Phoenix Suns Blog – Page 44 – NBA Blog

Robin Lopez suspended for improper conduct towards ref

Robin Lopez of the Phoenix Suns has been suspended one game without pay for improper conduct towards a game official, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident, in which Lopez made contact with an official, occurred with 8:14 remaining in the second quarter of the Suns’ 99-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Ariz. on Jan. 24.

According to the Arizona Republic Suns blog, “Lopez’s temper was stoked when he missed a post-up attempt against Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani and felt he was fouled on the play. Lopez raced back on defense and needlessly reach in to foul big man Linas Kleiza about 40 feet from the basket before turning his ire and glare toward Mott. A time out whistle stopped play. As Lopez walked toward the Suns bench, he brushed Mott with his left shoulder as Mott backed away. Lopez did not appear to make an attempt to avoid Mott, who then ejected Lopez. The three game officials had a brief conference and the decision stood.”

Lopez will serve his suspension Friday when the Suns visit the Portland Trail Blazers.

Mark Cuban surprised Steve Nash still playing

The most surprised person to see Steve Nash still playing is Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Back in the summer of 2004 when the Mavs were deciding whether to let Nash – then a free agent – go, or resign him, Cuban relied on his medical staff to help him make up his mind.

“I’ll say it now, if you would have told me Steve would have been playing eight years later I would have bet any amount of money you’d be wrong,’’ Cuban said. “But some guys do a great job of taking care of their bodies and taking advantage of the new technology that‘s come along.

“The thing about Steve is his discipline.’’

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Blog

Former NBA player Wesley Person arrested

The Coffee County Jail had a former NBA player as a resident for several hours Monday morning after Elba police arrested him on six misdemeanor charges.

Wesley L. Person, 40, of Hicks Drive in Luverne, was arrested late Sunday on six charges of failure to appear for court. According to District Judge Paul Sherling’s office, all the charges stemmed from not appearing for traffic violations — two charges each of driving with suspended license, speeding and failure to display insurance.

Person paid a $1,500 bond and paid all of the traffic tickets after a Monday hearing in front of Circuit Judge Jeff Kelley.

— Reported by Jeremy Wise of the Dothan Eagle

Suns may let Robin Lopez become free agent

When the Suns selected Robin Lopez 15th overall in the 2008 draft, he was considered the franchise’s center of the future.

His future with the Suns now appears it will be left to July free agency. The Suns have until Wednesday to come to a contract extension with Lopez but that appears unlikely. Lopez would then become a restricted free agent on July 1, meaning the Suns still could match any other team’s offer sheet to him.

Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said he has had several discussions with Lopez’s agent, Arn Tellem, to inquire about an extension.

“We have talked to see if there was any common ground worth pursuing and I’d say it’s unlikely at this time,” Babby said. “It’s been a completely amicable process. There really isn’t any basis for doing a deal and we’ll look at it again in the summer.”

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Steve Nash could join Knicks this summer

Steve Nash could be the answer to the Knicks point guard troubles.

That is, if they’re willing to wait until next season to get him and Nash wants to play out his final years chasing a title in New York.

Nash refused to discuss his pending free agency but he reiterated his fondness for New York City and Madison Square Garden.

“It’s no secret,” Nash said after scoring 26 points with 11 assists in the Suns 91-88 victory over the Knicks on Wednesday. “This is the basketball capital of the world. I live here in the summer. I have a lot of friends here. My former coach (Mike D’Antoni) and teammate (Amar’e Stoudemire) play here so it’s a homecoming in some ways for me. It’s always fun to play here.”

Nash, who will turn 38 next month, believes he still has plenty of good years left in his body. He keeps himself in top condition and still has the burning desire to play.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

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Phoenix Suns waive center Garret Siler

The Phoenix Suns today waived center Garret Siler, the team has announced.

The 6-11, 300-pounder averaged 2.1 points per game for the Suns last season in 21 games played. He did not play in any of the 2011-12 regular season games.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 13.

Suns guard Steve Nash playing with bruised rib

Believe it or not, there was a time when this Suns season was starting to go well — in the season opener.

After a sluggish first half against New Orleans, the Suns took command with 18 points in the first six minutes of the second half as Steve Nash made his first four shots.

It also might have been their worst stretch thus far. During that span, Nash fouled Greivis Vasquez on a 3-point play and took a Vasquez shoulder into his ribs as he jumped into Vasquez. Shortly thereafter, Nash grimaced and asked out of the game. A week later, Nash still is not right, and his 7-for-29 shooting since that game reflects the pain he has endured from the bruised rib.

Nash said it improves nightly with medication, but in each game he inevitably takes a blow to the left-rib-cage area and aggravates it. The intercostal muscles in the rib cage allow it to expand and drop during breathing.

“It’s like I’m holding my breath a lot,” Nash said. “I’m tired a lot. I’m bracing. It’s not fun.

“It’s definitely affected my shot and mobility.”

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns sign guard Michael Redd

The Phoenix Suns have signed former All-Star guard Michael Redd, the team announced today. According to the Associated Press, it is “a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum of about $1.3 million.”

“Michael Redd has a proven pedigree as a first-rate NBA scorer,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “He will work with our renowned training staff to get into basketball shape. When he is ready to play, Michael will be a welcome addition to our team.”

An 11-year NBA veteran, Redd developed from an undervalued second-round pick into one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA over the last decade. A 6-6, 220-pound guard, he was originally the 43rd overall pick (second round) of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he spent all 11 of his professional seasons. Redd joins the Suns with career averages of 20.0 points, one of only 12 active players averaging 20 or more, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 578 games (427 starts). Redd is a career 44.9-percent shooter overall, including 38.3 percent from three-point range, and owns 1,003 career threes, one of just nine players in NBA history to make 1,000 three-pointers with a single team.

Injuries have destroyed Redd’s career in recent years. He played just 53 games for the Bucks in 2006-07, 72 games the following season, but just 33 games in 2008-09, 18 games in 2009-10, and just 10 games in 2010-11.

An All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selection in 2004, Redd has ranked in the top-11 in the NBA in scoring on five different occasions (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), and averaged 20 or more points in six-straight seasons from 2003-09. In fact, only 10 NBA players scored more total points in that span, a list that includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett and Joe Johnson. A former Eastern Conference Player of the Month (January 2004) and two-time Player of the Week (Dec. 3, 2006; Dec. 31, 2006) Redd increased his scoring average in each of his first seven NBA campaigns, including a career-high 26.7-point average in 2006-07, fifth-best in the league overall.

A highly-regarded outside shooter, Redd was selected as a member of the “Redeem Team,” the gold-medal winning U.S. Men’s National Team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Redd played in a total of 61 games over the last three seasons after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee on two separate occasions in both 2008-09 and 2009-10. He returned to play the final 10 games of the 2010-11 season, averaging 4.4 points in 13.4 minutes with Milwaukee.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Redd was a three-year standout at Ohio State University where he averaged 19.6 points and 6.2 rebounds and was named Honorable Mention All-America as a sophomore and a junior.

Phoenix Suns want to push the tempo

The Phoenix Suns’ 85-84 loss on opening night to the New Orleans Hornets made Planet Orange’s eyes bleed. A fan base accustomed to a potent offense isn’t used to seeing the Suns struggle through a game with fewer than 90 points. Head coach Alvin Gentry has a solution.

“We got to become more of a running team,” said Gentry after shoot around on Wednesday. “We’re not a running team, we’re a jogging team. We’re not good as a jogging team; we got to find a way to manufacture easy baskets and not to have to work so hard in half-court sets.

Phoenix shot 38% from the field in half-court sets Monday night.

— Via Bryan Gibberman of Arizona Sports

Phoenix Suns offense struggles in opener

In the Steve Nash era one issue you never had to worry about was the Phoenix Suns’ offense.

Might this be changing right before our eyes?

In Monday’s opening night loss the Phoenix Suns fell to the New Orleans Hornets 85-84.

Since Steve Nash has been on the Suns, 2004-05 season to the present, their record in games when they have given up 99 points or less is an incredible 175-23 – a .88 win percentage.

Head coach Alvin Gentry isn’t panicking about the offense yet.

“I think we got very good looks,” said Gentry. “Grant had three wide open looks, Channing had three or four wide open looks, Dudley had three or four ones that we’re very capable of making. The biggest concern I thought was we didn’t shoot the ball well.”

— Via Bryan Gibberman of Arizona Sports