The Suns tip off their preseason today when they play host to the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. at US Airways Center. The upstart Hawks, who took the World Champion Boston Celtics to seven games in the playoffs last season, roll into town after defeating the Orlando Magic in their preseason opener.

Atlanta, one of the emerging teams in the NBA, feature young talents such as Josh Smith, Al Horford and former Sun Joe Johnson. However, as Johnson returns to Phoenix, he will be seeing a team much different from the one he departed at the conclusion of the 2004-05 season.

New Suns Head Coach Terry Porter will be unveiling a new-look squad this season that plans on placing a premium on half-court defense. Although Phoenix has been known for its high-scoring offense in the past, the new Suns coach believes that the work that the team underwent on the defensive end in training camp will already be apparent to fans.

“I think our defense is ahead of our offense by a little bit right now,” Porter said.

Starting point guard Steve Nash concurs.

“I think we’re working hard to be better defensively,” he said. “We’re putting in the time and we have a vision defensively of what we want to accomplish, so hopefully we’ll be able to build on that.”

Porter is planning on using the preseason to evaluate how the offensive and defensive sets he’s installed will translate when Phoenix faces another team.

“It’s always different when you get into a game setting and you see how guys react,” Porter said. “I’m really interested in seeing how they are going to respond to the defensive things we’ve talked about and how we space offensively.”

As opposed to scouting and preparing for the teams they face during the preseason, Porter prefers to focus on how his players execute what he’s attempted to instill in them. As a brand new coach that is bringing in a different style as well as a new system, he knows that there is going to be an adjustment period. His playmaker knows that as well.

“It’s going to take time, not just the preseason, but into the season,” Nash said.”Hopefully we’ll be good enough by the time the season starts to win some games and be in the playoff picture so it can buy us some time to really form the unit and the vision Coach Porter wants us to be.”

So as the two-time MVP looks forward to his squad's first test tonight, he’s heading into it with a practical approach.

“I don’t have big expectations for tonight,” Nash said. “I want us to go out and use tonight like a practice opportunity to learn what we’ve worked on at both ends of the floor against new opposition.”

The Suns will get plenty of opportunities to see how they adapt to their new sets in the next few days. After tonight’s contest, they head to Utah to face the Jazz on Thursday and then finish up the week by playing in the first NBA outdoor game of the modern era on Saturday. In that game, the Suns will duel with the Nuggets at the Autotrader.com Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA.

Amaré Vision

STAT's future is so bright, he's gotta wear shades. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

Initially, the Second Team All-NBA forward was told by his doctor to completely refrain from exercising for five to 10 days to keep his blood pressure down, but after a follow-up examination, he resumed some running and drills at Tuesday’s practice.

The former Rookie of the Year showed up to practice donning a pair of sport goggles that resemble those worn by former Sun Bo Outlaw. When asked if he is going to sport Outlaw’s style or a look more reminiscent of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s, Stoudemire responded by stating emphatically,”Neither. It’s Amare Vision.”

Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson aided Stoudemire in choosing a pair of sports goggles before having them overnighted to the arena. After the first day, STAT said the greatest adjustment has been dealing with the amount of sweat that accumulates at the very top of the glasses.

“That’s the biggest problem,” Stoudemire said. “But I’m working through it.”

Although his eye is still bloodshot, it appears to have opened up considerably since the injury occurred.

“It’s been better and my vision has been slowly coming back,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Stoudemire is hoping to use the next week or so to get back into shape before partaking in the last few preseason games.

“It’s definitely a little frustrating,” “I was in great shape and now having to sit out with the eye injury, it takes me back to Square One.”

On the bright side, his ankle is fully healed and he’ll progress from just cardio training and shooting jumpers to participating in full-contact scrimmaging at practice Thursday.

“Everything is on schedule so far,” STAT said. “I just need to take care of this eye and I’ll be back.”

LB Remains in Brazil

Missing from Suns practice thus far this season has been the energetic play of Leandro Barbosa. Barbosa, who returned to Brazil to tend to his ill mother on the first day of training camp, is still in San Paolo with his family.

Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr spoke with the sixth-year guard Monday, saying that although Barbosa wants to be back in Phoenix, he “didn’t feel comfortable” coming back just yet. The Suns GM is due to follow up with Barbosa today or Thursday.

The Suns have granted the speedy guard an indefinite leave to be with his family.

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