Raja Bell excited for new season

Many sides of Raja Bell have been on display in his first two years with the Suns. The most common face is the fun-loving, harmonious Bell — singing in the locker room, poking fun at teammates or simply entertaining himself with a joke or impression.

Read Jerry Brown's blog, Rim Shots

Fans have also seen the intense Raja, spanning the gamut from his battles with Kobe Bryant to his clutch playoff 3-pointers.

It reveals his burning desire to win, to prove himself, to see how far he can push an NBA career that at one point appeared as if it might never happen. Usually leading in a positive direction, at times it has driven him over the edge.

But during last year’s Western Conference semifinal series loss to San Antonio, a different Bell, an exasperated Bell, was seen. The NBA’s regular season co-leader in 3-pointers made, Bell was constantly shadowed and cornered by a Spurs defense determined to choke off options for running mate Steve Nash.

Reduced to a decoy on the offensive end, Bell never found a groove on either end. His frustrations led to negative energy. Normally open and affable with the media, he had all but stopped talking to the press by Game 3.

As the series slipped away, the tension mounted.

“I thought it was just too easy for the Spurs to take things away from us, things that we’d counted on all year,” Bell said. “It wasn’t an issue with the offense. It wasn’t that I felt left out … I was just in a bit of a lull, and what they did made it hard to get out of it.

“If teams take me out of the offense and we win by 20 points — hey, no problem, we usually have plenty of other things clicking. But on the nights we’re getting beat, especially in that situation, I’m going to be frustrated because I want to do more.”

Also bothered by a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery over the summer, Bell has returned for 2007-08 — which kicks off tonight with the preseason opener in Sacramento — with a renewed energy.

Bell is excited that with Grant Hill in the starting lineup, the Suns have upgraded their talent, skill and basketball IQ.

“I think we addressed a need and brought in a piece we might have been missing,” he said.

“First there is Grant the person and the professional. Then you add another guy who can slash, create off the dribble and make plays to set up other people. To add a player like that to this group as a free agent was a major acquisition.”

Bell is also pleased that the offense will feature a mixture of the styles the Suns have run the last two years — one with Amaré Stoudemire, one without — might help counteract the extra attention some teams pay to the perimeter shooters.

“I have complete faith in what Mike (D’Antoni) and the other (coaches) do with the offense, and that we can counteract some things,” Bell said. “We’re making adjustments that will work against certain teams. It will help get me out of the corners a bit and get some chances running around the court.

“But there are also nights when I’ll get face-guarded by Kobe or (Bruce) Bowen and I’ll trust that our four guys are better than their four guys. And when you look at our lineup, I like our chances.”

The 31-year-old Bell played nearly 6,000 minutes over the past two seasons — only Shawn Marion played more among Suns.

And while shaving a few minutes a night off his workload might make sense over the long NBA season, Bell knows himself too well to say he’s a proponent of more rest.

“I can say today, in camp, that it would be good to sit another two or three minutes a night. That’s easy,” he said.

“But sitting on that bench itching to go and looking down at Mike … I’m not great at waiting my turn sometimes.”

Suns at Kings

What: NBA preseason opener for Phoenix

When: 7 p.m. today

Where: Arco Arena, Sacramento