Injuries Force Suns to be Creative

Discussion in 'Phoenix Suns' started by Shapecity, Mar 9, 2006.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Steve Nash has a sprained ankle that could keep him in street clothes tonight. Tim Thomas and Shawn Marion are sick.

    The Suns scrimmaged 5-on-5 Wednesday, but three players - Amar? Stoudemire, Brian Grant and Nikoloz Tskitishvili - were doing so for the first time in weeks, if not months.

    In addition, James Jones was still recovering from a right foot injury.

    In times like these, with the defending champion Spurs in town, Grant thinks it's wise to think of Coach Mike D'Antoni as a wizard, mixing his potions, trying to find a solution.

    "A lot of teams got one shelf of potions, and that's all they can use," he said. "But here, (D'Antoni's) got three or four shelves of potions that he can always mix and match. Right now, the shelves are a little bare because of injuries, but still, even with what he has left, there's enough there to make some powerful magic."

    So the Suns move on, trying to add to an 11-game winning streak, the longest active string in the NBA and tied for the second longest in franchise history.

    Nash hasn't ruled out playing tonight. He sat out Wednesday's practice, allowing the right ankle he sprained against the Hornets time to heal. His availability probably won't be determined until just before tip-off.

    D'Antoni hopes Marion and Thomas are better. Marion started feeling lousy earlier this week; Thomas seemed to catch the flu bug Tuesday. Both arrived for practice Wednesday but were sent home.

    That left interesting lineups for the scrimmage, the first full-court efforts for Grant and Stoudemire, both recovering from serious knee injuries.

    Stoudemire teamed with Eddie House, Andre Barrett, Tskitishvili and Grant. He guarded Boris Diaw on defense, moving horizontally with ease. On offense, he scored on a put-back and short hook, both earning applause from Assistant General Manager David Griffin.

    "The only thing was when I started to make a strong move, I felt a little stiffness, and when I came down and landed, (I felt) a little stiffness," Stoudemire said.

    Bigger tests are coming.

    "(Wednesday) wasn't really a full day of busting out, so it wasn't too bad, Stoudemire said. "But I'm pretty sure once we really get the 5-on-5 going and really get up and down, it's going to get a little tough for me."</div>

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  2. dtpxcore

    dtpxcore JBB The Regulator

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    seems like they could use jim jackson about now.
     
  3. emannen

    emannen JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">seems like they could use jim jackson about now.</div>

    ??????????????????

    The Suns released Jimmy Jackson because he was not seeing the floor. The Suns are thin in the post, not on the perimeter. They have Nash, Bell, Barbosa, House, and others. Could playing time magically appear for J-Jack in Phoenix?
     

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