link SACRAMENTO - The Suns began their preseason Thursday night deliberately, taking on the look of a youth-league team that is under orders to have everybody touch the ball before taking a shot. That lasted three possessions, and then the 2007-08 Suns were off and running. Phoenix opened up its semi-conditioned lungs and the offense with a 110-99 victory against the Kings. Suns forwards Grant Hill and Shawn Marion offered early answers to two pressing Suns camp questions.</p> The Hill question: Just how much of an impact would he have? A lot, if his 13-point, eight-rebound first half is any indication. Hill scored 17 points in a 24-minute Suns debut. "I was real pleased with how Grant came in and seemed to fit in real quick," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He'll just keep getting better. This is the baseline of it." Hill took nine shots in his first 11 minutes, showed a second speed in transition and hit 1 of 3 three-pointers, a rarely used shot during his career. "You saw naturally what this team can do," Hill said after Phoenix made 13 threes. "Opportunities are going to be there. You can go long stretches without shots, and you can have stretches with a lot. This team is very explosive, so I'm just trying to learn everybody, fit in and show what I can do." The Marion question: Just how will Marion play after a tumultuous summer? Just fine, judging by his 15-point, nine-rebound first half. "I ain't in shape like I want to be," said Marion, who made 2 of 3 three-pointers, finished with 12 rebounds in 27 minutes and induced "oohs" after going high for one of his two blocked shots. D'Antoni offered a peek into his rotation plans, going with nine players in the first three quarters. Hill, Marion, Steve Nash, Raja Bell and Boris Diaw started. Leandro Barbosa and Sean Marks subbed first, but Amaré Stoudemire usually would start, and Diaw would come in with Barbosa. Marcus Banks and second-round draft pick D.J. Strawberry were in the rotation, giving Phoenix a defense-oriented unit. "We need a defensive group that can still keep up the scoring when Steve (Nash) and those guys go out," Banks said. "We need a group that can get points off the defensive end, stay up in guys and make guys work. It takes a lot of pressure off those starters." First-round draft pick Alando Tucker made his debut to start the fourth quarter. D'Antoni rested each starter but Diaw after 2:56 of the third quarter.</p>
