George O'Brien
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Arizona Republic
Extra rest may help energy
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 10, 2004 12:00 AM
The Suns will embark on five days of All-Star break recuperation by late Wednesday.
To that end, the recent lean rotation can afford to make every effort, as the marketing slogan goes, to turn around this 2-9 stretch tonight against Toronto and Wednesday at Golden State.
"Hopefully, we can turn it up a notch if that's possible," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "I hate to question the effort. I just think we need to get better execution."
Maybe a breather will help. For the first time since Jan. 11-12, the Suns had two days between games. Most of the team got a break Sunday. On Monday, the team practiced with Amare Stoudemire for the second time in about nine weeks.
Since Stoudemire returned for the past three games, the Suns have been slow on defensive rotations and flat-footed when he has the ball in the post.
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'Z' healing but ailing
Just when Zarko Cabarkapa's sore wrist healed enough for a return, an allergic reaction delayed the comeback.
"It could be a food allergy or stress or coming into contact with something that is foreign to you," Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said.
Cabarkapa broke out in a rash Sunday. He responded well to medication but woke up with more rash and less swelling Monday.
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Coming back
Antonio McDyess practiced and ran hard. He has been on the injured list since Jan. 19 with tendinitis in his left knee.
D'Antoni hopes rookie point guard Leandro Barbosa rebounds emotionally from his weekend games. He went from 21 points, nine assists, five rebounds, four steals and no turnovers Friday to three points, four assists, one rebound, one steal and three turnovers Saturday.
In Brazil, Barbosa played year-round, but only twice a week.
"When you have to start from zero the next night against guys who want you for dinner, that's tough," D'Antoni said.
Extra rest may help energy
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 10, 2004 12:00 AM
The Suns will embark on five days of All-Star break recuperation by late Wednesday.
To that end, the recent lean rotation can afford to make every effort, as the marketing slogan goes, to turn around this 2-9 stretch tonight against Toronto and Wednesday at Golden State.
"Hopefully, we can turn it up a notch if that's possible," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "I hate to question the effort. I just think we need to get better execution."
Maybe a breather will help. For the first time since Jan. 11-12, the Suns had two days between games. Most of the team got a break Sunday. On Monday, the team practiced with Amare Stoudemire for the second time in about nine weeks.
Since Stoudemire returned for the past three games, the Suns have been slow on defensive rotations and flat-footed when he has the ball in the post.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Z' healing but ailing
Just when Zarko Cabarkapa's sore wrist healed enough for a return, an allergic reaction delayed the comeback.
"It could be a food allergy or stress or coming into contact with something that is foreign to you," Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson said.
Cabarkapa broke out in a rash Sunday. He responded well to medication but woke up with more rash and less swelling Monday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming back
Antonio McDyess practiced and ran hard. He has been on the injured list since Jan. 19 with tendinitis in his left knee.
D'Antoni hopes rookie point guard Leandro Barbosa rebounds emotionally from his weekend games. He went from 21 points, nine assists, five rebounds, four steals and no turnovers Friday to three points, four assists, one rebound, one steal and three turnovers Saturday.
In Brazil, Barbosa played year-round, but only twice a week.
"When you have to start from zero the next night against guys who want you for dinner, that's tough," D'Antoni said.
