Suns minus Thomas for 4-6 weeks

[dirt_dobber]

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 17, 2007 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns...7suns0117.html

HOUSTON - Nobody with the Suns wanted to lose center Kurt Thomas for four to six weeks but Monday's test results on his hyperextended left elbow relieve the thought of an injury putting him out of commission for the season.

"It could've been more severe," Suns trainer Aaron Nelson said.

Thomas, the Suns' steady and only post presence off the bench, will be in a range-of-motion brace for three weeks. He then will undergo one to three weeks of rehabilitation, depending on how the tissue and ligament heal.

Thomas partially tore his left ulnar collateral ligament when he braced his fall from Dahntay Jones' foul Monday in Memphis. Suns physician Thomas Carter found no damage to the joint surface.

"That's very important from a prognosis standpoint," Carter said.

Coach Mike D'Antoni said he might go with a game-by-game approach in Thomas' absence. He will keep his rotation at eight men at least for the first halves of games, likely adding Jumaine Jones, Marcus Banks or Pat Burke to the mix.

"We could go big guy, medium guy or little guy," D'Antoni said. "We're so versatile with seven guys that we could go all over the place."

It is unlikely the Suns will make a trade or sign a 10-day player. Swingmen Shawn Marion, James Jones and Jumaine Jones can play power forward in the Suns' system when Boris Diaw and Amaré Stoudemire are not manning the posts.

"I think we can weather the storm," D'Antoni said. "I think we're there."