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Slow start puts spotlight on Johnson
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
Frank Johnson is learning the limits of job security for an NBA coach. Several months ago, he was hailed for a masterful job of leading the Suns to a surprise run to the playoffs.
Several weeks ago, Suns president Bryan Colangelo talked publicly about possible contract extensions for Johnson and his assistants.
Then the Suns started the season a disappointing 3-6. Fortunately for Johnson, the Suns rolled to a wire-to-wire win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. A repeat performance tonight over the 1-10 Orlando Magic surely won't hurt him.
"What created all the attention is that we were 3-6," Johnson said.
There's no indication of an imminent departure. But there has been no ringing endorsement of Johnson, either.
Colangelo declined to comment on Johnson's status. His reaction is much different than two years ago, when he issued a strong statement of support for Scott Skiles, when Skiles’ status as the Suns coach started to be perceived as shaky.
Skiles departed in February 2002, and Johnson — his lead assistant — took over.
As for Colangelo's non-reaction, Johnson said, "I think Bryan just wants not to comment on it at all. Why are you going to comment on something when there's nothing to comment on?"
Johnson said he believes he has management's support.
But, he said, "You still got to understand we were 3-6. That's the bottom line, right?"
That Johnson seems to have so little margin for error no doubt will strike many as surprising, considering his success last season.
But expectations by some are high. And Johnson has a contract considered modest by NBA standards — he's in the second season of a three-year deal that averages about $1.5 million — so a change wouldn't cripple them.
Asked if he thinks 3-6 is enough for a panic mode, he said. "We all see it differently. I felt bad when we were 1-3, after the Utah game. And that was only four games in."
Johnson has talked about how the Suns are one of the youngest NBA teams (six players are 23 or younger), and are likely to be inconsistent.
He also probably made waves in the Suns' front office by candidly discussing how the Suns miss Bo Outlaw, traded just before the season started.
Another potential problem is his relationship with Stephon Marbury, who has had a reputation over the years for being difficult.
After the Suns rolled to the win over the Bulls, he praised Marbury for sharp ball movement, saying his point guard had "taken to heart" Johnson's notion that Marbury sometimes dribbles the ball too much.
Told about Johnson's praise and criticism, Marbury said, "That's (expletive)."
Johnson says Marbury probably is grumpy because he has been beat up by playing 41.7 minutes per game (No. 2 in the NBA), while the team's results have been unsatisfactory.
Johnson said he called Marbury in for a meeting before the Bulls game and told him, "I'm going to try to keep your minutes down. I don't want to kill you. But sometimes, I can't."
On a more sensitive matter, Johnson also said he told Marbury that he needed to set up his teammates for shots as well as aggressively look to score.
"There's a fine line between running the team and being aggressive," Johnson said. "There's a lot of pressure when you have to do that.
"I couldn't do that when I was playing. I didn't have that kind of talent." Johnson indicated he will continue to try to ease Marbury's workload, probably by having Penny Hardaway spend more time as the backup point guard.
As for his own problems, "Pressure comes with my job," Johnson said. "That's the bottom line."
BONUS SHOTS: For the first time, the Suns will have all their regulars in the fold. Center Jahidi White, who missed one game to repair a finger injury is expected back. So Johnson will have three centers in White, Scott Williams and Jake Voskuhl. . .
Suns executive Cotton Fitzsimmons has issued a strong statement of support for Skiles if the Magic decide to open their head coaching position at season's end. Fitzsimmons told Florida Today that when Skiles played point guard for the Magic, "There was no doubt who was running that team: Skiles was." He said Skiles would be a popular choice because he played for the Magic's first team (1989-90) and was a crowd favorite.
Slow start puts spotlight on Johnson
By Mike Tulumello, Tribune
Frank Johnson is learning the limits of job security for an NBA coach. Several months ago, he was hailed for a masterful job of leading the Suns to a surprise run to the playoffs.
Several weeks ago, Suns president Bryan Colangelo talked publicly about possible contract extensions for Johnson and his assistants.
Then the Suns started the season a disappointing 3-6. Fortunately for Johnson, the Suns rolled to a wire-to-wire win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. A repeat performance tonight over the 1-10 Orlando Magic surely won't hurt him.
"What created all the attention is that we were 3-6," Johnson said.
There's no indication of an imminent departure. But there has been no ringing endorsement of Johnson, either.
Colangelo declined to comment on Johnson's status. His reaction is much different than two years ago, when he issued a strong statement of support for Scott Skiles, when Skiles’ status as the Suns coach started to be perceived as shaky.
Skiles departed in February 2002, and Johnson — his lead assistant — took over.
As for Colangelo's non-reaction, Johnson said, "I think Bryan just wants not to comment on it at all. Why are you going to comment on something when there's nothing to comment on?"
Johnson said he believes he has management's support.
But, he said, "You still got to understand we were 3-6. That's the bottom line, right?"
That Johnson seems to have so little margin for error no doubt will strike many as surprising, considering his success last season.
But expectations by some are high. And Johnson has a contract considered modest by NBA standards — he's in the second season of a three-year deal that averages about $1.5 million — so a change wouldn't cripple them.
Asked if he thinks 3-6 is enough for a panic mode, he said. "We all see it differently. I felt bad when we were 1-3, after the Utah game. And that was only four games in."
Johnson has talked about how the Suns are one of the youngest NBA teams (six players are 23 or younger), and are likely to be inconsistent.
He also probably made waves in the Suns' front office by candidly discussing how the Suns miss Bo Outlaw, traded just before the season started.
Another potential problem is his relationship with Stephon Marbury, who has had a reputation over the years for being difficult.
After the Suns rolled to the win over the Bulls, he praised Marbury for sharp ball movement, saying his point guard had "taken to heart" Johnson's notion that Marbury sometimes dribbles the ball too much.
Told about Johnson's praise and criticism, Marbury said, "That's (expletive)."
Johnson says Marbury probably is grumpy because he has been beat up by playing 41.7 minutes per game (No. 2 in the NBA), while the team's results have been unsatisfactory.
Johnson said he called Marbury in for a meeting before the Bulls game and told him, "I'm going to try to keep your minutes down. I don't want to kill you. But sometimes, I can't."
On a more sensitive matter, Johnson also said he told Marbury that he needed to set up his teammates for shots as well as aggressively look to score.
"There's a fine line between running the team and being aggressive," Johnson said. "There's a lot of pressure when you have to do that.
"I couldn't do that when I was playing. I didn't have that kind of talent." Johnson indicated he will continue to try to ease Marbury's workload, probably by having Penny Hardaway spend more time as the backup point guard.
As for his own problems, "Pressure comes with my job," Johnson said. "That's the bottom line."
BONUS SHOTS: For the first time, the Suns will have all their regulars in the fold. Center Jahidi White, who missed one game to repair a finger injury is expected back. So Johnson will have three centers in White, Scott Williams and Jake Voskuhl. . .
Suns executive Cotton Fitzsimmons has issued a strong statement of support for Skiles if the Magic decide to open their head coaching position at season's end. Fitzsimmons told Florida Today that when Skiles played point guard for the Magic, "There was no doubt who was running that team: Skiles was." He said Skiles would be a popular choice because he played for the Magic's first team (1989-90) and was a crowd favorite.
