The Suns brought center Channing Frye back home to Phoenix to replace Shaquille O'Neal in the starting lineup. His charge was to open up the floor and the passing lanes for Steve Nash with his outside shooting. But neither the Suns nor Frye were expecting this. If Frye hits 3-pointers like this all season, Nash will be able to drive a truck through the opposing paint. For the second straight game, Frye hit six 3-point bombs -- he was an uncanny 12-for-17 in the two games -- and after scoring 25 points in the 120-112 win over Minnesota Sunday, a lot of NBA teams are wondering why these talents weren't more apparent earlier in his career.
"You can see what a weapon he is for us; he can really stretch the floor," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "He does such a good job of avenues for Steve. ... He took 10 3-pointers, but he should have taken 15 -- he passed up a lot of shots. If he's going to make six, he can take 15."
Frye became the first Sun to record six or more made 3-pointers in consecutive games since Nash did it nearly two years ago (Nov. 7-9, 2007) and just the sixth Sun in franchise history to do so along with Leandro Barbosa (2007), Jim Jackson (2005), Wesley Person (twice in 1996) and Dan Majerle (1995). No Sun has ever had three consecutive games with six or more made 3-pointers.
There are going to be nights when the long shots aren't falling. There are going to be nights when the five rebounds he grabbed in 36 minutes will be a problem, and when opposing big men have their way with him inside. But Frye will be trouble for the opposition as well and the Suns are having fun with their new weapon, scoring 353 points in the first three games and daring teams to keep pace.
Now come some real challenges. The 3-0 Suns play 14 of their next 19 games on the road, beginning with a five-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Miami -- one of three opponents on this trip that are undefeated as well. After moving on to Orlando, Boston, Washington and Philadelphia, the Suns will cover nearly 7,000 miles and know a lot more about their team.
SUNS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 112: Channing Frye continued to enjoy his new assignment -- hitting 3-point shots -- with six more in a 25-point effort, while Jason Richardson added 23 in his season debut as the Suns opened the season 3-0 for only the sixth time in franchise history. Grant Hill also had 23 points and added 10 rebounds while Steve Nash added a double-double of his own with 14 points and 14 assists.
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