When they say limited they mean in the same way they are doing now, about 20 minutes or so. It appears as if things are on schedule though and they are gradually going to increase minutes at the end of this roadtrip. I also find it odd that the Nuggets would consult with the Spurs on how to guard the Suns. You'd think a coach like Karl could figure something out himself.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0326sunsnb0326.html
Stoudemire to be limited on trip
Paul Coro and Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 26, 2006 12:00 AM
Amaré Stoudemire's minutes could gradually increase after the coming weeklong road trip.
Come playoff time, the key will be deciphering whether Stoudemire is at a level to be featured like last season or somewhere shy of that.
"He doesn't have to be the No. 1 guy, the No. 2 guy or the No. 3 guy," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He just has to be one of the top eight guys."
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Suns trainer Aaron Nelson said Stoudemire will be limited to 20-22 minutes each game in the road back-to-back sets - Monday and Tuesday at New Jersey and Milwaukee, and then Thursday and Friday at Indiana and Toronto. His minutes could then gradually increase, starting with next Sunday's game in Detroit.
"There's a point in (every NBA season when) talent stops being important and chemistry and character become more important, and I think Phoenix is probably in that stretch," Denver coach George Karl said. "It's a situation that's got to be handled and probably once it's handled you're happy about it. There's some growing pains to it. There might be a loss that you might not have had, but in the same sense he might win a playoff game that the (team) would've lost."
Stoudemire told Nelson his knees felt better Saturday morning than Friday, when he had some muscle stiffness.
Karl confesses
Karl watches tapes of Denver's recent meetings with Phoenix, and the Nuggets coach comes to a conclusion:
"I have trouble admitting it," Karl said, "but I must say they make you play their way. And I don't like that."
Denver likes to run. But against the Suns, Karl wonders if his team can keep pace.
So what's a coach to do? Zone the Suns? Try to reduce Steve Nash's touches?
Karl did the next best thing: He phoned the Spurs. He felt they defended Phoenix as well as anybody.
"We talked to San Antonio about what they do, and we're probably going to use some of those things to experiment with (Saturday)," he said.
Faithful Kurt
Kurt Thomas is close to getting out of his cast and moving to a protective boot that will allow him to start rehabilitating his right foot's stress fracture. D'Antoni said Thomas will be on the playoff roster regardless of how much he heals by the end of the regular season.
Thomas' daily schedule has not changed a bit. He still comes to every practice and meeting he normally would attend while healthy.
"All veterans know how much time they have left to play, and he doesn't want to miss any of it," D'Antoni said.
Rare air
Nash could be the first player to average 20 points and 10 assists in a season since 1992-93, when Golden State's Tim Hardaway did it. Nash is only shy on the scoring, which entered Saturday at 19.7.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0326sunsnb0326.html
Stoudemire to be limited on trip
Paul Coro and Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 26, 2006 12:00 AM
Amaré Stoudemire's minutes could gradually increase after the coming weeklong road trip.
Come playoff time, the key will be deciphering whether Stoudemire is at a level to be featured like last season or somewhere shy of that.
"He doesn't have to be the No. 1 guy, the No. 2 guy or the No. 3 guy," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He just has to be one of the top eight guys."
advertisement
Suns trainer Aaron Nelson said Stoudemire will be limited to 20-22 minutes each game in the road back-to-back sets - Monday and Tuesday at New Jersey and Milwaukee, and then Thursday and Friday at Indiana and Toronto. His minutes could then gradually increase, starting with next Sunday's game in Detroit.
"There's a point in (every NBA season when) talent stops being important and chemistry and character become more important, and I think Phoenix is probably in that stretch," Denver coach George Karl said. "It's a situation that's got to be handled and probably once it's handled you're happy about it. There's some growing pains to it. There might be a loss that you might not have had, but in the same sense he might win a playoff game that the (team) would've lost."
Stoudemire told Nelson his knees felt better Saturday morning than Friday, when he had some muscle stiffness.
Karl confesses
Karl watches tapes of Denver's recent meetings with Phoenix, and the Nuggets coach comes to a conclusion:
"I have trouble admitting it," Karl said, "but I must say they make you play their way. And I don't like that."
Denver likes to run. But against the Suns, Karl wonders if his team can keep pace.
So what's a coach to do? Zone the Suns? Try to reduce Steve Nash's touches?
Karl did the next best thing: He phoned the Spurs. He felt they defended Phoenix as well as anybody.
"We talked to San Antonio about what they do, and we're probably going to use some of those things to experiment with (Saturday)," he said.
Faithful Kurt
Kurt Thomas is close to getting out of his cast and moving to a protective boot that will allow him to start rehabilitating his right foot's stress fracture. D'Antoni said Thomas will be on the playoff roster regardless of how much he heals by the end of the regular season.
Thomas' daily schedule has not changed a bit. He still comes to every practice and meeting he normally would attend while healthy.
"All veterans know how much time they have left to play, and he doesn't want to miss any of it," D'Antoni said.
Rare air
Nash could be the first player to average 20 points and 10 assists in a season since 1992-93, when Golden State's Tim Hardaway did it. Nash is only shy on the scoring, which entered Saturday at 19.7.
