Talk to the Coach
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Coming off the heals of his team’s best effort of a young 2003-04 season, Frank Johnson joined KTAR’s Kevin Ray for the 620 Sportsline’s weekly “Talk to the Coach” program. The Suns head coach talked about the Suns victory over the Bulls Tuesday night and looked forward to Thursday night’s match-up with newly named Head Coach Johnny Davis and the 1-10 Orlando Magic.
Kevin Ray: Coach, I know it made for a much more enjoyable day today snapping the slide at three and has everybody feeling like you’re back in a good starting point here.
Frank Johnson: We had a very good practice prior to the game yesterday and our whole focus was to carry over what we’d done in practice into the game. And also to sustain it for 48 minutes, or as close to it as we can. We did a good job of that, of not having those silent moments, so to speak, in the game. Usually those moments occur when we’re just turning the ball over time after time. They happen in bunches and sometimes that stops us from continuing the momentum.
Ray: As a complete a performance as you’ve had all season because you got great efforts from all of your starters. Stephon Marbury a double-double, 12 assists, had three steals. The Matrix, Shawn Marion, (collected) 19 points (and) nine rebounds. Amaré Stoudemire (recorded) another double-double (with) 21 (points) and 10 (rebounds). Scottie Williams, the old graybeard, comes in after a nice break at the start of the season, eight points, 10 boards. And then, I thought just as important, was the 26 off the bench, 14 of those from Zarko Cabarkapa.
Johnson: Those are very important minutes for us as well as points. Another guy that you didn’t mention that didn’t score was but was a big contributor was Penny Hardaway in his passing and just his leadership.
Ray: One thing that I think we know is that Penny has the ability to impact a game without scoring. I had to do one of those double takes when I saw he didn’t even attempt a shot, but yet still has that impact to demonstrate just what kind of a ball player this guy still is.
Johnson: Penny prior to last night wasn’t getting the minutes that he would have liked. I called him in and said, “Penny, we’re going to get you back into that rotation where you’ll know when you’re going to get your minutes.” I think it makes a world of difference, not only to a veteran player, but to a young player as well, knowing that “a coach is going to look to me.” I told him that I wanted his leadership and went out there and provided that. He always got into something when things got a little hairy. And they always get a little hairy during games, and it’s nice to have that veteran. He and Stephon did a very good job of just kind of calming things down and getting us into stuff.
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Johnson: I’ve certainly have played in that role before. Coming off the bench, naturally you should be ready at all times, but it’s always nice to know when your time is coming so you’re kind of mentally gearing up. It could come sooner than you think because of foul difficulties or an injury, but knowing that your time will be at a certain point, it certainly helps. A lot of players have been around it a long time, and they can adjust to it. Younger players, it’s sometimes tough. Zarko came in and played very well last night and he had a feeling of when he was going to go in. Sometimes it doesn’t happen that way even when you say it’s going to happen. Maybe the guy that you’re going to substitute them for is going pretty well and maybe you don’t want to disrupt that rhythm.
Ray: I know as you look at the roster, and this becomes the challenge every single night because of the youth on this club and where the direction of this organization, you’re constantly wanting to try to get a feel for your young players and how they will respond in situations, but I know as a coach, you can’t really afford to play 10, 11, certainly not 12 guys.
Johnson: No, you’re right, Kevin. It is very difficult. Nine and 10 would probably stretch it, as well, and then what happens towards January is you start narrowing it down to eight, and last night we only played eight. Certain guys get a better feel as far as their minutes and how they’re going to prepare going in. The problem we’re going to be faced with (Thursday) night is with Jahidi White coming back, and Scottie and Jake Voskuhl all playing the five position. It makes it tough to divvy up those minutes.
Caller (Ron, Phoenix): Have you ever thought of maybe putting Penny at point (guard) and letting Stephon create some open shots.
Johnson: That’s what Penny does. The few minutes I do give Stephon on the bench, Penny is running the show. We certainly maintain our position when Stephon was taking a rest (Wednesday) night and I thought that was key. Whereas before, sometimes you would see us taking kind of a dip in our performance because Steph’s not there to penetrate, to draw and kick and get other people shots.
Caller (Ron, Phoenix): What I mean is, let’s say in the first quarter we’re kind of dead and then you put Penny at point (guard) and let Stephon create some open moves just to get open and let Penny dish it to him for some shots.
Johnson: That it is a very good point, and that’s what we did because Penny came in for Joe Johnson and that’s who he’s coming in for, usually in the first quarter. We’ll run some (isolation) plays for (Marbury) where he would get it and just take his man and what he’s so good at is drawing two or three guys to him and then he’s getting guys open looks.
Caller (David, Phoenix): First of all, great game against Chicago. I liked the productivity of your forwards and your guards. You seemed to have a nice three-guard rotation there as opposed to confining Penny in a specific role or Steph in a specific role. You had a three-man rotation. Joe gave you 41 minutes and 11 points; Penny helped run the offense and Steph with 10 (points) and 12 (assists) looked great. Your forward rotation was great in productivity and I look forward to getting Jahidi back with a nice three big man rotation, as well. I want to congratulate you on that. Hopefully, you can continue to keep that going and look forward to trying to get 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds) out of your two forwards. If you can get that for the next five years and Zarko, it’s going to be good.
Johnson: I appreciate the call and that is a very good point. It would be nice to get that type of productivity every night.
Ray: You’d take 20 and 10 every night, wouldn’t you (laughs)?
Johnson: (laughs) You’re right, I would.
Ray: Your opponent coming in (Thursday) night, the Orlando Magic, making a coaching change. Johnny Davis steps in now for the departed Doc Rivers, and you can kind of relate to this guy because two years ago you were in a similar position and you know what a coaching change can do for a ball club, so you can’t really look at what the Magic has done up until now. You know you’re going to face an inspired team at the very least (Thursday) night.
Johnson: There’s no question. When a coaching change is made for whatever reason it’s made it brings a new life to a team and I expect that out of Orlando. I guess the good thing for them is that they’ve had two days to prepare for this game under their new coach, Johnny Davis. As far as what new things or wrinkles he’ll put in, we’re basing it on their last two games and we know one thing: Tracy McGrady will take a majority of the shots. He will be the main focus of their offense and he’ll be a main focus of our defense, as well.
Wheel of Fortune announcer: From the Phoenix Suns, Amaré Stoudemire.
Ray: Boy, all he touches is gold. Amaré Stoudemire, part of the big Wheel of Fortune night earlier (Wednesday night), and of course (Tuesday) night came up with a gold performance (with) 21 (points) and 10 (rebounds), four assists, a blocked shot. He just turned 21 over the weekend and his girl won, Frank. Did you know that?
Johnson: I heard about that.
Ray: Thirty-eight, 39 thousand (dollars).
Johnson: Like you said, everything he touches turns to gold.
Ray: Talk about his performances because even in those three losses, we have seen this kid go on an absolute tear on the glass. He’s all been about double-digit rebounding, had the five blocked shots a few nights ago. It’s just been a complete change since the first couple of games.
Johnson: Not only rebounding, but on the defensive end just being aware and playing his guy. Every day we work a one-on-one drill and he’s in there, playing against Shawn Marion, Tom Gugliotta and the team, and he is just learning to play the footwork of playing people every single day. Those guys are a lot quicker than him, so his defense has improved and it has helped him just with his rebounding and his balance and not being caught flat-footed with rebounding. He’s made tremendous strides in terms of being on the post and even last night, he had four assists passing the ball out of double-teams. Teams are going to start doubling him more and more as he improves on the post and he’s going to get a lot better. People are going to enjoy seeing this kid play. What happens is, is going to create open shots for us. It won’t be those difficult shot where you have to run this play where the timing has to be right, because Amaré’s presence will draw double teams as Steph’s penetration draws them now.
Ray: One of the things we were talking about today is Zarko Cabarkapa. At seven feet, has court vision. The big, soft hands and we watched him make a couple of passes last night and those two on the floor can create some real nightmares.
Johnson: And they presented nightmares (Thursday) night for Chicago. “Z” did a great job of finding the seams in the zone and just making touch passes, quick passes where the ball was just moving. And not only Z, but the whole team, probably our best passing night. Sometimes, maybe the passes are a little bit behind you or maybe a little bit high, but in watching the tape, all of our passes were right on the money where you just can just go up and step into your shot and you just don’t know how important that is when you’re out there on the floor and someone’s running at you and step into rhythm with your shot. I thought our guys did a fantastic job last night of moving the ball and then moving their bodies, as well.
Ray: You mentioned the dirty word in the NBA this year just a couple of moments ago: Zone. Tracy McGrady has been very outspoken about it, feels like it’s taking away from his game and the game in the NBA. It was put into place to try open things up. Everybody’s got an opinion about it, but as you look at it, Frank, why do so many NBA teams have troubles with the zone? Is it because there’s so many young players in the league that just haven’t learned to play against the zone, how to move without the basketball?
Johnson: That’s part of it. And part if it is because some teams just don’t practice against it that often. Pat Riley (and the Miami Heat) came in and they had never really worked the zone and played a zone against us the whole second half and got back in the game. So much of our game is geared on some isolations, on guys going one-on-one. And now they see someone behind them and it bothers them. It’s like they have to beat three guys now rather than beating (only) my own guy. It is something that coaches have done and used very well and it’s been very effective. I think it will continue to be in this league. Somehow, we just have to improve our shooting and ball movement.
Ray: Big opportunity (Thursday) night. This is a significant week as said by you, Steph and the rest of the guys. You’ve got to have that carryover effect going into (Thursday) night.
Johnson: Yes, there’s no question about it. We had a good practice today and hopefully we can carry it over to a win (Thursday) night. It will be an exciting game. Our guys are certainly up for it and I’m looking forward to it.
