PHOENIX -- Grant Hill was the center of attention Friday at US Airways Center, having agreed to re-sign for a fifth season with the Phoenix Suns, but the two newest Suns were quietly starting to get comfortable with their new teammates.
With the free agent additions of Shannon Brown and Sebastian Telfair, the Suns bolstered their defense and added speed to a system that requires it.
Brown and Telfair both arrived in Phoenix on Thursday and worked out with Suns teammates for the first time Friday. Shortly after the lockout officially ended at noon MST, Suns coach Alvin Gentry praised both players' defensive ability.
"Both of those guys bring a little bit of a defensive presence that can help us as we try to transition into consistently being solid defensively," Gentry said.
Considering the Suns' track record as a subpar defensive team, it's no surprise they made defense a priority in their free agent pursuits. Last season, the Suns allowed more points per game on average than all but one team (Minnesota).
Having played the past two seasons for Los Angeles Lakers, Brown knows the Suns well, particularly what they must accomplish to contend for a spot in the playoffs.
"Of course we know we can score points, but if we can play a little defense and get some stops I think we scare a lot of people," Brown said Friday. "We have a chance to go a long, long way."
Gentry said he sees Brown matching up with the likes of Paul Pierce and Dwyane Wade. Telfair is closer to average as a defender, but Gentry noted the Telfair's particular aptitude for on-the-ball defense.
More than their defensive abilities though, Brown and Telfair were recruited for their youth and athleticism. Both are 26 years old and can play an up-tempo game. The Suns knew that, and so did both players.
"The style fits how I do it," Brown said. "I like to get up and down, I like to run, I like to shoot."
Telfair, who agreed to a one-year contract with the Suns, echoed that sentiment and went so far as to call Phoenix the "perfect situation" for him right now.
"This team is an up-and-down team," Telfair said. "That's the way I've been asking to play my entire career and I'm going to get a perfect opportunity to do that right now."
Telfair's ability to play the Suns' fast-paced style will be particularly important, as he'll likely back up Steve Nash at point guard. Gentry said Telfair and Zabian Dowdell, whose contract is not guaranteed, will compete in training camp for the spot, though Telfair seems a clear favorite.
Now on his sixth team in eight NBA seasons, Telfair has been a bit of a journeyman even at 26. A lottery pick out of high school in 2004, Telfair has bounced around the league in trades. His best season so far came with the Timberwolves in 2008-2009, when he averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. For his career, Telfair has averaged 7.8 points and 3.8 assists per game.
"I've liked Sebastian since he came into the league," Gentry said. "He had this reputation of what he should have been, and because he wasn't a LeBron James type everybody has a tendency to kind of look at him a little bit as a failure. I don't look at that at all. I think he's been a good solid player in this league.
"I think in a system like ours he'll be able to thrive."
Telfair said the Suns were at the top of his list when free agency began, but he didn't know they would be interested in him. It didn't take much to convince him to choose Phoenix over other offers, and he believes this to be the best opportunity he's had so far in the NBA.
"I knew if I got an opportunity to come here this would be where I'd go," Telfair said. "If I can't be successful here, I don't really know what to do with myself."
Much like Telfair, Brown has been somewhat of a journeyman despite his youth. Prior to joining the Suns, Brown's career featured three D-League stints and stops with four NBA teams. Brown declined a reported 2.4 million option with the Lakers after the best two seasons of his career to join the Suns on a one-year contract reportedly worth 3.5 million. Last season, Brown averaged 8.7 points per game, a career high.
Brown could use his opportunity in Phoenix -- where he'll compete with former Charlotte teammate Jared Dudley for the starting shooting guard spot -- to further elevate his career while no longer backing up Kobe Bryant. The Suns' offensive style, less restrictive than the triangle utilized in Los Angeles, should help as well.
"This benefits my style of play," Brown said. "I think if I get out there and I'm able to play a lot of minutes, good things are going to happen."
Among other things, Brown was particularly drawn to the Suns for the chance to play with Nash. The Suns used Nash's tendency to make the players around him better as a key selling point in recruiting Brown. After their first workout together, Brown was impressed with Nash in a whole new way.
"He's one of the best guys to ever do it as far as giving the ball up," Brown said. "The way he finds people and the way he gets them ball, it's like not only does he trick the opponent, but he tricks his teammates too."
The Suns haven't made any glamorous additions this offseason like many fans would like to see, nor have they change all that much. But in Brown and Telfair they addressed weaknesses of the 2010-2011 team that missed the playoffs while also creating flexibility for the 2012 offseason when they'll be face with Nash's free agency.
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Saturday, December 10, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Redknapp has a pop at FA chiefs
Rooney's suspension for next summer's tournament was cut from three matches to two at a UEFA hearing in Switzerland on Thursday. Redknapp thinks the FA's stance is hypocritical as he is sure that had the Manchester United player lashed out in a similar manner to his kick at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic in a domestic game, the 26-year-old would be suspended for three matches and an appeal might have brought even more. Redknapp, the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss, said: "In all honesty it was a three-match ban for violent conduct. "You can look at it and say it wasn't that violent, but it doesn't matter. If you cuff someone, you get a three-match ban. Those are the rules. "If you appealed it (domestically), it would be a frivolous appeal and you would probably get four games if you went to the FA." They are similar comments to those expressed by Liverpool boss Dalglish yesterday, and Redknapp now expects the FA to be besieged with appeals for domestic red cards. "For them to get it from three to two, it opens up a can of worms," he said. "There will be clubs appealing against bans and they will want to know why they aren't getting it cut from three to two for similar situations. "People will look at it and think, 'Hang on, the FA have gone and appealed against his (Rooney's) red, why can't we?' "From England's point of view, I'm pleased to see him get two because he's that important to England, but in all honesty, the rules are supposed to be the rules and they have not been adhered to in this situation." So, once again, the FA find themselves on the back foot. Yesterday, they attempted to clarify their own position and have done the same again today. Essentially, there is a significant difference in the manner in which UEFA and the FA deal with discipline. Whereas UEFA prefer to offer guidance to their disciplinary body, and a sliding scale of punishments, the FA lays down set sanctions, partly due to the time constraints brought about by the huge number of games they must govern. Had the Rooney incident occurred in a domestic game, he would have known instantly he faced a three-game ban for violent conduct. However, such are UEFA's rules that when he was shown the red card in Podgorica, Rooney was left facing a minimum one-match suspension, with the likelihood that it would be increased to two or three. As this punishment did not cover friendlies, and as England had avoided the Euro 2012 play-offs, the first match affected was the Three Lions' opening group game against France in Donetsk on June 11. Under such circumstances, the FA, whose twin functions are administering disciplinary matters and running the England team, felt they were duty-bound to try to reduce the suspension Rooney faced. They succeeded in that aim yesterday, partly because Capello admitted he made a mistake not taking Rooney, who had suffered off-field problems involving his father and uncle, off at half-time. "It is important that people understand that amongst the many duties of the FA we have responsibility for the England team and also, separately, to oversee the domestic game's regulatory function," said FA chairman David Bernstein. "Our philosophy for the national team is clear. We will run this along the same lines and with the same focus and commitment as any football club in this country. Our fans would expect no less. "To achieve this we will fully support our manager and our players. "This is simply what we have sought to achieve in reducing Wayne Rooney's suspension. I am very pleased that we have been successful in this appeal. "The FAs disciplinary department has stated, from the outset, that the domestic regulatory process is different to that of UEFA's. "In the case of Wayne Rooney we have been well and independently advised and have followed proper UEFA process throughout. "Our management and players respect that domestic disciplinary decisions of he FA are made independently of matters relating to the English national team." At least Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is happy. "It is no problem for me," said the Scot, countering suggestions that he was not interested in the well-being of England's national team. "I am pleased for Wayne Rooney and England. It does give them a better chance."
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/redknapp_has_a_pop_at_fa_chiefs/8627458
Poor Pete Sampras Still Trying To Sell Home For $20MM
How does Pete Sampras make his way onto Busted Coverage besides having a cute wife and the rare U.S. Open appearance? This house. This 16,000 sq. ft. house sitting on top of a mountain in Thousand Oaks, Califoria. This $20,000,000 contemporary masterpiece. For some reason, Pete is unloading it after having it built in 2009 for $25mm. You know how we know Sampras has brass balls? Because he?s willing to lose $5mm on a real estate deal.
Via the realtor:
Custom Contemporary Masterpiece In Prestigious Guard Gated Lake Sherwood THE absolute premier custom estate in guard gated Lake Sherwood! Celebrity owned new contemporary masterpiece on a majestic 20 acre lot boasting unobstructed 360 degree views with complete privacy.
jQuery(function($){$("a img.gallery-wall-fade").hover(function(){$(this).stop().animate({opacity:.5},{queue:false,duration:400});},function(){$(this).stop().animate({opacity:1},{queue:false,duration:400});});});
Um, no offense to the realtor, but we...
Via the realtor:
Custom Contemporary Masterpiece In Prestigious Guard Gated Lake Sherwood THE absolute premier custom estate in guard gated Lake Sherwood! Celebrity owned new contemporary masterpiece on a majestic 20 acre lot boasting unobstructed 360 degree views with complete privacy.
jQuery(function($){$("a img.gallery-wall-fade").hover(function(){$(this).stop().animate({opacity:.5},{queue:false,duration:400});},function(){$(this).stop().animate({opacity:1},{queue:false,duration:400});});});
Um, no offense to the realtor, but we...
Angels add veteran reliever Hawkins
Dallas, TX The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran right-handed reliever LaTroy Hawkins.
The 38-year-old Hawkins appeared in 52 games last season for the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers and was 3-1 with a 2.42 earned run average. In 48 13 innings, he allowed 50 hits and only 10 walks with 28 strikeouts.
Hawkins gives the Angels more of a veteran presence in the bullpen, where he will be called upon to help mentor young closer Jordan Walden.
Over 17 seasons in the majors, he has posted a 63-85 record with 87 saves and a 4.48 ERA in 823 games, which has included 98 starts. He played his first nine seasons in Minnesota and has also had stints with the Cubs, Giants, Rockies, Orioles, Astros and Yankees.
The 38-year-old Hawkins appeared in 52 games last season for the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers and was 3-1 with a 2.42 earned run average. In 48 13 innings, he allowed 50 hits and only 10 walks with 28 strikeouts.
Hawkins gives the Angels more of a veteran presence in the bullpen, where he will be called upon to help mentor young closer Jordan Walden.
Over 17 seasons in the majors, he has posted a 63-85 record with 87 saves and a 4.48 ERA in 823 games, which has included 98 starts. He played his first nine seasons in Minnesota and has also had stints with the Cubs, Giants, Rockies, Orioles, Astros and Yankees.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/angels_add_veteran_reliever_hawkins/8615134
NFL Playoff Projections: San Francisco 49ers and Teams to Be Wary of
The 2011 NFL regular season is coming down the home stretch. Thus, it's time to look at which teams will be making the NFL Playoffs, on the road to Super Bowl XLVI.
Some teams, like the Green Bay Packers or New England Patriots, are obvious powerhouses and potential playoff threats. However, there are many great teams being overlooked.
Here are unlikely teams that can do damage in the 2012 NFL Playoffs.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Arizona State Pulls Offer To June Jones After He Accepts
SMU coach June Jones had accepted an offer to become the head football coach at Arizona State and some minor details were still being worked out. The deal was all but done. Then his representatives received a call earlier today saying that the offer had been pulled.
Jones? camp has said that Arizona State?s explanation was that it took too long and the school?s president had decided to move on. A source said, ?We had accepted the deal. I?ve never seen anything like this.?
Early on Wednesday the school let it leak that Jones would be announced as the new coach, now SMU president R. Gerald Turner has told The Dallas Morning News that he will be the Mustangs? coach in 2012.
The Sun Devils have now started and ended talks with Houston?s Kevin Sumlin and agreed to a deal with and pulled it from Jones.
Under Jones, SMU finished 7-5 this year while going 5-3 in Conference USA. Apparently he was all set to head west and take over an Arizona State program that Dennis Erickson couldn?t turn ...
Jones? camp has said that Arizona State?s explanation was that it took too long and the school?s president had decided to move on. A source said, ?We had accepted the deal. I?ve never seen anything like this.?
Early on Wednesday the school let it leak that Jones would be announced as the new coach, now SMU president R. Gerald Turner has told The Dallas Morning News that he will be the Mustangs? coach in 2012.
The Sun Devils have now started and ended talks with Houston?s Kevin Sumlin and agreed to a deal with and pulled it from Jones.
Under Jones, SMU finished 7-5 this year while going 5-3 in Conference USA. Apparently he was all set to head west and take over an Arizona State program that Dennis Erickson couldn?t turn ...
CUP: Busch Out At Penske
Controversy has dodged Kurt Busch throughout his career...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/cup_busch_out_at_penske/8514619
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