Phx-Suns.Net

Phoenix Suns Markieff Morris remains 'happy' camper

FLAGSTAFF – Markieff Morris smiles. He talks. He plays basketball.

Suns life with a disgruntled, trade-demanding player could not feel much more normal than it has since Morris joined his teammates Monday in Phoenix. As training camp began this week at Northern Arizona University, he tried to put the summer angst behind him.

On Monday, he said, “I want to be here.” The about-face sentiment remained Wednesday after practice.

Asked if he is happy with his Suns situation, Morris said: “Excited. Happy to be back. Happy to be with my team. I haven’t seen them all summer. We haven’t worked together all summer. I’m excited for the year and I’m excited to get started.”

Coaches and teammates said Morris has carried himself no differently than in the past.

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Suns roster bodes well for 'scrappy,' improved defense

FLAGSTAFF – Better defense should be on the bumper sticker of every training-camp bus and the lips of every coach in the NBA.

Every staff has to lean harder on that end in a league with a scorer’s mentality. Each team’s season starts with a decree that the defense will be emphasized and improved, even if it turns out to be hollow words for many.

The Suns have something tangible for their optimism – defensive personnel.

Eric Bledsoe, in the best shape of his career, is a ball-hawker with the mix of speed and strength to get over screens, pressure the ball and pounce into passing lanes. Bledsoe has never had a better backcourt defensive partner in Phoenix than Brandon Knight, giving the Suns a chance to start defense the right way at the top of the season and the top of the unit.

P.J. Tucker, also in better shape than a year ago, is wired for unrelenting defense and now does not have to captain it from the wing because Tyson Chandler, an elite defender, is aboard to anchor the Suns’ back line, calling out responsibilities and cleaning up mistakes.

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Suns roster bodes well for 'scrappy,' improved defense

The most open competitions are at backup shooting guard and backup power forward but Friday’s peek into a part of scrimmage gave a hint that second-year small forward T.J. Warren is being considered to start instead of P.J. Tucker.

Warren closed the Friday practice on a team with expected starters Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Markieff Morris and Tyson Chandler, although Suns coach Jeff Hornacek brushed off the lineup significance by noting how it is just one of many looks the Suns take on during preseason practices.

Danimal wrote:Is it just me or has this been one of quietest training camps ever in terms of articles. Usually there even seems to be a whole bunch of fluff articles on camps invitees but it seems so quiet this year

Gladiator wrote:http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /73247572/

Some chatter that Warren could start at SF.

The most open competitions are at backup shooting guard and backup power forward but Friday’s peek into a part of scrimmage gave a hint that second-year small forward T.J. Warren is being considered to start instead of P.J. Tucker.

Warren closed the Friday practice on a team with expected starters Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Markieff Morris and Tyson Chandler, although Suns coach Jeff Hornacek brushed off the lineup significance by noting how it is just one of many looks the Suns take on during preseason practices.

iLLmatic wrote:

Danimal wrote:Is it just me or has this been one of quietest training camps ever in terms of articles. Usually there even seems to be a whole bunch of fluff articles on camps invitees but it seems so quiet this year

Seems like it to me, but I don't really like the Suns official website. I don't think they do a great job of covering the team, unlike the Arizona Cardinals site for example. During training camp for the Arizona Cardinals they would show highlights of training camp for the day to at least keep fans engaged, I don't know what it is but it seems since Sarver took over the reigns of this team it has been way more closed off. Didn't they use to show highlights from draft workouts for example?

Phoenix Suns 2015-16 Big Man Preview: Size Matters

Although the Phoenix Suns are commonly thought of as one of the pioneers of small-ball in the NBA, the Suns also recognize the importance of having big bodies down low to man the post on defense, and provide both scoring and second-chance points of offense.

In 2013, Phoenix attempted to address this need by taking Alex Len with the 5th pick in the NBA draft who they saw as a project, but who had the potential to eventually become one of the better pure centers in the league. At the time, Len was a 19 year old, 7'1" prospect with a great frame, outstanding agility for a big man, and a very high ceiling.

Fast forward two seasons later, and the Suns still have yet to see their gamble on Len pay off. His development so far has been stunted by ankle issues (which Phoenix was prepared for), and injuries to his pinkie (which they were not).

Because of this, Len had an up and down year last season, which was also his first as a starter. Although Len has yet to prove that he can remain healthy all season and eventually become the quality player that Phoenix envisioned when they originally drafted him, at only 22 years old, there is still a lot of optimism that he will become the franchise big-man of the future.

But the Suns aren't sitting by idly and merely hoping this is the case. This off-season, they hedged their bet for this year while at the same time ensuring that their original gamble has the best chance possible of eventually paying off.

Enter Tyson Chandler.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/ ... ze-matters

Markieff Morris was a professional at Media Day but more will be needed to win over fans

is summer, Phoenix was struck by a rare phenomenon — twin hurricanes. And while the storms went unnamed by the World Meteorological Organization, those in Phoenix and following around the world knew their names well: Marcus and Markieff Morris.

The damage they wrought — even after they split apart — was well-documented, and all indications suggested that the lingering storm, Hurricane Markieff, would douse the positive vibes at Suns Media Day.

But when Sept. 28 rolled around, there was Markieff, decked out in his Suns jersey, addressing the gathered media without a hint of the dire predictions for the date. He answered (most of) the questions posed to him, spoke glowingly about his teammates and coach, and even cracked a smile through his Harden-esque beard. This all came after he uttered five words few expected to hear going into the day: "I want to be here."

Morris did not do individual interviews that day and seemed to participate in the bare minimum of what was required of him, but he did conduct himself professionally. This turn of events leads one to wonder if the Suns have indeed weathered the storm as coach Jeff Hornacek and others predicted would happen. His teammates, for one, seem to believe the events of this summer were much ado about nothing.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2015/ ... w-attitude

Phoenix Suns have position battles to settle

FLAGSTAFF – The competitive nature of this training camp goes beyond the intensity of scrimmages that feature a raucous soundtrack of bluster from P.J. Tucker and Tyson Chandler.

The Suns are at work to be a better team. To that end, some players are in battles to show they are better for their position with the team.

The most open competitions are at backup shooting guard and backup power forward but Friday’s peek into a part of scrimmage gave a hint that second-year small forward T.J. Warren is being considered to start instead of P.J. Tucker.

Warren closed the Friday practice on a team with expected starters Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Markieff Morris and Tyson Chandler, although Suns coach Jeff Hornacek brushed off the lineup significance by noting how it is just one of many looks the Suns take on during preseason practices.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/n ... /73247572/

Superbone wrote:Wish I was in town for the Suns' scrimmage tomorrow night in the ol' Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Starts at 6. Anybody know if it'll be streamed this year?

Indy wrote:

Superbone wrote:Wish I was in town for the Suns' scrimmage tomorrow night in the ol' Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Starts at 6. Anybody know if it'll be streamed this year?

Want me to periscope the whole thing?