Suns notebook: Barkley urges All-Star game at Chase Field

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -  Ex-Sun and TNT analyst Charles Barkley was a huge fan of the Denver-Phoenix outdoor preseason game, but thinks the NBA didn't go far enough with the idea.

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Barkley said February's 58th All-Star Game in Phoenix should be played across the street from US Airways Center at Chase Field - where up to 50,000 fans could watch the spectacle game and the roof could be open if the weather permitted.

"I suggested it last year when they were trying to come up with ways to spice up the All-Star Game," Barkley said. "I had just watched the (Buffalo-Pittsburgh) NHL outdoor game, and to me it's a perfect fit and Phoenix is the perfect place.

"It would be outside, and with the added seats, real fans could actually go to the game. Imagine that! It's supposed to be a celebration for the fans, but fans don't get to go," Barkley said.

An ardent critic of the Suns' lack of defensive attention under Mike D'Antoni, Barkley applauded the hiring of Terry Porter but said the move may have come too late for the core of the team.

"They kind of squandered the last few years by not playing any defense," he said. "Steve (Nash) and Shaquille (O'Neal) are clearly older, and it's a young man's game. You just hope it's not too late for their veteran guys. They had a legit chance to win, but defense and rebounding win out. Terry brings the right message ... but his players might not be able to hold up."

GLASS MENAGERIE

As the hosts for the weekend, the Suns had more than 100 staffers in Indian Wells and filled up 400 hotel rooms in the area. The rented video boards, scorers tables, a sound system and brought 250 courtside seats from US Airways Center for the game.

"It's been quite an undertaking, but it's also been very energizing for the organization to do something so out of the norm," Suns president Rick Welts said. "It's been a labor of love."

The Suns also brought three basketball goals - the third being the spare required by the league for every game. And it was needed when one of the backboards curiously shattered Friday afternoon.

The spare was hustled into place in time for the Suns shootaround Friday, and the Suns brought in two more spares as a precaution.

"It wasn't the (outdoor) heat, because it's made from tempered glass and can withstand 500-degree temperatures," Welts said. "What happened? We can't figure it out."

WEATHER OR NOT

When Suns assistant coach Alvin Gentry came out for warmups, the sun had dipped behind the grandstands and, in a mock shiver, he shouted, "It's gonna be a nippy one out here tonight!"

But that's better than the alternative.

It was still over 100 degrees in the Indian Wells/Palm Springs area until earlier this week, when a cold front finally sent summer packing. It was a 68 degrees at tip-off with the wind out of the northwest at nine miles an hour.

Several player complained of dry hands during warmups and just before the tip-off, Raja Bell was already blowing into his cupped hands for warmth.

"I'll take a little bit of cold instead of the heat," Suns guard Goran Dragic said. "When it's cold, you can keep warm. But 100 degrees ... you're in trouble."

BONUS SHOTS

On Friday night, the Suns players and staff were the guest of ownership partner and business mogul Dick Heckmann at his sprawling Rancho Mirage estate. His wife, Wendy, sang the national anthem.

The outdoor game was quite a draw, and it somewhat shrouded the fact that several star players were missing. The Suns are still without Amaré Stoudemire (conditioning) and Leandro Barbosa (family illness), while Allen Iverson (knee contusion) didn't make the trip and Carmelo Anthony (finger contusion) sat out for the second straight game.