azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Craig Morgan, Tribune
Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson were the Suns’ biggest free agent acquisitions this summer. But the smallest guy on the roster was the one garnering the most attention at the team’s annual media day.
Thirty-one members of the Japanese media crowded the practice court at America West Arena Monday to pepper 5-foot-9 point guard Yuta Tabuse with questions and snap endless photos.
Suns officials said a number of those on hand have requested credentials for the entire season. Tabuse is likely to make the Suns’ 14 or 15-man roster, but will spend much of the season on injured reserve since he is not currently among the club’s top 12 players. If he does make the final roster he will be the first player from Japan to do so in the NBA.
WHO’S AT CENTER?
Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said seven players are in the running for the starting lineup that will open the season. Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Nash are locks.
Joe Johnson and Richardson are both vying for the starting off- guard spot. Johnson may make more sense because of his defense, while Richardson could give the Suns a potent offensive force off the bench.
At center, Jake Voskuhl and Steven Hunter are both possibilities, although D’Antoni said Voskuhl would likely get the nod as a known commodity and a guy who knows the Suns’ system. The Suns also plan to use Stoudemire in certain situations, but Stoudemire made it clear he does not want those minutes to be significant.
"I don’t think I’ll be playing center too much because that’s not my natural position," he said. "If I have to go in there to make it an up-tempo game, that’ll work. But I’m not going to start at center or anything like that."
D’Antoni and assistant Marc Iavaroni said neither of them have talked to Stoudemire about his role in the center mix.
BONUS SHOT
Suns single-game tickets went on sale Monday for the regular season. Fans can purchase tickets at the America West Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets including Fry’s Marketplace and Robinson’s/ May, all Valley Team Shop locations, online at Suns.com, and by phone at (800) 4-NBA-TIX. Season and mini-season ticket packages can be purchased by calling (602) 379-SUNS.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29181
Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson were the Suns’ biggest free agent acquisitions this summer. But the smallest guy on the roster was the one garnering the most attention at the team’s annual media day.
Thirty-one members of the Japanese media crowded the practice court at America West Arena Monday to pepper 5-foot-9 point guard Yuta Tabuse with questions and snap endless photos.
Suns officials said a number of those on hand have requested credentials for the entire season. Tabuse is likely to make the Suns’ 14 or 15-man roster, but will spend much of the season on injured reserve since he is not currently among the club’s top 12 players. If he does make the final roster he will be the first player from Japan to do so in the NBA.
WHO’S AT CENTER?
Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said seven players are in the running for the starting lineup that will open the season. Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Nash are locks.
Joe Johnson and Richardson are both vying for the starting off- guard spot. Johnson may make more sense because of his defense, while Richardson could give the Suns a potent offensive force off the bench.
At center, Jake Voskuhl and Steven Hunter are both possibilities, although D’Antoni said Voskuhl would likely get the nod as a known commodity and a guy who knows the Suns’ system. The Suns also plan to use Stoudemire in certain situations, but Stoudemire made it clear he does not want those minutes to be significant.
"I don’t think I’ll be playing center too much because that’s not my natural position," he said. "If I have to go in there to make it an up-tempo game, that’ll work. But I’m not going to start at center or anything like that."
D’Antoni and assistant Marc Iavaroni said neither of them have talked to Stoudemire about his role in the center mix.
BONUS SHOT
Suns single-game tickets went on sale Monday for the regular season. Fans can purchase tickets at the America West Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets including Fry’s Marketplace and Robinson’s/ May, all Valley Team Shop locations, online at Suns.com, and by phone at (800) 4-NBA-TIX. Season and mini-season ticket packages can be purchased by calling (602) 379-SUNS.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29181
