ducks
07-03-2005, 11:54 PM
New power forward Thomas won't slow down the Suns
By MEL REISNER, AP Sports Writer
July 1, 2005
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AP - Jul 1, 5:09 pm EDT
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PHOENIX (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns introduced new forward Kurt Thomas on Friday and sent a message to fans who loved last season's up-tempo style -- the team got tougher, not slower.
``We don't want to lose what we had last year,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said. ``So parts of the game will have that, and parts of the game will have some other stuff. We'll see how it all plays out in October. But, I think the bottom line is we're a better team right now.''
The Suns acquired the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Thomas and shooting guard Dijon Thompson on Tuesday in a draft-night trade with New York. The Knicks received Quentin Richardson and Nate Robinson, taken by Phoenix with the 21st overall pick.
Phoenix, which has never won an NBA championship, tied the franchise record last season by winning 62 games with Richardson as an integral part of a 110-point-a-game offense. But the Suns ran into San Antonio in the Western Conference finals and couldn't handle the Spurs, winning just one game.
That didn't keep Thomas, a 10-year veteran, from saying he considers the Suns his best chance to earn a championship ring.
``Myself coming in, and all the other pieces that I think they're going to add in, I think it's going to be a big help to them,'' he said.
Thomas will be counted upon to take pressure off center Amare Stoudemire, who averaged 29.9 points in the playoffs, with 42 against Tim Duncan and the Spurs in the Game 5 loss. According to team president Bryan Colangelo, Stoudemire is counting on it.
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``We wanted to get tougher, have more of an inside presence, get someone that would complement the style of play and give a big assist to Amare Stoudemire, who called out Kurt Thomas' name -- I think about a month ago -- in terms of a trade target,'' Colangelo said.
The Suns hope to re-sign free agents Stephen Hunter and Joe Johnson. They have to work out a contract extension for Stoudemire and add some depth.
But Thomas, who was a teammate of point guard Steve Nash in Dallas for the 1997-98 season, is almost certain to qualify as this summer's big catch.
He averaged 11.5 points and a career-high 10.4 rebounds last season, giving the Suns (Nash and small forward Shawn Marion) three of the nine NBA players to average a double-double.
``There are a lot of questions how we're going to play, if it changes our style, and it doesn't,'' D'Antoni said. ``You know, we kind of characterized it as small ball, but it's actually skill ball, and he's a skilled player. I think with him we're faster.
``He can play at the side of Amare, and that means Shawn's out running and not taking the ball out like he did last year, and he's faster on the wing than probably anybody in the NBA.''
Thomas has improved steadily, averaging 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 400 games over the last five years after posting 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 227 games his first five. Often used at center by the Knicks, he can alternate with Stoudemire and Hunter inside, and the Suns are counting on his defensive ability even more than his offense.
``I just want to come in and do what I do,'' Thomas said. ``Play with a lot of intensity, play hard, defend, rebound and -- when the opportunity is there -- put it in the hole. I love to play defense; I don't like my guy to score on me.''
By MEL REISNER, AP Sports Writer
July 1, 2005
Photo
AP - Jul 1, 5:09 pm EDT
More Photos
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns introduced new forward Kurt Thomas on Friday and sent a message to fans who loved last season's up-tempo style -- the team got tougher, not slower.
``We don't want to lose what we had last year,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said. ``So parts of the game will have that, and parts of the game will have some other stuff. We'll see how it all plays out in October. But, I think the bottom line is we're a better team right now.''
The Suns acquired the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Thomas and shooting guard Dijon Thompson on Tuesday in a draft-night trade with New York. The Knicks received Quentin Richardson and Nate Robinson, taken by Phoenix with the 21st overall pick.
Phoenix, which has never won an NBA championship, tied the franchise record last season by winning 62 games with Richardson as an integral part of a 110-point-a-game offense. But the Suns ran into San Antonio in the Western Conference finals and couldn't handle the Spurs, winning just one game.
That didn't keep Thomas, a 10-year veteran, from saying he considers the Suns his best chance to earn a championship ring.
``Myself coming in, and all the other pieces that I think they're going to add in, I think it's going to be a big help to them,'' he said.
Thomas will be counted upon to take pressure off center Amare Stoudemire, who averaged 29.9 points in the playoffs, with 42 against Tim Duncan and the Spurs in the Game 5 loss. According to team president Bryan Colangelo, Stoudemire is counting on it.
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``We wanted to get tougher, have more of an inside presence, get someone that would complement the style of play and give a big assist to Amare Stoudemire, who called out Kurt Thomas' name -- I think about a month ago -- in terms of a trade target,'' Colangelo said.
The Suns hope to re-sign free agents Stephen Hunter and Joe Johnson. They have to work out a contract extension for Stoudemire and add some depth.
But Thomas, who was a teammate of point guard Steve Nash in Dallas for the 1997-98 season, is almost certain to qualify as this summer's big catch.
He averaged 11.5 points and a career-high 10.4 rebounds last season, giving the Suns (Nash and small forward Shawn Marion) three of the nine NBA players to average a double-double.
``There are a lot of questions how we're going to play, if it changes our style, and it doesn't,'' D'Antoni said. ``You know, we kind of characterized it as small ball, but it's actually skill ball, and he's a skilled player. I think with him we're faster.
``He can play at the side of Amare, and that means Shawn's out running and not taking the ball out like he did last year, and he's faster on the wing than probably anybody in the NBA.''
Thomas has improved steadily, averaging 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 400 games over the last five years after posting 8.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 227 games his first five. Often used at center by the Knicks, he can alternate with Stoudemire and Hunter inside, and the Suns are counting on his defensive ability even more than his offense.
``I just want to come in and do what I do,'' Thomas said. ``Play with a lot of intensity, play hard, defend, rebound and -- when the opportunity is there -- put it in the hole. I love to play defense; I don't like my guy to score on me.''