arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
Suns mulling starting slot
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 2, 2003 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1002suns1002.html
A year ago, Suns coach Frank Johnson raved about the future of guard Joe Johnson and handed him the starting job in the club's backcourt alongside playmaker Stephon Marbury.
He wasn't ready.
"I felt like I was ready," he said Tuesday when the club opened the first phase of training camp at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "But I was just coming into my second year, and I didn't know what I was getting myself into."
Frank Johnson later said he put too much on his young player's shoulders by saying in the preseason that Joe Johnson would be a big part of the club's season and future.
Penny Hardaway quickly took over the starting job and was a settling influence on a young team. When Hardaway missed 24 games because of a thumb injury that required surgery, Joe Johnson returned to the lineup. But his confidence wasn't much stronger than Hardaway's thumb.
Late in the season, however, he displayed his skills coming off the bench and was one of the league's best sixth men in the last month of the season.
Now, Frank Johnson may be ready to give the 6-foot-7, 230-pound guard another shot at the starting lineup.
"It's certainly an open position," he said.
For Hardaway, who doesn't report to camp until Friday with other players having four years of experience or more, that means having to prove himself - again.
After all, the Suns were 34-24 last season with Hardaway healthy. They were 10-14 while he sat out.
But for the 22-year-old Joe Johnson, it could mean a career mulligan.
"I want to be a big part of this team," he said. "If it's open, I'm there fighting for it. It's going to be tough. We're going to have guys going at one another, but this season is going to be fun and it's going to be competitive every day."
Now entering his third season, Joe Johnson has often teased the Suns with his potential. He's strong enough to guard forwards, quick enough to defend some point guards and can handle the ball like a playmaking guard.
However, when he has struggled to make shots, it has affected the rest of his game.
"That's one of the things I worked on this summer, just keeping my head up whenever I had an off game (in summer league competition), not getting down on myself," he said. "I played well this summer. I'm just looking forward to carrying it over to the season."
He reported to camp down about eight pounds from last season - a listed 235.
"I feel great, man," he said. "I'm ready to play and get the season started."
He hopes that means as a starter, but insisted that he'll accept the role Frank Johnson asks him to fill.
"I want to have a shot (at the starting lineup)," he said. "If not, I'll take whatever role they give me and make the best of it."
Interested observer
Forward Robert Archibald, obtained in Tuesday's trade with Memphis, arrived at practice Wednesday but could only watch. He isn't allowed to participate until veteran Brevin Knight undergoes a physical Thursday and the trade is finalized.
The Suns liked Archibald in the 2002 draft and brought him in for a pre-draft workout.
"He's a tough guy," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "He's a big body who eats up space, and he's a little nasty. When Amare (Stoudemire) saw him, he said, 'Haven't I seen him before?' I told him, 'Yeah, you almost got into a fight with him in the summer league last year.' "
Healthy now
Archibald said he rolled an ankle two days before training camp opened with Memphis last season, missed the first couple of days, then sprained the same ankle three plays into his first practice. He ended up missing a month and never could find a place in the Grizzlies rotation.
"For rookies, when you miss the preseason, that's your thing," Archibald said. "That's when you're trying to earn some minutes, so it put me in a tough spot."
More to come?
The five-player transaction the Suns made with the Grizzlies will relieve some of the team's luxury-tax burden, and there could be more moves ahead. A league source indicated that the Suns are still looking for ways to trim payroll.
Injury update
Forward Stoudemire missed part of a workout Tuesday night because of an ingrown toenail but didn't have any problems Wednesday. Rookie Zarko Cabarkapa is getting treatments for a sore groin, but Johnson said he's improved.
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 2, 2003 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/1002suns1002.html
A year ago, Suns coach Frank Johnson raved about the future of guard Joe Johnson and handed him the starting job in the club's backcourt alongside playmaker Stephon Marbury.
He wasn't ready.
"I felt like I was ready," he said Tuesday when the club opened the first phase of training camp at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. "But I was just coming into my second year, and I didn't know what I was getting myself into."
Frank Johnson later said he put too much on his young player's shoulders by saying in the preseason that Joe Johnson would be a big part of the club's season and future.
Penny Hardaway quickly took over the starting job and was a settling influence on a young team. When Hardaway missed 24 games because of a thumb injury that required surgery, Joe Johnson returned to the lineup. But his confidence wasn't much stronger than Hardaway's thumb.
Late in the season, however, he displayed his skills coming off the bench and was one of the league's best sixth men in the last month of the season.
Now, Frank Johnson may be ready to give the 6-foot-7, 230-pound guard another shot at the starting lineup.
"It's certainly an open position," he said.
For Hardaway, who doesn't report to camp until Friday with other players having four years of experience or more, that means having to prove himself - again.
After all, the Suns were 34-24 last season with Hardaway healthy. They were 10-14 while he sat out.
But for the 22-year-old Joe Johnson, it could mean a career mulligan.
"I want to be a big part of this team," he said. "If it's open, I'm there fighting for it. It's going to be tough. We're going to have guys going at one another, but this season is going to be fun and it's going to be competitive every day."
Now entering his third season, Joe Johnson has often teased the Suns with his potential. He's strong enough to guard forwards, quick enough to defend some point guards and can handle the ball like a playmaking guard.
However, when he has struggled to make shots, it has affected the rest of his game.
"That's one of the things I worked on this summer, just keeping my head up whenever I had an off game (in summer league competition), not getting down on myself," he said. "I played well this summer. I'm just looking forward to carrying it over to the season."
He reported to camp down about eight pounds from last season - a listed 235.
"I feel great, man," he said. "I'm ready to play and get the season started."
He hopes that means as a starter, but insisted that he'll accept the role Frank Johnson asks him to fill.
"I want to have a shot (at the starting lineup)," he said. "If not, I'll take whatever role they give me and make the best of it."
Interested observer
Forward Robert Archibald, obtained in Tuesday's trade with Memphis, arrived at practice Wednesday but could only watch. He isn't allowed to participate until veteran Brevin Knight undergoes a physical Thursday and the trade is finalized.
The Suns liked Archibald in the 2002 draft and brought him in for a pre-draft workout.
"He's a tough guy," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "He's a big body who eats up space, and he's a little nasty. When Amare (Stoudemire) saw him, he said, 'Haven't I seen him before?' I told him, 'Yeah, you almost got into a fight with him in the summer league last year.' "
Healthy now
Archibald said he rolled an ankle two days before training camp opened with Memphis last season, missed the first couple of days, then sprained the same ankle three plays into his first practice. He ended up missing a month and never could find a place in the Grizzlies rotation.
"For rookies, when you miss the preseason, that's your thing," Archibald said. "That's when you're trying to earn some minutes, so it put me in a tough spot."
More to come?
The five-player transaction the Suns made with the Grizzlies will relieve some of the team's luxury-tax burden, and there could be more moves ahead. A league source indicated that the Suns are still looking for ways to trim payroll.
Injury update
Forward Stoudemire missed part of a workout Tuesday night because of an ingrown toenail but didn't have any problems Wednesday. Rookie Zarko Cabarkapa is getting treatments for a sore groin, but Johnson said he's improved.