Category: Phoenix Suns Blog

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Suns defense sinking to bottom of NBA

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (2nd-R) drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns' Hedo Turkoglu (2nd-L) defends, during their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida November 17, 2010. REUTERS/Joe Skipper (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

The addition of forward Hedo Turkoglu and other individuals’ drop-offs have turned the Suns into arguably the NBA’s worst defense. They entered Sunday as the second-worst scoring defense (109.0) to Minnesota and were tied with Sacramento for the worst defensive field-goal percentage (48.9).

The Suns are 9-19 when guard Steve Nash does not play, and he is expected to miss a third consecutive game Monday at Houston because of a groin strain. Nash is no defensive savior, but he could at least lead by example with effort.

Gentry told the team that Grant Hill gave the necessary effort Saturday but had few followers. Charlotte scored 30 more points than its season average after it had played Friday at Miami.

“We better rethink who we are, and we better start playing hard, and we better start competing,” Gentry said.

The Suns have faced 10 playoff teams in 13 games and are playing their seventh game in the past 11 days Monday.

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Suns sign Earl Barron

Suns sign Earl Barron

The Phoenix Suns have signed center Earl Barron, the team announced today.  Barron will be available on the club’s four-game road trip that begins Wednesday in Miami.

The 7-0, 250-pound center is a four-year NBA veteran joining his third team after successful stints with the Miami Heat (2005-08) and New York Knicks (2009-10). Most recently, Barron averaged 11.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 33.1 minutes in seven games (six starts) for the Knicks last season.  The 29-year-old tallied four double-digit rebounding efforts, two double-doubles and led New York in rebounding four times in that seven-game stint.  Barron’s time with the Heat saw him average 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 82 games (15 starts) over a three-season span.

The University of Memphis product owns career averages of 5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 89 games (21 starts).  In 2009-10, before joining the Knicks, Barron was an NBA Development League All-Star after averaging 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, fourth-most in the D-League, in 37 games with the Iowa Energy, the Suns’ affiliate.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 14.

Suns release Matt Janning, assign Gani Lawal to D-League

The Phoenix Suns assigned rookie forward Gani Lawal (GONN-ee luh-WALL) to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League and released rookie guard Matt Janning, the team announced today.

The 6-foot-9, 234-pound Lawal was selected by the Suns with the 46th overall pick (second round) of the 2010 NBA Draft and has not seen action in a regular season game for Phoenix.  The Georgia Tech product will join the Energy through Sunday, Dec. 12 (10 games) and make his first appearance on Friday, Nov. 19 against the Dakota Wizards.

Janning, a 6-4, 198-pound standout at Northeastern University, was a member of the Suns’ 2010 entry in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.  He did not appear in a regular season game for Phoenix.

The Suns (6-4) return to action Wednesday night to take on the Miami Heat (6-4) in Miami at 5 p.m. Phoenix time.  The game will be televised nationally on ESPN and can be seen locally on My45 and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

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Robin Lopez out several weeks

An MRI performed on Suns center Robin Lopez revealed a moderate sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his left knee.  Lopez is expected to be out several weeks.  Lopez will travel with the team when it departs on its four-game road trip Tuesday.

Lopez has started all nine games for the Suns in 2010-11, posting averages of 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes.

Steve Nash is getting divorced

The AP reports:

Steve Nash has announced that he and wife Alejandra are in the process of a divorce.

The Phoenix Suns’ point guard and two-time NBA most valuable player revealed the situation in a statement Saturday, a day after the birth of the couple’s son, Matteo.

He said in the statement to Life & Style Magazine that he and his wife have lived separately for several months but remain firmly committed to raising their children “in the most positive, nurturing way possible.”

The couple, together for nine years and married since 2005, also has 6-year-old twin daughters, Lola and Bella.

Suns sign Jared Dudley to contract extension

Suns sign Jared Dudley to contract extension

The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Jared Dudley to a multi-year contract extension, the club has announced. The Arizona Republic reports that the deal is for five years with $21.25 million guaranteed and another $1.25 million in playoff incentives.

“Jared Dudley is a valued member of what makes this franchise special,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby.  “The uncertain future made these discussions challenging; but in the end, good will prevailed and we are delighted to have reached an agreement.”

Winner of the team’s 2009-10 Dan Majerle Hustle Award, the 6-7, 220-pound Dudley has established himself as one of the team’s best defenders and one of the league’s premier three-point shooters while becoming a fan-favorite in Phoenix.  The fourth-year performer enjoyed a break-out year in 2009-10 in his first full season with the Suns, averaging a career-high 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and career-best 1.4 assists while seeing action in all 82 games.  Dudley also led the Suns with a career-high 81 steals last season.

In addition to his defensive tenacity and trademark hustle, it was Dudley’s improved long range shooting that made him indispensable to the Suns’ attack.  On a team that shot the second-best three-point percentage in NBA history, Dudley connected on a team-best and career-high 45.8 percent of his three-point attempts, fourth-best in the NBA.  “JD” made 120 threes overall, 116 of which came in a reserve role, third-most of any NBA bench player (2010 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, J.R. Smith).  Dudley entered last season with 38 career three-pointers.

Originally selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 22nd overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Boston College product and 2007 ACC Player of the Year was acquired by the Suns along with Jason Richardson and a 2010 second-round pick (used to select Gani Lawal) on Dec. 10, 2008.  He owns career averages of 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 223 games (23 starts), including 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 130 games (one start) with Phoenix.

Suns F Josh Childress breaks finger

Suns F Josh Childress breaks finger

Phoenix Suns forward Josh Childress suffered a fractured distal phalanx (index finger) on his right hand during the Suns’ exhibition win over the Golden State Warriors tonight at US Airways Center.

Childress will do no activity for approximately one week and will be re-evaluated at that time.

Childress suffered the injury after being fouled on a drive to the basket with 7:54 remaining in tonight’s home preseason contest.  Childress returned to the game with 5:39 remaining and played the rest of regulation, finishing with three points and five rebounds.

Including tonight’s contest, Childress owns preseason averages of 7.9 points and 4.0 rebounds, and is shooting 57.1 percent from the field (20-of-35) in seven games as a reserve.

Suns waive Chucky Atkins

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Chucky Atkins, the club announced today.

The 5-11, 185-pound guard appeared in three preseason games for Phoenix and averaged 1.0 points and 1.7 assists in 11.3 minutes.  Atkins is an 11-year NBA veteran who spent last season with the Detroit Pistons.  He was originally signed by the Suns on Sept. 27, 2010.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 16.