Coach, Bell in a bad mood

[bigfoot]

and it shows through these "interviews".
Lately, there's a lot of negative energy coming from the team in general and this board, too.
People, just take it easy.



RAJA BELL

By Jerry Brown
eastvalleytribune.com,
Nov. 29, 2007 Whether it’s missed shots, the inability to slide on defense or the running dialogue with referees that cost him a technical foul Wednesday, Raja Bell’s frustrations know no bounds right now.
When a sprained ankle forced him to alter his gait and led to back spasms, Bell was hoping it would be a short-term problem. But the back is still hurting, and Bell’s game is still showing the effects — based on the seven points and 22 minutes he was able to contribute in a 100-94 loss to the Rockets.
Asked how he felt after the game, Bell said: “I don’t know how to respond. It is what it is, I’m playing. If I can help, I’ll play. That’s what I told (coach) Mike (D’Antoni) . ... If what I have right now is helping, then I’ll go out and play.”
Bell won’t take himself out of the lineup but indicated he might be doing more harm than good right now.
“I don’t feel healthy right now,” he said. “I know that’s to be expected coming off the spasms. But I don’t want to play this way all year. There are things I know I can do on the court that I just can’t do right now because … because I just can’t, and it’s frustrating. But if they feel like I’m helping, I’ll go out and do my job.”


MIKE D'ANTONI

By Scott Bordow
eastvalleytribune.com,
Nov. 29, 2007 The Golden State Warriors aren’t as good as the Phoenix Suns. Nor have they been as successful. Yet Mike D’Antoni is jealous of them.
When the Warriors beat the Suns, 129-114, Monday, D’Antoni watched a team that had a smile on its face, a spring in its step and joy in its heart.
And it killed him that it wasn’t his team.
“We had that three years ago because everything was new and we’re shoving it down everybody’s throat and every night was, ‘Wow, look at this,’ ” D’Antoni said.
“Now all of a sudden we have a problem with tiredness when we really don’t. We have a problem with energy and enthusiasm. It’s weighing us down.”
This constant beating of the drum by D’Antoni — he’s been talking about a general malaise since Phoenix’s 15-game winning streak last season — might seem odd given the Suns’ 11-4 record after their 100-94 loss to the Houston Rockets Wednesday.
Phoenix is cruising to another 60-win season and a fourth straight Pacific Division title. So what’s to complain about?
It’s not so much a complaint, really, as an observation. D’Antoni believes the Suns are a different team, a much better team, when they’re enjoying the day rather than worrying about tomorrow.
Or, in their case, June.
“We don’t need to be stoic,” he said. “We need to be happy. This needs to be fun. We should be celebrating when we win eight in row (as the Suns did before losing to the Warriors).
“We had 15 in a row last year and it was like, ‘So we win 15 in a row.’ Heck, you do that two times in your lifetime. We should be going, ‘Hey we knocked someone else off’ and high-fiving and hugging everybody. But we’d go sit down and take our stuff off and a couple of guys would grumble because they didn’t get to play much and some guys grumbled because they didn’t get the ball too many times.”

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For more coverage of Phoenix sports,
be sure to visit eastvalleytribune.comD’Antoni sounds wistful when he talks about that 2004-05 season, when the Suns were fresh and new and 110-point games were a sight to behold.
But it’s just not possible to recapture that feeling. Human nature won’t allow it.
Imagine a golfer playing Pebble Beach for the first time. It would be the thrill of a lifetime.
But would it be as exciting the 10th time? Or the 100th time?
The same goes for Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amaré Stoudemire. To expect them to have the same feverish energy they had three years ago isn’t realistic.
“So it’s harder. But you can’t do it?” D’Antoni said. “Mick Jagger does it. He doesn’t go out and say, ‘You know, I’ve done this for 10 years. Today I’m giving a bad concert.’ He has the same enthusiasm he probably had 20 years ago. That’s what makes him great.”
Of course, D’Antoni conceded, Jagger’s exuberance might have something to do with pharmaceutical supplies.
D’Antoni spoke to his players Tuesday about enjoying the moment. But it’s easier to do when you’re the Warriors and nothing is expected of you than the Suns when nothing less than a championship will do.
“There is more pressure on you,” Marion said. “It’s different when you have something to live up to.”
It’s ironic that D’Antoni is doing the preaching when he doesn’t listen to his own sermon. He’s far more uptight than he was when he first became Suns coach.
“I need to change,” D’Antoni said. “I’m just as ticked off at me as everybody else. I’m worried about the thing I see today that’s going to hurt us in the playoffs. Well, I didn’t even care about that three years ago because we just wanted to get in the playoffs.”
Here’s the thing, Mike. You can’t put that genie back in the bottle. Championship dreams don’t come without a price.
If that means the Suns aren’t as devil-may-care as the Warriors now, well, which team would you rather coach come June?

 

[Black Jesus]

i agree with both... They have to go out with that childish spirit. But alot of that was around quentin richardson jacking up threes with Joe Johnson. Not only that, but the Suns were the YOUNGEST team in the league. That is not true anymore. Maybe if DJ got some PT and showed what he can do or if we actually used one of our first round draft picks in the last few years this team would have some fresh flavor on the court... NOT JUST ON THE BENCH! we need a center too. I am sick of seeing Amare in foul trouble because he has to defend the post.

 

[CaptainInsano]

i agree with both... They have to go out with that childish spirit. But alot of that was around quentin richardson jacking up threes with Joe Johnson. Not only that, but the Suns were the YOUNGEST team in the league. That is not true anymore. Maybe if DJ got some PT and showed what he can do or if we actually used one of our first round draft picks in the last few years this team would have some fresh flavor on the court... NOT JUST ON THE BENCH! we need a center too. I am sick of seeing Amare in foul trouble because he has to defend the post.

Exactly, and here is the part that really hurts:

I am not 100% sure, but from what I remember on one of the broadcasts I saw this team is the 2nd oldest in the league.

*edit:

Hopefully we have some of that reverse veteran championship team karma soon, the spurs seem to have bucketloads, the well has to run dry on them sometime!!

http://www.rpiratings.com/NBA.html

Avg. Avg.
NBA Team Exp. Age
Atlanta 3.87 25.51
Boston 5.14 26.90
Charlotte 4.20 26.62
Chicago 3.47 25.72
Cleveland 5.20 27.15
Dallas 6.00 27.82
Denver 5.40 27.46
Detroit 5.73 27.65
Golden State 3.93 25.42
Houston 5.07 28.26
Indiana 3.80 26.37
LA Clippers 6.60 28.86
LA Lakers 4.53 25.90
Memphis 3.71 25.87
Miami 5.73 28.26
Milwaukee 3.67 26.49
Minnesota 4.40 26.39
New Jersey 6.14 28.43
New Orleans 4.43 27.04
New York 4.80 26.22
Orlando 5.80 27.52
Philadelphia 3.53 25.73
Phoenix 6.46 29.04
Portland 2.87 24.07
Sacramento 4.53 26.59
San Antonio 6.64 30.64
Seattle 3.57 25.38
Toronto 3.67 27.70
Utah 3.57 25.61
Washington 4.46 26.61
NBA Average 4.70 26.91

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

“Now all of a sudden we have a problem with tiredness when we really don’t. We have a problem with energy and enthusiasm.

hey coach jackass, maybe you really DO have a problem with tiredness. it shows on the court! jackass.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Of course, D’Antoni conceded, Jagger’s exuberance might have something to do with pharmaceutical supplies.

 

[elindholm]

D'Antonti is frustrated because he isn't getting the same accolades that he is used to. Back when no one expected much of the Suns, he looked like a genius for developing a "style" that led to 60-whatever wins and a pair of MVPs for Nash. Now, everyone who follows basketball recognizes that the Suns should be setting their sights higher. D'Antoni isn't up to that challenge, and he's already feeling the pressure of his inevitable failure.

 

[nashman]

^Nonsense, Dantoni is a good coach and will get better. Its funny people think great coaches are just born that way, they have to learn to. He has been trying to use the bench more keep minutes down, but some just like to bag on him. He brought basketball back to being fun to watch so I will give him a pass for awhile at least.

 

[sly fly]

It's a players league. You think Doc Rivers has suddenly become the next coming of Red Auerbach for nothing?

I do see some warning signs from PHX. I do wonder if we'll ever get the spry-wanting-to-dominate-every-second Amare back. I see Steve Nash doing all he can to keep his teammates in the game. I see Raja hurt. Boris lost. Leandro trying to do too much at times. But...

San Antonio looked the same way early last year. They didn't kick it in to overdrive until it was needed most.

I can guarantee every one here that a healthy PHX club come playoff time is going to be dangerous. Hopefully, expectations will be lower... and PHX can resume the ass kickings everyone has come to expect.

 

[TucsonDevil]

D'Antonti is frustrated because he isn't getting the same accolades that he is used to. Back when no one expected much of the Suns, he looked like a genius for developing a "style" that led to 60-whatever wins and a pair of MVPs for Nash. Now, everyone who follows basketball recognizes that the Suns should be setting their sights higher. D'Antoni isn't up to that challenge, and he's already feeling the pressure of his inevitable failure.

I agree with this assessment. D'Antoni's 'problems' are entirely self-inflicted. This year's post-season failure will be, again, due to his inability to change and stubbornness surrounding the 'system'. Until he figures out how to get out of his own way, I don't see that scowl leaving his face anytime soon.

 

[TucsonDevil]

^Nonsense, Dantoni is a good coach and will get better. Its funny people think great coaches are just born that way, they have to learn to. He has been trying to use the bench more keep minutes down, but some just like to bag on him. He brought basketball back to being fun to watch so I will give him a pass for awhile at least.

What makes you think D'Antoni will get better? Is there something in recent history that shows his ability to change? When you say "he has been trying to use the bench more"... are you referring to when Bell was out with injury?

Also, if you believe that D'Antoni is responsible for making basketball fun to watch... I'm afraid we might never agree on anything.

 

[Cheesebeef]

San Antonio looked the same way early last year. They didn't kick it in to overdrive until it was needed most.

man, I've seen the "we look like we're gonna have a SA type year" and assume that we can do the same things they do at the end of the year but I've got to ask... WHY? You know why SA revs up at the end of the year? Because they're FRESHER than most teams as Pop doesn't drive his team into the ground with heavy minutes. We play nothing like SA, our coach doesn't coach the regular season anything like SA and SA has shown pretty much every year that they save their best for last, as opposed to the Suns, who normally play heavy minutes all season, peak by mid-January and then play decent ball for the rest of the season, but then never get back to looking great, while inevitably suffering injuries along the way.

 

[dbUNIT16]

I think D'Antoni puts too much pressure on these guys sometimes. He expects every game to be so perfect. We win and he says we didn't play well. We win eight and he says we're still no there. He needs to relax. Let them play. He keeps speaking negatively after every game, no matter if it's a win.

There's something to be said for having goals, and high standards, be he is really getting annoying. Let them play. They win, or they lose. A win is a success and a loss is failure and that's it. We're in the business of winning games. Winning games in the regular season and post season. It doesn't matter how, as long as we get it done.

If he'd stop with the negativity in the media then these guys would relax and have fun. They're not going to have fun and play relaxed when you tell them we played poorly after we've won a game by 20 points.

.... I just had to rant, I'm sick of all this... just let them play, coach!

 

[CaptainInsano]

It is time to give banks some more burn, while cutting down Hills minutes.

We are the 2nd oldest team in the league, it is time to freakin' adjust already, this is NOT Quentin + Joe Johnson anymore.

If Banks really can't produce, then lets take the entire regular season at about 15-20 mpg to find out for sure. Pops plays guys like vaughn/bonner that at first could sometimes look horrible, but at least they are getting some burn and he is definitively figuring out whether they will work out or not.

If we lose a game and I see banks got 20-25 minutes it has got to the point I might even feel good let alone not feeling as bad, yet seeing we lose a game where banks played 0 minutes and hill 38-39 marion 40 nash 38-39 well that just gets the ole temper a bit flared.

 

[dodie53]

play the bench,
so we will know what they are capable of.

 

[cly2tw]

The coach with a tunnel vision is the most frustrating thing for a Suns fan. He is destroying the fundamental for the team to have a true chance to win a championship, by running the players he feels safe with for his "style" into ground.

Raja was saying: Let me rest to get healthy completely first, coach, if you want me to perform in your "style"! Amare has been urged to come back too early from surgery or injuries repeatedly over the last 3 seasons. Hill is already fatigued to a point that he has not been hitting his patent midrange shots lately.

In general, you don't see the wear and tear immediately. It accumulates over time and becomes visible only in form of the playoff injuries and lame performances. Bell got the freak injury in one year's playoff and couldn't live up to his fame as the Manu stopper in the other, all due to fatique. Yet, the coach doesn't want to see it and all he can do is to preach to "enjoy the moment", meaning "win now and hope we are lucky in the playoffs".
:Mad:

 

[sly fly]

man, I've seen the "we look like we're gonna have a SA type year" and assume that we can do the same things they do at the end of the year but I've got to ask... WHY? You know why SA revs up at the end of the year? Because they're FRESHER than most teams as Pop doesn't drive his team into the ground with heavy minutes. We play nothing like SA, our coach doesn't coach the regular season anything like SA and SA has shown pretty much every year that they save their best for last, as opposed to the Suns, who normally play heavy minutes all season, peak by mid-January and then play decent ball for the rest of the season, but then never get back to looking great, while inevitably suffering injuries along the way.

If the players are already tired after 15 games, than the problems run deeper than D'Antoni.

Lots of gloom and doom around here for a team 11-4. And a lot of crying here about minutes played. These players are in elite shape, and conditioned for the grind of a long season (save a couple points in the year in which dead legs happen).

Let's see how the season plays out (traded, FA acquisitions, injuries) before wanting to gut the team or roll over for SA.

 

[BC867]

I can guarantee every one here that a healthy PHX club come playoff time is going to be dangerous.

Interesting phraseology. If the Suns are healthy by the end of the regular season, they are going to be dangerous.

The question is, with the Suns track record and their roster, will everyone be healthy (and spry) at the end of the regular season?

As a fan, I hope so. As a realist, I don't see how.

Amare's on again-off again knees. Steve's displaced bones and aches and the beatings he takes. Grant's age. Raja's aches. (That's 4/5 of our starting lineup.) Then throw in the Coach's hesitance to use his bench to advantage until it's too late and lacking the necessary chemistry to excel.

Numerically, the odds are very much against the Suns being "a healthy club come playoff time".

It didn't take long this season for it to show.

 

[Mainstreet]

Probably not the best example but Steve Francis was just so excited to be coming off the bench and playing basketball last night. The Suns need some excitement coming off the bench which LB used to provide. I just do not feel the Suns are excited to be playing basketball in November. I was hoping the rookies or Banks could fulfill this need. Teams that start playing flat can go South in a hurry, especially teams without much size.

 

[Cheesebeef]

If the players are already tired after 15 games, than the problems run deeper than D'Antoni.

I agree and have said so for a while. I don't think this team is put together well, especially for the "system" DA likes to run. Lots of age, not enough shooters.

Lots of gloom and doom around here for a team 11-4.

maybe, but we haven't exactly played a world beater schedule so far and more often than not, when we have played a decent team with a pulse, we've lost and in the majority of our wins, we haven't looked great either.

And a lot of crying here about minutes played. These players are in elite shape, and conditioned for the grind of a long season (save a couple points in the year in which dead legs happen).

yeah, there's a lot of "crying" here about minutes played because we've seen players run down by the end of the season (Nash in 2006) or injured during the regular season or during the playoffs (KT/Raja). We've also seen our biggest rival limit minutes in the regular season and end up looking fresher than anyone else in the league come playoff time. I'm envious of their play at that point and I would think anyone who wants to see us win a title would be as well.

 

[buttsR4rebounding]

hey coach jackass, maybe you really DO have a problem with tiredness. it shows on the court! jackass.

That's exactly what I thought...

 

[buttsR4rebounding]

man, I've seen the "we look like we're gonna have a SA type year" and assume that we can do the same things they do at the end of the year but I've got to ask... WHY? You know why SA revs up at the end of the year? Because they're FRESHER than most teams as Pop doesn't drive his team into the ground with heavy minutes. We play nothing like SA, our coach doesn't coach the regular season anything like SA and SA has shown pretty much every year that they save their best for last, as opposed to the Suns, who normally play heavy minutes all season, peak by mid-January and then play decent ball for the rest of the season, but then never get back to looking great, while inevitably suffering injuries along the way.

This is right on the money. Use the regular season to get ready for the playoffs. When you are a true championship caliber team getting to the playoffs is a forgone conclusion. Use the 82 game schedule as 82 practices that you use to perfect what you need to so you can win in the playoffs. It doesn't matter if you win 55 or 62 games, only that you win 16.

 

[nowagimp]

I agree and have said so for a while. I don't think this team is put together well, especially for the "system" DA likes to run. Lots of age, not enough shooters.

And alot of double teaming the post and running back out to contest the 3 pointer. Add to that Nashs and LB's man need to be doubled, and these guys are running around on D more than last year. Perhaps if DA would play skinner more, some of the post double teaming could be avoided. It looks like to me that amares man must be doubled all the time to keep him out of foul trouble. I think the team would be better off limiting amares and Hills minutes and playing skinner more. Also hopefully Banks will play to help out on the more physical guards and limit Nashs and LB exposure to post ups, which can be physically draining. All the doubling does hurt the running game and the 3pt percentage as players legs can get tired from all the hustling. I thought everyone looked dead the whole game against the warriors, but those guys kill our guards, physically. And KT did a much better job stopping yao from backing him down than skinner. Whats up with that? Skinner is obviously more beefy(+20-30 lbs of muscle). It seemed to me that KT would get right in yaos wheelhouse and stop his FIRST back down step, while skinner lets yao get his momentum up to bang when he's backing down off the dribble. If yao gets that momentum up, for get it, he's 300 lbs.

 

[mojorizen7]

Cheesebeef:when we have played a decent team with a pulse,

Have you got a patent on this word yet? I love it!
Let's hope the SUNS have one come playoff time huh?
No rest for the weary they say....no championships either i'm guessing.
Is it gonna kill DA to play his bench & finish with 50 wins instead of 60?
To get a 3 or 4 seed instead of the 1 or 2?
Personally, i've always liked the way the SUNS have performed on the road in the playoffs as opposed to playing tight at home. Besides....how many of those "big shot's" by a member of the ALL-SUNS-KILLER-TEAM have been drained right here in the Purple Palace to abruptly "end" our season anyway?
Rest 'em Mike. Please...