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Suns GM: Expectations for Lopez, Suns are simple
by Ben Sandoval/KTAR (December 14th, 2010 @ 5:22pm)


PHOENIX - Don't be surprised when you see Robin Lopez on the court Wednesday for the Suns' game against the Timberwolves.

In fact, you should be surprised if he's not on the court, Phoenix Suns general manager Lance Blanks told Doug and Wolf on Tuesday.

"I'd be surprised if he's not playing within the next week," Blanks said. "He's been moving around on the court extremely well in the last few days. His spirits are up and we have an excellent training staff.

"They've done everything to get him ready. I think we can expect a much more exciting player to watch in terms of health than we saw in L.A. when he went down, because he looks fantastic."

Blanks said the team's expectations for Lopez are simple.

And they don't include single-handedly solving the Suns' rebounding woes.

"To maximize who and what he is as a player," Blanks said his expectations for Lopez. "He had the injury last that was tough, and he came back and played. Then this year (he) was still coming back from that injury and suffered another one in the L.A. game here three weeks or so ago.

"I think what we expect him to do is do what he does well, which is he defends, he brings a level of energy and toughness to the team, he's long. The way that Steve plays, he often creates opportunities for him around the basket to finish.

"Just keep it simple and do what he does well. The expectation for us is just to maximize what he does already naturally."

Blanks' expectations for the team as a whole are even simpler.

"Winning," Blanks said of what he wants from the team. "Without sounding disrespectful, we need a win. We did a very good job through the month of November with some tough games, and came out and we've had a little skid here.

"We're still basically almost a .500 ballclub, so coming up this week, just getting a win and getting that confidence back, that would be excellent for this team."

JohnVancouver wrote:Meh - I don;'t want to hear jack form this guy unless he's announcing a deal for a serious big.

lilfishi22 wrote:

JohnVancouver wrote:Meh - I don;'t want to hear jack form this guy unless he's announcing a deal for a serious big.

+1

Sundamental wrote:The grass is always greener. Let's work with what we've got. No trades. The pieces are here for a run similar to 2005-06. Reports are Lopez looks better already than he did at any time this year. Full return to health and the Suns are a contender.

lilfishi22 wrote:

Sundamental wrote:The grass is always greener. Let's work with what we've got. No trades. The pieces are here for a run similar to 2005-06. Reports are Lopez looks better already than he did at any time this year. Full return to health and the Suns are a contender.

You really believe we're a contender? We must've been a virtual lock for the title last season then.

RocPHX wrote:lol We're not even close to being contenders with zero inside presence or defense or rebounding. We don't evven really have a consistant scorer outside of our starting point guard. We're a joke right now with this roster.

JasonDaPsycho wrote:

RocPHX wrote:lol We're not even close to being contenders with zero inside presence or defense or rebounding. We don't evven really have a consistant scorer outside of our starting point guard. We're a joke right now with this roster.

Actually, I think Hakim's doing really well in this system. And JRich is scoring relatively consistent as well.
All we need is a legit big man.

JohnVancouver wrote:Hakim is fine as an offensive player and he's an average rebounder, given his physical abilities. Not a very good defender though and too skinny to guard legit PFs.
Who we have that can guard 4s is EC, Frye (no joke, he's doing beter than anyone else cf. his work against Duncan) and Lawal. No-one else has the body

jleckie602 wrote:ROBIN LOPEZ = ONE OF THE MOST OVERRATED PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE.