INTREPID

Suns’ Gentry: We’re going to have to be all in

Oct 2, 2012, 11:35 PM | Updated: Oct 3, 2012, 12:47 am

October 2, 2012: Training camp opens at UC San Diego

LA JOLLA, Calif. — The new era of Suns basketball is officially underway.

“It’s just a whole new day,” Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said Tuesday following the team’s initial practice at UC San Diego. “It’s just exciting.”

Gone are Steve Nash — he’s 117 miles away in El Segundo with the Lakers, and Grant Hill — he’s 119 miles away in Playa Vista with the Clippers.

Five other players are gone as well from last season’s team that finished 33-33.

On Tuesday, there were seven fresh faces on the court; and by Halloween night (Suns’ season opener vs. Golden State), there may be as many as three new starters, a scary proposition for many who follow and cover the NBA.

“We have an opportunity to do some things that no one expects us to do,” head coach Alvin Gentry said. “We’re going to have to be all in. It’s got to be a total team effort.”

It’s still way too early to know how — or even if, all the pieces of the Suns’ puzzle will fit together.

There is, however, one thing Gentry said he won’t have to worry about.

“I won’t have a problem having these guys competing and playing hard. It’s really going to come down to how well we execute and how well we complete plays.”

Which again, brings up the question: What are the expectations for the 2012-2013 Phoenix Suns?

Answered Babby, “They work hard, play hard, compete hard, the results will be fine.”

Intrepid

Craig Grialou

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Suns’ Gentry: We’re going to have to be all in