Earl Watson has been fired

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Mainstreet

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Sarver not being around isn't a bad thing. People want him to be more hands off and he decides to step away and that leaves the same crowd to ask where he is, saying it's his team and he should be there.
 

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Two things stood out in that to me.

This by Marotta shows just how bad things were to start the year...

The Suns had lost only four games by more than 40 points in their history before last Wednesday. Through three games, they’ve been blown out by more than 40 twice, so I guess some changes were necessary.


And this from Gambo, which I think backs up what some were saying about hindering the development of players. You can't try and brush off 2 embarrassing losses like the Suns have suffered already how Gambo says Watson tried to. If we were missing a key player that might work but I doubt it. You don't want your head coach telling your young players that basketball comes second. That is probably why Chriss has regressed and Bender's development has been stagnant. Bender had to be confused coming from Europe to this style of coaching and with a questionable attitude already, Chriss decided to do as he pleased through the offseason with little direction on how to be a better player.

Earl was over his head. He was philosophical and preached loyalty, unity, family to the players. He talked about his brother, his upbringing and that life was bigger than basketball after a recent loss. The players don’t care – they want to win. They want guidance, leadership, adjustments. They weren’t getting that. Earl preached no panic and stick together. He wanted to embrace and love but what this team needs is to fight and that is something they weren’t doing.
 

elindholm

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Earl was over his head. He was philosophical and preached loyalty, unity, family to the players. He talked about his brother, his upbringing and that life was bigger than basketball after a recent loss. The players don’t care – they want to win. They want guidance, leadership, adjustments. They weren’t getting that. Earl preached no panic and stick together. He wanted to embrace and love but what this team needs is to fight and that is something they weren’t doing.

Right, so this is just utter cluelessness if it's true.

A coach is a leader. The players want to be led; they don't want to hear your sob stories about why coaching is important to you. A coach should not expect his players to care about him. That's not why he's there. If you can't handle the loneliness of being the guy in charge, don't do it. You have to love the process of doing things right, and the results that come with that, more than anything else.
 

Cheesebeef

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Right, so this is just utter cluelessness if it's true.

A coach is a leader. The players want to be led; they don't want to hear your sob stories about why coaching is important to you. A coach should not expect his players to care about him. That's not why he's there. If you can't handle the loneliness of being the guy in charge, don't do it. You have to love the process of doing things right, and the results that come with that, more than anything else.

And yet people want the guy who JUST gave Watson a three year deal to pick our next coach.

Beyond confusing this board can be.
 

BC867

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For the sake of argument, what makes Dudley a worse choice than Majerle? I think both would be asinine, but there's broad support for Majerle on this board, as there is for Eddie Johnson, which would make even less sense.
What makes Majerle different from E.J. and Dudley is his experience as a Head Coach -- the leader and figurehead on the court, even if it is at the college level.
 

iLLmatiC

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And yet people want the guy who JUST gave Watson a three year deal to pick our next coach.

Beyond confusing this board can be.

McD definitely needs to be next. He's a common denominator in this ongoing dumpster fire.
 

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And yet people want the guy who JUST gave Watson a three year deal to pick our next coach.

Beyond confusing this board can be.

Watson did not JUST sign a 3 year deal. I know it hurts the narrative you're pushing but it's false. Move on.
 

JS22

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For the sake of argument, what makes Dudley a worse choice than Majerle? I think both would be asinine, but there's broad support for Majerle on this board, as there is for Eddie Johnson, which would make even less sense.

What Majerle has been doing with GCU is damn impressive. If he wants to stay in the college ranks I think he'd get offers for much bigger gigs in the next few years.

His time as an assistant here would at least somewhat qualify him for the NBA. And his work @ GCU gives him that "ability to work with young players" quality that this team would need, I guess.

I wouldn't hate it. But I don't think it happens. Too much bad blood and the timing sucks.
 

JS22

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McD definitely needs to be next. He's a common denominator in this ongoing dumpster fire.

The Suns are finally tanking and have a roster that is basically nothing but unproven & young "talent." This is exactly what most wanted.

Sarver is the common denominator over the years.
 

iLLmatiC

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The Suns are finally tanking and have a roster that is basically nothing but unproven & young "talent." This is exactly what most wanted.

Sarver is the common denominator over the years.

Agreed, but Sarver isn't going away unless he sells. McD has made quite a few missteps.
 

pokerface

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The Suns are finally tanking and have a roster that is basically nothing but unproven & young "talent." This is exactly what most wanted.

Sarver is the common denominator over the years.


Well free agents weren't exactly knocking our door down.
 

Ouchie-Z-Clown

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Two things stood out in that to me.

This by Marotta shows just how bad things were to start the year...




And this from Gambo, which I think backs up what some were saying about hindering the development of players. You can't try and brush off 2 embarrassing losses like the Suns have suffered already how Gambo says Watson tried to. If we were missing a key player that might work but I doubt it. You don't want your head coach telling your young players that basketball comes second. That is probably why Chriss has regressed and Bender's development has been stagnant. Bender had to be confused coming from Europe to this style of coaching and with a questionable attitude already, Chriss decided to do as he pleased through the offseason with little direction on how to be a better player.
I totally agree. They need an old school coach to make them players first. Hold their feet to the fire. Make them accountable and make them become basketball players. Then, we will need a new coach with fresh ideas to make what they’ve become into a weapon. Then bring in the zen crap.
 

Chaplin

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I totally agree. They need an old school coach to make them players first. Hold their feet to the fire. Make them accountable and make them become basketball players. Then, we will need a new coach with fresh ideas to make what they’ve become into a weapon. Then bring in the zen crap.
We definitely differ on tanking, but this post really boils the coaching situation down nicely. It's not that difficult to see what's going on.
 

JCSunsfan

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It became clear that Watson lost the team. Young players were regressing.

Like I have been saying. Ettore Messina. He is an assistant with the Spurs. He has been a very successful head coach. He could be available now.
 
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