The Phoenix Suns only scored one basket in the final five minutes of their loss to the Sacramento Kings on the Sunday night. The shots they did get were open looks, but they were all jump shots and according to Coach Alvin Gentry, that's not a good thing. He needs a player that he can give the ball to late in the game who will attack the rim and potentially get to the foul line.
↵"We have to have someone we can throw the ball to in the post area that we can count on either getting us a basket or getting to the foul line," Gentry said.
↵The Suns had one of those guys, but he's now playing in New York. Jason Richardson and/or Hedo Turkoglu were supposed to take over that role, but they are now playing in Orlando. That leaves Vince Carter and Grant Hill and, right now, they aren't getting it done.
↵"I'm talking about a guy you can throw the ball to that doesn't have to be a screen-and-roll. I'm talking Paul Pierce. I'm talking Dwyane Wade. I'm talking Amare (Stoudemire). Big, small, you've got to have someone that you can say, 'Here's the ball, Carmelo, go get us a basket or go get us a foul' because I don't think you can rely totally on your jump shooting," Gentry said about his mythical go-to scoring option.
↵"That's something we have to keep exploring. I think Vince can give us that. Obviously, we know Grant can give us that when the match-ups are in our favor and it's something we've got to keep plugging away at. I've got to get it done before I slit my wrists, though."
↵You can certainly understand his frustration, but let's hope it doesn't come to slitting the wrists.
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