"After two weeks of lab work in Suns 101, Hedo Turkoglu is two weeks from his first exam on a course-load of material.

His NBA career has never been like this. A playmaking small forward, Turkoglu is being asked to man the Suns' power-forward spot, where rebounding and defensive duties are against bigger opponents and scoring comes with new wrinkles. Which is the tougher adjustment?

"Both," Turkoglu said.

He never has run this much or needed as many reminders to shoot, such as the one coach Alvin Gentry gave him after Sunday's practice.

Picture Turkoglu's dilemma. He heads downcourt, with a team moving at a faster pace than he has run, and naturally looks to take his left lane, only to find Grant Hill and Jason Richardson filling the wing alleys. He spots up for a kick-out from Steve Nash but uncharacteristically hesitates without a defender nearby.

"I'm so open," said Turkoglu, who has made four of 21 preseason shots (including one of eight 3-pointers). "I think, 'Damn, should I take this shot? It's the first pass. Or should I drive and kick?' As time goes by, I will learn that's a good shot because Steve drew my man and passed."

After a career of getting screens, he now sets them for Nash and learns the nuances of rolls and pops.

Turkoglu will take more hits on screens and defense than in the past, when he had only spot duty at power forward.

"I'm learning the defensive rules - showing, getting back, switching, denying, getting in front, pushing, getting the rebound, helping weak side, switching with the (big men)," Turkoglu said. "Those kind of things, I never did before.""