Shortened season will impact Suns game plan at start

Phoenix Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry and his coaching staff had an extended off-season because of the lockout to be able to think up and implement some new schemes offensively and defensively.

However because the team has a quick training camp and only two pre-season games to work with before the 2011-12 season, Gentry explained that some things him and his staff were excited about implementing this season, will have to be put on hold for now.

“We probably did cut some things out that we were really excited about trying to do and thought about over the summer.” Gentry said after practice. “As obviously the season didn’t start on time, then we had to re-evaluate what we can do in those areas also.”

The Suns because of everything being shortened have been forced to throw in a lot for their offense and defense over the first couple days of camp. Gentry believes that if it was a normal season, the implementation of new plays and scheme’s would probably be taught and coached over a three or four day span.

“We have just got to throw it in and we have got to try to get better at executing as we go along,” Gentry said. “I don’t think we have the luxury of starting and then having 20 or 25 days to go over everything.”

One thing that will definitely be crucial as Gentry and the Suns game plan for the upcoming season, the team has ten returning players to their roster.

“We don’t have nearly as many guys that are a deer in headlights,” explained Gentry. “A lot of the guys are familiar in what we are doing and a lot of those guys are rotation guys.”

The Phoenix Suns continue their training camp from Grand Canyon University the rest of this week.

For more on the Suns, follow Jared Cohen on Twitter at @JaredPros2Preps.