The wins will come."
It's easy to believe him, considering the unfettered smile and words that come right from the heart. You can tell it in his game, too. He is the intimidator. Never the intimidatee. Johnson is a much tougher read. Much more quiet, unassuming, and generally shy, the 6-7, 230-pound swingman can really play both guard spots and small forward. In the 25 games since he replaced the traded Hardaway, he has averaged 21.0 points, 5.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and improved his shooting percentage form .389 to .473. And in Friday's win over the Sonics, he held All-Star guard Ray Allen to 6-of-22 shooting, including a brilliant strip at the basket in the final two minutes to help put the game away.
"The ball is in my hands now in a lot more situations, so it's helping my confidence and consistency," Johnson said. "It's my turn to seize the moment. It isn't just because Penny left, but Steph controlled the ball all time. This is allowing all of us to open up our games more. This is the step we have to take right now. We're getting better and we'll see better days."
They have to believe that. But for the rest of the league, the tumble was so fast and furious from this team that was a surprise in the playoffs last season behind Marbury, and had San Antonio wheezing for air in the first round before Marbury injured his shoulder. Just as swiftly, they went into the tank on Johnson and management broke it all up ... not to mention Stoudemire struggling with a severe ankle sprain most of the season until recent weeks.
So it was back to the drawing board, more than once, for D'Antoni and staff.
"There were two parts to this," D'Antoni said. "The first was Frank got fired and Amare got hurt. Then we had the trade. I changed what I like to do, so it took until now until they started getting their roles down. They're not executing in the halfcourt very well yet, just because Steph always did it. We're not there yet, but I think it's just a matter of time."
And patience. How long they have to get it done ... only Messrs. Colangelo know for sure.
March 1, 2004
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine.com Executive Editor
When the 'old man' in your starting lineup is 26, the NBA is not going to be your oyster. The highs will be just as extreme as the lows. The respite will be consistency, the diametric opposite of a coach's goal.
"The challenge is what makes it fun," said the 'old man,' better known as Phoenix Suns All-Star Shawn Marion. "This is a business, the organization made a business decision, and now we're going in a different direction. The big thing is we're getting better all the time."
That's the hope anyway. With a starting lineup that averages 23 years old, led by Marion, Amare Stoudemire (21) and Joe Johnson (22), there's nowhere to go but up for the Suns, who set early and have stayed deeply entrenched in the Western Conference cellar.
'Old man' Shawn Marion says, 'The big thing is we're getting better all the time.'(Getty Images)
In other words, this season hasn't been easy for the Suns, who actually were done before the season even started. Sinking revenues for both the Suns and the Diamondbacks -- owned by Jerry Colangelo and his partners, forced their hand a little bit. Team president Bryan Colangelo sent Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis to Memphis in a salary dump. They lost 13 of the first 21 games and coach Frank Johnson was fired, replaced by top assistant Mike D'Antoni. Things didn't improve, and three weeks later, Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway were traded to New York in a blockbuster deal to dump two maximum salaries, handing the team over to the youngsters.
But the good news is they won two in a row entering the weekend after dropping eight in succession. Progress comes in small doses, but building around that young trio, along with gifted but raw foreign rookies Leandro Barbosa and Zarko Cabarkapa, has produced cautious optimism.
"They're in every game ... if they were getting blown out every game it would be disheartening," D'Antoni said. "We've had a chance to win every game, so they're learning. Every practice, every game, they're getting better and feeling good about it."
In many ways, because of the youth, they are like a college team. Veterans Howard Eisley and Antonio McDyess bring a positive presence, if only for the short term. And then there is uber-assistant Tim Grgurich still bumping, grinding and prodding the youngsters as he has done for two generations. The vibe is so positive, there is no chance of a losing attitude seeping in.
"These are great kids who are listening, working hard and learning Mike's system and getting better all the time," Grgurich said. "With two minutes to go in just about every game, it can go either way. They just have to learn how to finish off games. These are tough lessons right now, but as long as they keep the approach they have right now, it will come."
They all feed off of Stoudemire, the 6-10, 250-pound rookie of the year last season. Following Friday night's win in Seattle, Stoudemire is averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks -- a rare combination these days of supreme low-post power and the quickness to stay with smaller players. Marion may be the established All-Star, but Stoudemire -- and perhaps Johnson -- are the key to the long-range goals.
Fresh out of high school as the ninth pick of the 2002 draft, Stoudemire has been a breath of fresh air with enormous talent, undying optimism and a love for being in the gym. About the only issue is, "The biggest thing we're trying to break him of is being 21 years old," D'Antoni quipped, not really meaning it. In other words, they love him just the way he is.
"This is good for us to deal with now because it's early in our careers," Stoudemire said. "This isn't supposed to be easy. Our team is younger than the Stanford University team right now. We're students of the game, too. We just have to be patient and everybody else has to be patient with us. The wins will come."
It's easy to believe him, considering the unfettered smile and words that come right from the heart. You can tell it in his game, too. He is the intimidator. Never the intimidatee. Johnson is a much tougher read. Much more quiet, unassuming, and generally shy, the 6-7, 230-pound swingman can really play both guard spots and small forward. In the 25 games since he replaced the traded Hardaway, he has averaged 21.0 points, 5.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and improved his shooting percentage form .389 to .473. And in Friday's win over the Sonics, he held All-Star guard Ray Allen to 6-of-22 shooting, including a brilliant strip at the basket in the final two minutes to help put the game away.
"The ball is in my hands now in a lot more situations, so it's helping my confidence and consistency," Johnson said. "It's my turn to seize the moment. It isn't just because Penny left, but Steph controlled the ball all time. This is allowing all of us to open up our games more. This is the step we have to take right now. We're getting better and we'll see better days."
They have to believe that. But for the rest of the league, the tumble was so fast and furious from this team that was a surprise in the playoffs last season behind Marbury, and had San Antonio wheezing for air in the first round before Marbury injured his shoulder. Just as swiftly, they went into the tank on Johnson and management broke it all up ... not to mention Stoudemire struggling with a severe ankle sprain most of the season until recent weeks.
So it was back to the drawing board, more than once, for D'Antoni and staff.
"There were two parts to this," D'Antoni said. "The first was Frank got fired and Amare got hurt. Then we had the trade. I changed what I like to do, so it took until now until they started getting their roles down. They're not executing in the halfcourt very well yet, just because Steph always did it. We're not there yet, but I think it's just a matter of time."
And patience. How long they have to get it done ... only Messrs. Colangelo know for sure.
