<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Brian Skinner enrolled in Suns 101 last week. He called it a crash course, but the exams that matter won't come until November. For now, he is passing the early tests to serve as Phoenix's defensive big man presence. Skinner and Sean Marks, the team's backup centers, each grabbed 11 rebounds on opposite teams in Saturday's intra- squad scrimmage. But Skinner's value goes beyond a game summary. At 6 feet 9, Skinner changes opponents' shots. It happened when Steve Nash fired an airball as Skinner switched onto him. It happened when Raja Bell and Boris Diaw missed in the lane as Skinner challenged their shots. "It gives us something we didn't have, obviously," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "It gives us an athletic big guy who can also defend and pound. There'll definitely be times when we need him." Skinner, a 10-year veteran, said he picked up the plays quickly. That leaves him to acquire only a feel for how teammates play. "I'm optimistic about it," he said. "I know what I can do. It's just going out and doing it. That's the main objective - mesh with the guys, do what's expected and play within my realm and don't play outside that and I'll be fine."</div></p> Source: AZ Central</p>
