By RANDY HILL
FOXSportsArizona.com
Dec. 21, 2010
PHOENIX -- They won the news conference in a rout.
With Vince Carter as the engaging and gracious ringleader, three brand-new Phoenix Suns dominated Monday afternoon's media pep rally at U.S. Airways Center.
Marcin Gortat, no longer limited as understudy to the best center in the NBA, seemed thrilled to be out of Orlando and ready to suit up in Phoenix.
"Finally stepping out of the shadow is a huge, monster opportunity," Gortat said of no longer being duty bound to provide a few moments of R&R for Dwight Howard.
Swingman Mickael Pietrus, insisting his balky knee would not be an issue, threatened to dance the "Dougie" (think John Wall) after Thursday's big date with the Miami Heat.
Carter, registered here as only the third-oldest player on the roster, insisted he was prepared to take longevity clues from 38-year-old teammate Grant Hill.
"I'm drinkin' whatever he's drinkin'," Carter, 33, said.
Aside from a regret here and there regarding the loss of leading scorer Jason Richardson, most citizens who make it their business to track the Suns' movements have been drinking the Kool-Aid. And why not? The guys now in charge of running what has been a .500 team thought enough of attempting to improve that they went out and made a bold transaction with the Orlando Magic.
There is future cap relief, a big guy who seems willing to mix it up and run, a defensive-oriented perimeter player with a proven shooting touch, and the potential for a huge, expiring contract with Carter. It's reasonable to believe the Suns could be better now and prepared for a quick reload in the near future.
The objective of winning, Carter said, is what makes coming to Phoenix so attractive.
"It's a habit," he said. "That's what's expected here."
But we expected him and the other Magic imports to give this deal some positive backspin.
What we could use is a little perspective from someone employed by another team to watch all of the other teams and report back. Our call to duty has been answered by a scout who works for an Eastern Conference franchise.
"Well, it looks like they (Suns) are trying to change the culture," the scout said. "I suppose they look at this as making them tougher. But I think that's kind of interesting. The (San Antonio) Spurs are pretty tough, right?"
We'll answer that one in the affirmative.
"The Suns swept the Spurs a few months ago," the scout pointed out. "Swept them. Does that means the Spurs weren't tough last spring, but are now? Has that much changed in terms of what people say is toughness?
"Look, this team (Suns) and that system was really close to reaching the Finals two or three times, including last year. Those were great teams Phoenix had. And the reason they didn't win championships had nothing to do with toughness. They had (Steve) Nash with his nose split, Joe Johnson got hurt one year and then a couple of guys got up off the bench and suspended when Nash got body-blocked into the scorer's table. So . . . the Suns have had tough players. They just took a big step back defensively, for whatever reason, this year."
OK, now that we know our scout isn't bashful about expressing an opinion, let's take a look at the basketball specifics of the new Suns.
MARCIN GORTAT, CENTER
Defining news conference moment: "Trust me, for me practice was tougher than the games."
Yeah, working against Howard had the built-in benefit of providing quality competition (and elbows) for the purpose of improving. It also meant the improvement would be demonstrated in modest, game-night increments.
"It's tough, because after five or six minutes, no matter how well you're playing, it's time for you to go to the bench," Gortat said.
When he did play this season, the "Polish Hammer" was giving Orlando four points and 4.7 rebounds in about 16 minutes per game.
Although he acknowledged the starting center gig would be a competition with incumbent Robin Lopez, Gortat envisions this as his opportunity to break through and demonstrate just how much he's improved. Many of those who see him as the key to the trade believe the 26-year-old Gortat can become just a notch below elite.
"I don't see it," our scout said. "He's just very limited in what he can do offensively. Like the Suns, Orlando uses a lot of high ball screen. And if you watched when Gortat was in, he really didn't draw much of the defense into the lane with him when he rolled because they weren't concerned with him as a scorer.
"But he can really run, and he's strong for his size (6-foot-11, 240 pounds), but he doesn't have the bulk to really lean on the really big centers," said the scout, who believes Lopez, 22, has more long-term potential.
MICKAEL PIETRUS, SWINGMAN
Defining news conference moment: "My goal is to win . . . now," the player formerly known as "Air France" said. "To me, the best fun is to be in at the end of the game and win."
Pietrus has the strongest reputation for defense among players in the Suns' still-overloaded wing corps. At 6-6, 215, the 28-year-old Pietrus (when fully healthy) provides strength and lateral quickness as an on-ball defender. On offense, he runs and finishes with some power and has the ability to spot up and hit big shots.
"He gives them someone who's proven he can play big in big games, including the playoffs," our scout said of Pietrus. "He can guard shooting guards and small forwards. . . . before getting him, they had to use (Jared) Dudley to defend twos with that second group and Dudley, even though he plays really hard, doesn't have that quick lateral burst.
"So, Pietrus makes them more versatile on defense. On offense, he should fit in as a stand-still shooter off dribble penetration. Just don't look for him to put the ball on the floor and create anything."
OK, we won't.
VINCE CARTER, SWINGMAN
Defining news conference moment: "I just want to bring Vince Carter," Vince Carter said of being in Phoenix.
OK, so one third-person moment doesn't mean Carter's days as a Suns player will be underscored by selfish play that
