Bulls Fire Tibs

[Joe Mama]

I'm sorry, I know it's summer and there's little to talk about but any talk of him coming to the Phoenix Suns is a complete waste of time. If I was New Orleans I would hire Alvin Gentry who we should have never fired in the first place.

 

[JS22]

Thibs seems like the "defense" version of D'antoni. Running his players into the ground, refusing to hire someone to run the offense, stubborn, etc. Not sure I'd be thrilled if the Suns magically hired him. D'antoni won a crap-ton of games too. And where did that get them?

 

[Mainstreet]

Thibs is overrated, his Bulls teams did about what was expected from them, maybe even underarchieved at times.

We won't fire Hornacek anyway so why bring it up.

Thibodeau might be an upgrade over Hornacek but I don't think the Suns are in a position to fire Hornacek for no reason except that Thibodeau is available.

Maybe the Suns do not go after Thibodeau but if Hornacek gets off to a slow start this coming season, I can see him gone.

 

[chickenhead]

Even if the Suns wanted to pursue, there will be competition for his services, and I'm not sure we can compete with an Anthony Davis-anchored roster.

 

[FArting]

Bulls are going to go after Fred Hoiberg.

Pelicans are going to interview Alvin Gentry and Jeff Van Gundy.

Magic are going after Skiles.

If Hoiberg becomes the head coach of the Bulls. Iowa State could pursue Jeff Hornacek as their coach.

 

[PDXChris]

Great article for anyone that thinks the Bulls underachieved with Thibs.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-bulls-just-fired-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-nba-history/

 

[overseascardfan]

If Hoiberg leaves ISU, I hope Hornacek takes the job. He is gone if PHX has another year like last year anyway. Thibs would provide the discipline this team SORELY lacks. I would be happy going back to winning 50+ games and making the playoffs than watching regular 38 win seasons. We have some work to do with this roster but a coach like Thibs would definitely be an upgrade over Hornacek.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Hoiberg leaves ISU, I hope Hornacek takes the job. He is gone if PHX has another year like last year anyway. Thibs would provide the discipline this team SORELY lacks. I would be happy going back to winning 50+ games and making the playoffs than watching regular 38 win seasons. We have some work to do with this roster but a coach like Thibs would definitely be an upgrade over Hornacek.

The coaching changes seem to indicate Hornacek is staying or if he leaves they will be looking to one of their assistant coaches to take over like Mike Longabardi.

Tom Thibodeau would be an upgrade over Hornacek but Mike D'Antoni is still out there if the Suns want 50+ game winners. I know, most posters do not want DA back. However, an interesting thought, would the Suns consider hiring D'Antoni back and say these are your assistant coaches if Hornacek leaves?

 

[elindholm]

Tom Thibodeau would be an upgrade over Hornacek but Mike D'Antoni is still out there if the Suns want 50+ game winners.

D'Antoni would not make this a 50-win roster. He has failed with rosters stronger than what the Suns have.

 

[Mainstreet]

D'Antoni would not make this a 50-win roster. He has failed with rosters stronger than what the Suns have.

Maybe not a 50 game winner right off the bat but the current Suns roster is made for DA with the addition of some shooters. I liked DA's system especially if he could add some focus on defense. I think people can change.

 

[elindholm]

Maybe not a 50 game winner right off the bat but the current Suns roster is made for DA with the addition of some shooters.

The entire roster would have to be replaced with shooters. D'Antoni's system was all about offensive efficiency. The Suns don't have a single player on their roster who is an above-average shooter for his position.

There's really very little in common between this roster and the Nash Suns. They don't have a true PG, they don't have a reliable post threat (Stoudemire or Diaw), they don't have good three-point shooters, and they're selfish. It's not a D'Antoni roster, and even if it were, the talent level is way too low for his system to be successful with it.

I liked DA's system especially if he could add some focus on defense.

Why you want to attribute the success of the Nash Suns to D'Antoni instead of Nash continues to mystify me.

 

[BC867]

The entire roster would have to be replaced with shooters. D'Antoni's system was all about offensive efficiency. The Suns don't have a single player on their roster who is an above-average shooter for his position.

There's really very little in common between this roster and the Nash Suns. They don't have a true PG, they don't have a reliable post threat (Stoudemire or Diaw), they don't have good three-point shooters, and they're selfish. It's not a D'Antoni roster, and even if it were, the talent level is way too low for his system to be successful with it.

Why you want to attribute the success of the Nash Suns to D'Antoni instead of Nash continues to mystify me.

Plus, D'Antoni wears out his starters and doesn't develop young talent.

He did nothing after leaving the Suns to warrant consideration to ever return.

 

[Phrazbit]

The coaching changes seem to indicate Hornacek is staying or if he leaves they will be looking to one of their assistant coaches to take over like Mike Longabardi.

Tom Thibodeau would be an upgrade over Hornacek but Mike D'Antoni is still out there if the Suns want 50+ game winners. I know, most posters do not want DA back. However, an interesting thought, would the Suns consider hiring D'Antoni back and say these are your assistant coaches if Hornacek leaves?

No they wouldn't consider it, and it would take 2 years for D'Antoni to win 50 games.

 

[Mainstreet]

The entire roster would have to be replaced with shooters. D'Antoni's system was all about offensive efficiency. The Suns don't have a single player on their roster who is an above-average shooter for his position.

Getting shooters is easier than getting good big men. The Suns roster is not currently made for defense or rough play. I think the addition of a couple of shooters could help the Suns transition to DA's style. Len, Markieff, Warren, Bledsoe and Knight should fit although I think the Suns should trade one of their PGs. I am not a big believer in the two PG system. DA's focus of spacing and running off made shots should amount to better shooting percentages.

There's really very little in common between this roster and the Nash Suns. They don't have a true PG, they don't have a reliable post threat (Stoudemire or Diaw), they don't have good three-point shooters, and they're selfish. It's not a D'Antoni roster, and even if it were, the talent level is way too low for his system to be successful with it.

There is no doubt the rosters are different. I think Bledsoe or Knight could run a version of SSOL however I think Knight has the potential to be a better fit. Again floor spacing and running off every opportunity should make them more effective. In regard to talent, I think it takes less talent to run DA's system than other systems. It just takes the right players that fit. Looking back on DA's time with the Lakers, it was a terrible fit. The Lakers had a center in Dwight Howard that was just an inside player, Kobe who likes to keep the ball in his hands and an injured PG in Steve Nash. No wonder it failed. The New York situation, I did not follow as well, but Carmelo is one of those players who likes to dominate the ball as well.

Why you want to attribute the success of the Nash Suns to D'Antoni instead of Nash continues to mystify me.

Because I believe SSOL system will still work. Nash was the perfect fit to run the system but that doesn't mean another PG can't run a version of it. Nash was brought here to run SSOL. The system existed before the player.

 

[Mainstreet]

No they wouldn't consider it, and it would take 2 years for D'Antoni to win 50 games.

Two years is looking pretty good right now.

 

[Mainstreet]

Plus, D'Antoni wears out his starters and doesn't develop young talent.

He did nothing after leaving the Suns to warrant consideration to ever return.

I don't think you can leave DA's record with the Suns out of his resume but this was discussed at length in another thread.

 

[elindholm]

Nash was brought here to run SSOL. The system existed before the player.

Wow, okay. I mean, yes, the idea of running all the time and shooting at the first opportunity has been around forever. But what made SSOL a "thing" was Nash, and specifically Nash's ability to improvise in the half-court. Anyone can run up and down the court and jack up threes. That's not a "system," and it's not why the Nash Suns were great (or, if you like, almost great). Highlight reels and catchy nicknames don't win NBA games.

 

[Phrazbit]

Two years is looking pretty good right now.

I'm talking cumulative. As in it would take him two full seasons to reach a grand total of 50 wins.

D'Antoni separate from Nash is a terrible, terrible, coach. The system may have existed prior to Nash, but the system didn't work. And even if the system has its merits, D'Antoni is too limited in every other aspect of the job to capitalize on it.

 

[SirStefan32]

Some fans' love affair with D'Antoni is puzzling to me. How many times does he need to fail with how many different team teams before people stop making him out to be a great coach?

Nash WAS the system. Coach was irrelevant.

 

[Phrazbit]

D'Antoni's record in Phoenix was 4-13 in games Nash didn't play. Pretty much anytime he wasn't on the court they sucked, and that was with several guys who were absolutely perfect for running and gunning still being out there.

Those teams were stacked with talent, and if anything D'Antoni's stubbornness and ineptitude held them back, while Nash covered for all of Mike's inability.

If not for Nash D'Antoni would have been a guy with a brief two year coaching career with a winning percentage below .400.

 

[Mainstreet]

Some fans' love affair with D'Antoni is puzzling to me. How many times does he need to fail with how many different team teams before people stop making him out to be a great coach?

Nash WAS the system. Coach was irrelevant.

The Suns had four great seasons under Mike D'Antoni. I enjoyed the ride. No doubt talent was the big reason. However, in good faith, I cannot understand why many Suns fans want to give him zero credit.

In all this, looking back, Bryan Colangelo probably deserves more credit for assembling the cast of Marion, Stoudemire, Joe Johnson and Steve Nash.

 

[elindholm]

However, in good faith, I cannot understand why many Suns fans want to give him zero credit.

That's not the issue. The issue is whether he could do the same thing now with a completely different, and inferior, roster. Luc Longley won championships with the Bulls and stunk with the Suns. For mediocre talents, the setting makes all of the difference. D'Antoni is a mediocre coaching talent, and the current Suns are entirely the wrong setting for him.

 

[sunsfan88]

Speaking of Nash, I wonder if he looks into coaching, and follow the Kidd/Fisher blueprint.

 

[BC867]

Speaking of Nash, I wonder if he looks into coaching, and follow the Kidd/Fisher blueprint.

Steve said he would continue to make L.A. his home, where he has a production company, I think. Tinseltown. No further talk of going back to Canada and running for Mayor of Vancouver.

I would be surprised if he ever considers coaching. It seems like his plans are more sophisticated. If he goes into sports management, it would probably involve soccer. I just can't see him as a basketball lifer.

 

[chickenhead]

Even if the Suns wanted to pursue, there will be competition for his services, and I'm not sure we can compete with an Anthony Davis-anchored roster.

Well, that's now out of the equation.