Suns notebook: Defense shines in low-scoring scrimmage

TUCSON - Last October, the run-and-gun Suns wound down Mike D'Antoni's final training camp here with the annual Orange-and-White scrimmage.

Suns Stoudemire out 2 weeks with eye injury

In typical fashion, the Suns put up 188 points in just 40 minutes and the White team prevailed in a 97-91 track meet.

Friday, Terry Porter's initial Tucson boot camp ended with a scrimmage that went 48 minutes (with no clock stoppages).

Final score: Orange 59, White 57. Any comments?

"Please let everyone know that it was running time," Suns GM Steve Kerr said, joking.

The Suns were not only pressed for time, they were missing two of their more potent offensive cogs in Amaré Stoudemire (eye injury) and Leandro Barbosa (family illness). And after three hard days of training camp that tested Tucson's ready supply of ice, there were some tired legs on the court.

"My feet feel like they are stones," rookie guard Goran Dragic said. "We have worked hard."

But a scrimmage that had almost as many fouls (34) as baskets (43) also left no bones about what Porter has stressed from the first whistle.

These Suns will defend, and they will have a set offense they can rely on.

"We've accomplished what we wanted to from a conditioning standpoint and guys getting a sense of what the offensive and defensive philosophy is about and how we want to play this year. I think we were pretty good on defense and we saw more execution on offense."

Alando Tucker led the White team - and all scorers - with 22 points, while Matt Barnes capped off a strong camp with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Grant Hill led the winners with 17 points - nine of them late, when his team rallied to win - and Raja Bell added 11.

TUCKER, DRAGIC IMPRESS

It was a tough week physically for Tucker, who jammed his thumb on Tuesday night and endured cramps in both legs Wednesday. But with fans in the seats and the lights turned up Friday, the second-year player from Wisconsin hit 8 of his 12 shots from the floor and enjoyed the benefits of playing the two-guard spot next to Steve Nash.

"My calves are still pretty sore, but it was time to play," Tucker said. "I talked to Grant (Hill) and he was talking about how when the fans are there, he loves it. I feel the same way. That's always been me."

But if he's going to get minutes at shooting guard, Tucker knows improved defense is his ticket.

"We have too many people who can score," he said. "Coach Porter said we have the type of guys that if you toss the ball on the court, we don't even have to run plays. Our main focus is defense, and defense is what's going to get me on the court."

Dragic dished out nine assists and looked comfortable in the open court, where he made his best passes. He also had five turnovers and committed six fouls, and his ability to run set plays is still spotty, but Porter is confident that it will come with time.

BONUS SHOTS

The Suns combined to miss 16 of their 39 free throws (making 59 percent).

Reserve big man Louis Amundson led all rebounders with 10 (six on the offensive glass) and scored nine points, although he needed 11 shots to get there.

Even with moving to Friday night and starting early (5 p.m.), the Suns drew about 5,000 fans to the scrimmage.

Porter continues to point out the play of Barnes. His shot finally cooled off Friday (5-for-15), but he played every minute of the scrimmage and typifies the kind of defensive effort Porter is looking for.

"I don't want to say anyone was the MVP (of camp), but Matt has really been solid," he said. "He's shot the ball well and I was pleased to see him fit in and grasp things quickly."