Hardaway: Old Suns team didn't buy into D'Antoni's system

BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF CORRESPONDENT

February 6, 2005


PHOENIX - Penny Hardaway and Stephon Marbury departed Phoenix 13 months ago when they were traded to the Knicks. They returned to America West Arena last night to find a vastly different Suns team that leads the NBA with 109 points per game and now ranks as a legitimate title contender with its fast-paced style.

Asked last night if he's shocked by the turnaround, Hardaway said Suns coach Mike D'Antoni wasn't able to sell his European-style offense to his players last season, but that changed when Phoenix added point guard Steve Nash and small forward Quentin Richardson as free agents, using the salary-cap space created by the Marbury trade.

"Coach D'Antoni is a great coach," Hardaway said. "He tried to have us buy into this system when we were here, and we really didn't. There was so much turmoil going on. Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson came in and had the type of game Coach wanted. That's up and down, push the ball, kick it ahead and it doesn't matter who shoots or who scores ... We had enough on the team to get it done, but we just didn't buy into the system."

Hardaway was upset in Phoenix because his playing time was reduced to make way for younger players. Marbury was in the middle of the turmoil that enveloped the Suns.

"It was like guys talking behind each other's backs, guys being selfish, everybody was trying to get their own," Hardaway said. "That leads to trades, and that broke the team up. It doesn't seem like they have any of that going on right now."

so lets recap:
Penny doesnt buy into a coaches system (translation, I'm doing it my way) but other guys are selfish.

Penny and Marbury go bye bye and people buy into the system and have the league's best record.

Hmmm...

was Penny saying that Marb didn't buy into the system?

i'm still predicting a crash for this Suns team in the playoffs. Frankly I'm rooting for it too.

the Suns have an exciting style thats always won games and has never produced long post season runs. I do think they can and will advance. They would do very well to move Marion for a real center, even if he's got less talent. The perfect guy would be Brad Miller, but I cant believe he would be on the block. Another decent option would be Eddie Curry or Big Z. Thing w/ Pho is they have the pieces in place to make such a deal.