By Sam Smith Special to ESPN.com PHOENIX -- Penny Hardaway got a new tattoo this summer. It reads "The Storm is Over." But the winds of doubt still haunt the former three-time, All-NBA player, the LeBron James of a decade ago who is tethered to the bench in Phoenix, a forgotten role player who wants people not only to remember who he was but to know he can be someone again. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/stor..._sam&id=1666630
I think there's something about Phoenix that makes players get new tattoos. When Marbury got traded to Phoenix he got a new tatoo that dealt with getting a second chance, I can't remember exactly what it said tough. Back to the point of the thread. Ever since Penny started getting injured in Phoenix, which was almost instantly, all he has been known for in complaining. Complaining that he knows he can do what he used to, but isn't given a chance, complaining that he isn't getting the ball enough, just out and out complaining all the time. I understand that he isn't making a big fuss out of it this time around, but these comments still are stupid to make (especially since he gets more PT than Jacobsen who collects DNP's through the season by means of coaches decision). The Suns could have given up on him a long time ago when the whole "Backcourt 2000" thing went to hell, but they have stuck with Penny's contract and mouth (partly because no one wants Penny's contract at all). He just has to take the fact that he isn't and won't be what he used to be. He is still an important part of the team and he doesn't need stats to show it, he should know it already.
How much longer do the Suns have on the horible contract that Penny has. I would like to see Jacobsen more often he just needs a little more time to work on his defensive game though by the time Pennys contract is over hopefuly Jacobsen is ready to step up and be a big time role player for the suns
Get penny outta there! Jacobsen needs some more minutes, I really haven't even seen much of what he's made of. I'd prefer Jacobsen over Joe Johnson, unless Joe decides he needs to change up his shot decision.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice Cream Truck:</div><div class="quote_post">Get penny outta there! Jacobsen needs some more minutes, I really haven't even seen much of what he's made of. I'd prefer Jacobsen over Joe Johnson, unless Joe decides he needs to change up his shot decision.</div> Maybe Penny deserves decreased minutes, but he is ideal veteran leadership on that team. The rest of what you said is ridiculous.
Actually, i'd prefer Jacobsen over Joe Johnson also. Casey's a hell of a shooter, he can spot up and he can come off screens reggie miller style. I honestly never really thought highly of johnson. He was a good player at Arkansas but i kind of rated him about the same as Vicnent Yarborough from tennesee. He seems like a guy with a lot of potential, but he's been in the league a while and really hasn't done anything. It's time to sacrifice a little bit of defense and give Jacobsen a chance.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">I think there's something about Phoenix that makes players get new tattoos. When Marbury got traded to Phoenix he got a new tatoo that dealt with getting a second chance, I can't remember exactly what it said tough. </div> Can't remember exactly, but I think it went: "The Sun has shined down on me" or something else like that. There's nobody I hate more on the Phoenix roster than Joe Johnson, just because of his inconsistency. He has the potential to be awesome, especially with his size as a SG. He had a horrible game yesterday, and Penny was doing pretty good, but didn't get to play that much. I went to the Suns-Rockets game in December and I got to talk to Penny and I told him that he should be starting. Penny replied, "Only in time".
I think Penny has to just accept that his glory days are over. I wasn't much of a fan in the 90's, but even then I admitted that he was a good player, while today he's merely a shadow of that former self. We will never see the Penny of old, since injuries have taken their toll. I laughed then at the MJ comparisons, and laugh harder today. Not that Penny isn't good, but I think his fans have always blown him up bigger than he is. I remember him telling Jordan back in 96 that when Shaq left, he would average 40 points a night. If he wasn't thinking realistically then, is he necessarily thinking realistically now, that he can even return to that player who averaged something like 21 and 7? Good luck to Penny, but he'd be better off accepting his role player status.
