azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mike D’Antoni is locked in a tight race with Seattle’s Nate McMillan for the NBA’s coach of the year award.
A survey of more than half the voters for the award has the Suns’ coach with 24 votes, while McMillan is just behind with 21.
Also drawing support are Indiana’s Rick Carlisle (13), Chicago’s Scott Skiles (12) and Denver’s George Karl (seven).
Among the D’Antoni supporters is Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, who said that even with all the Suns’ talent, "They still needed a conductor for all those high-speed trains.
"I’ll bet if you went into a mall back East and asked 100 people only about 15 would even know who Mike D’Antoni is. He’s the masked man on the Phoenix bench, but he deserves a lot of credit."
Also backing D’Antoni is Phil Chenier, the former NBA star who now is a broadcaster for the Washington Wizards. Chenier said, "A true coach develops his style according to the talent. He’s allowed their strengths to shine and masked the fact that they really don’t have a center."
AMARÉ’S FOULS
The Suns’ win in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies was made easier in part by the fact that Amaré Stoudemire managed to stay out of foul trouble.
As he grows more comfortable as the series goes on, Stoudemire said he’s trying to pick his spots on when to gamble on defense.
"When I get in foul trouble, I’m being very active, trying to defend everywhere. With my quickness I can do that, but I can get in trouble.
"I can block shots, but sometimes I jump into people."
D’Antoni said, "That’s one of the things we want to make sure he keeps doing: Keep his fouls under control. . . . He’s a quick learner."
SORE SUBJECT
Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello had a curt reaction to questions about reserve Bonzi Wells’ playing time.
Wells, who averaged 21.6 minutes in the regular season, didn’t play in Game 2 and played only nine minutes on Friday. He is a free agent this summer, and the Grizzlies are thought to be uninterested in re-signing him.
Fratello said: "This team has juggled minutes all season. . . . The issues are being made by you (media) people. He doesn’t play in one game, and we nearly won that game."
FAVORITE SPOT
With the rise of Steven Hunter, D’Antoni — reversing a seasonlong approach — now frequently has gone to using Stoudemire and Hunter on the floor at the same time.
This means Stoudemire can play his natural big forward spot instead of playing center all the time.
To hear Stoudemire tell it, "When Steve is the center and I’m at ‘four,’ that’s a beautiful thing.
"Steve does a great job on Pau Gasol. And it allows me to guard smaller guys like Brian Cardinal, Lorenzen Wright or Shane Battier.
"It allows me to use my quickness on the perimeter and block shots from the weak side."
BONUS SHOT
Shawn Marion says his right wrist, injured in Game 1 on Sunday, is "still sore. But it’s going to be like that."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=40575
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mike D’Antoni is locked in a tight race with Seattle’s Nate McMillan for the NBA’s coach of the year award.
A survey of more than half the voters for the award has the Suns’ coach with 24 votes, while McMillan is just behind with 21.
Also drawing support are Indiana’s Rick Carlisle (13), Chicago’s Scott Skiles (12) and Denver’s George Karl (seven).
Among the D’Antoni supporters is Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, who said that even with all the Suns’ talent, "They still needed a conductor for all those high-speed trains.
"I’ll bet if you went into a mall back East and asked 100 people only about 15 would even know who Mike D’Antoni is. He’s the masked man on the Phoenix bench, but he deserves a lot of credit."
Also backing D’Antoni is Phil Chenier, the former NBA star who now is a broadcaster for the Washington Wizards. Chenier said, "A true coach develops his style according to the talent. He’s allowed their strengths to shine and masked the fact that they really don’t have a center."
AMARÉ’S FOULS
The Suns’ win in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies was made easier in part by the fact that Amaré Stoudemire managed to stay out of foul trouble.
As he grows more comfortable as the series goes on, Stoudemire said he’s trying to pick his spots on when to gamble on defense.
"When I get in foul trouble, I’m being very active, trying to defend everywhere. With my quickness I can do that, but I can get in trouble.
"I can block shots, but sometimes I jump into people."
D’Antoni said, "That’s one of the things we want to make sure he keeps doing: Keep his fouls under control. . . . He’s a quick learner."
SORE SUBJECT
Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello had a curt reaction to questions about reserve Bonzi Wells’ playing time.
Wells, who averaged 21.6 minutes in the regular season, didn’t play in Game 2 and played only nine minutes on Friday. He is a free agent this summer, and the Grizzlies are thought to be uninterested in re-signing him.
Fratello said: "This team has juggled minutes all season. . . . The issues are being made by you (media) people. He doesn’t play in one game, and we nearly won that game."
FAVORITE SPOT
With the rise of Steven Hunter, D’Antoni — reversing a seasonlong approach — now frequently has gone to using Stoudemire and Hunter on the floor at the same time.
This means Stoudemire can play his natural big forward spot instead of playing center all the time.
To hear Stoudemire tell it, "When Steve is the center and I’m at ‘four,’ that’s a beautiful thing.
"Steve does a great job on Pau Gasol. And it allows me to guard smaller guys like Brian Cardinal, Lorenzen Wright or Shane Battier.
"It allows me to use my quickness on the perimeter and block shots from the weak side."
BONUS SHOT
Shawn Marion says his right wrist, injured in Game 1 on Sunday, is "still sore. But it’s going to be like that."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=40575
