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 Posted: Tue 19:10, 27 Aug 2013 Post subject: Warrick not trying to fill Stoudemire's shoes |
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Warrick not trying to fill Stoudemire's shoes
When the Suns signed free-agent forward Hakim Warrick to a four-year deal this summer,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the first thing coach Alvin Gentry did was to call Warrick and talk about Amare Stoudemire,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], who had earlier departed to the Knicks as a free agent. Stoudemire is a perennial All-Star power forward. Warrick, meanwhile,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], has been with three teams in five years and has come off the bench for more than three-quarters of his NBA games. What worried Gentry was the notion that Warrick would feel the need to do a Stoudemire impression.
"I didn't want him coming in and thinking he needed to be Amare," Gentry told Sporting News. "Amare is a unique player and no one guy is going to fill his shoes. I wanted Hakim to understand that we just want him to do what he does and not worry about trying to be someone else."
For Warrick,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the message was well-received. "That is something I know coming in," Warrick told Sporting News. "I know just because the way it happened, because I signed right after Amare left that there are some people who might make that comparison. But I know I am not coming here to replace Amare. He is an All-NBA,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], All-Star player,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but it is going to be a team effort in terms of making up for his loss."
Coming into the season,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Gentry is planning on tinkering with a number of different lineups. The Suns have a deep bench,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but other than Channing Frye and Robin Lopez,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], they're lacking in big men. Warrick will be the team's primary power forward,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but Hedo Turkoglu-who handles the ball and is a traditional wing player-will see time at the spot,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], too. The Suns had success with smaller lineup last season,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and they will continue that this year.
Still, how the Suns manage the power forward position will depend on Warrick's performance. Over the course of his career, he has averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds as a starter,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but has been consistently put into a reserve role, mostly because of his up-and-down defensive play. His role fluctuated in Memphis,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], with five coaches in four seasons, and Warrick thought he would be getting a new start when he signed with Milwaukee last year. But he struggled to get a footing, was shipped to the Bulls and finished with averages of 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, his lowest production since his rookie year.
"It was a hard transition," Warrick said of last year. "I think in Milwaukee,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], I started out the gate, I struggled a little. Then as I got things rolling and I was playing better, the trade came. In Chicago,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], it was tough. The rotations were not set, they were trying to figure out what they had. I was playing, then not playing, then playing again. Not having a set role,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], it was kind of tough. I just tried to stay professional,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], ready to play."
In Phoenix, Warrick has been assured that his role won't be an issue-which was a big factor in choosing to sign with the Suns. With the various coaching changes, role changes and team changes, his career hasn't been quite what he envisioned,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but Phoenix offers a fresh start and, perhaps, a chance to finally show what he can do.
"I am looking forward to it," Warrick said. "They came in and gave me a long term deal and told me just how they want to use me. To play in an up-tempo system and to play with a point guard like Steve Nash,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], I think that is going to only help me get the most out of my ability."
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