Suns Hoping Trio Works Way Into Rotation

The Suns aren’t counting on Sean Marks to play 27 minutes a night like he did in Saturday’s 111-106 preseason loss to New Orleans.

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Marcus Banks isn’t likely to log 24 minutes often, and rookie D.J. Strawberry doesn’t figure to get 20.

But Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni would like to have all three players on call for rotation minutes behind the Suns’ top seven regulars — all of whom he views as starter quality. But in order to do that, the reserves need to keep the tempo and the level of play high.

Marks had good numbers (14 points, seven rebounds and three assists) against the Hornets. He was on the floor when the Suns whittled a 20-point New Orleans lead to three over the final seven minutes of the first half.

Banks and Strawberry joined him in the fourth quarter when Phoenix wiped out a 10-point deficit and forged a two-point lead on a Banks 3-pointer with four minutes left.

But the trio was also on the floor when the Suns ran out of gas down the stretch, when Phoenix went scoreless over the final 2:35 and didn’t have a field goal over the final 3:10.

“Those are guys, some of those guys, who are going to be in our rotation but they need to play well to stay in the rotation,” D’Antoni said. “I thought Marcus did a good job and Marks had good spots. Sean shoots the ball well, but he has to get in better shape. He was laboring a little bit.”

“Overall I think we have to get in a little better shape. Our defense cost us the game.”

Marks will have more help in the post soon. Brian Skinner, back after missing a week with a knee bruise, should get more than the four minutes he played Saturday when the Suns host the Utah Jazz tonight. And Amaré Stoudemire is a week away from rejoining practice following arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 1.

He could be playing by Oct. 25, when the Suns close their preseason schedule with back-to-back games against Denver (in Phoenix) and Seattle (in Vancouver).

source : eastvalleytribune.com