darkangel2050
Newbie
Suns say they'll be even better
Colangelo says team taking strides toward NBA title
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 19, 2005 12:00 AM
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Tougher, faster, better.
The Suns' recent roster rearranging may go down some fans' throats like hot coals, but coach Mike D'Antoni and executive Bryan Colangelo pledge that the overhaul made the team better.
The Suns introduced new players Brian Grant and Pat Burke on Thursday and will continue to overhaul the roster today, when Joe Johnson's trade to Atlanta is expected to be finalized. But D'Antoni and Colangelo said the Suns undoubtedly are improved, regardless of how pursuits of Michael Finley and James Jones end up. [/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Colangelo said the staff "feels like we've dramatically improved our team. I know a lot of people don't think that's the case right now. We're taking a step forward. We're going to keep building this thing. We're definitely not only going to be just as competitive as last year but we're going to strive to win that championship these guys are talking about."
He said the key to judging these Suns won't come in aspiring to last season's 62 wins. It will be how well prepared they are for the playoffs because they have become a deeper team. He alluded to how Johnson's facial fracture altered the team's approach during last season's playoffs.
"A lot of the same stuff became very predictable," said Colangelo, the team's president and general manager. "It was a lack of depth that you could point to that perhaps was a part of that."
This year's bench will include Grant, Burke, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa and Scott Padgett. Jones could be acquired in a sign and trade with Indiana and a Finley signing may make Jim Jackson a reserve.
D'Antoni noted all of Phoenix's additions can shoot, run and pass to maintain the high-paced style while improving the defense. Colangelo said Phoenix could be faster because Amaré Stoudemire and Shawn Marion will run more with Kurt Thomas and Grant rebounding and inbounding.
"If you line people up and say, 'Run as hard as you can,' they can run as fast as anybody," D'Antoni said. "I loved Q (Quentin Richardson) and what he did but if you put him in a foot race against one of these two guys (Grant and Burke), (it's) about the same. There's not any difference.
"And even Joe, you're talking outrun him this quick," he added with his hands inches apart.
The Suns feel that close to a title as well, something that compelled Grant to pick Phoenix. Grant, Bell and Thomas were added to address rebounding and defensive deficiencies.
"We can safely put aside that soft label that has been associated with Suns basketball probably for the history of the Suns organization," Colangelo said. "We have certainly addressed a lot of the issues about what we're doing from a physical and mental toughness (standpoint)."[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0819suns0819.html[/font]
Colangelo says team taking strides toward NBA title
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 19, 2005 12:00 AM
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Tougher, faster, better.
The Suns' recent roster rearranging may go down some fans' throats like hot coals, but coach Mike D'Antoni and executive Bryan Colangelo pledge that the overhaul made the team better.
The Suns introduced new players Brian Grant and Pat Burke on Thursday and will continue to overhaul the roster today, when Joe Johnson's trade to Atlanta is expected to be finalized. But D'Antoni and Colangelo said the Suns undoubtedly are improved, regardless of how pursuits of Michael Finley and James Jones end up. [/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Colangelo said the staff "feels like we've dramatically improved our team. I know a lot of people don't think that's the case right now. We're taking a step forward. We're going to keep building this thing. We're definitely not only going to be just as competitive as last year but we're going to strive to win that championship these guys are talking about."
He said the key to judging these Suns won't come in aspiring to last season's 62 wins. It will be how well prepared they are for the playoffs because they have become a deeper team. He alluded to how Johnson's facial fracture altered the team's approach during last season's playoffs.
"A lot of the same stuff became very predictable," said Colangelo, the team's president and general manager. "It was a lack of depth that you could point to that perhaps was a part of that."
This year's bench will include Grant, Burke, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa and Scott Padgett. Jones could be acquired in a sign and trade with Indiana and a Finley signing may make Jim Jackson a reserve.
D'Antoni noted all of Phoenix's additions can shoot, run and pass to maintain the high-paced style while improving the defense. Colangelo said Phoenix could be faster because Amaré Stoudemire and Shawn Marion will run more with Kurt Thomas and Grant rebounding and inbounding.
"If you line people up and say, 'Run as hard as you can,' they can run as fast as anybody," D'Antoni said. "I loved Q (Quentin Richardson) and what he did but if you put him in a foot race against one of these two guys (Grant and Burke), (it's) about the same. There's not any difference.
"And even Joe, you're talking outrun him this quick," he added with his hands inches apart.
The Suns feel that close to a title as well, something that compelled Grant to pick Phoenix. Grant, Bell and Thomas were added to address rebounding and defensive deficiencies.
"We can safely put aside that soft label that has been associated with Suns basketball probably for the history of the Suns organization," Colangelo said. "We have certainly addressed a lot of the issues about what we're doing from a physical and mental toughness (standpoint)."[/font]
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0819suns0819.html[/font]
