Earl Watson Press Conference

[slinslin]

suns.com right now

This is probably one of the best introduction conference I have seen, very impressed by Watson.

 

[Shaggy]

What impresses you about him?

 

[slinslin]

Well he seemed very focused and prepared for this. He talked for a long time it felt like. A lot of what he said I think was spot on.

Holding players accountable, visualizing success, positive reinforcement, providing a structure, clear roles and minute rotations. I think the part about player roles, minutes and substitution patterns will be a big deal for the players. Up till now there was absolutely no consistency with how Horancek distributed minutes. Players never knew if and when they were playing and how much.

Not too fond of him calling Hornacek "Coach H" or Kevin Durant "KD" but I guess that is normal for him.

I am a little worried that Watson will be able to get the best out of these players and even Markieff performing again for Watson while we end up with the #9 pick.

 

[sundevil04]

I just listened to his interview with Bickley & Marotta, I had the total opposite impression. He sounds to me like a guy in WAAAAAY over his head. It's embarrassing that this franchise has fallen to his point

 

[elindholm]

Holding players accountable, visualizing success, positive reinforcement, providing a structure, clear roles and minute rotations.

Meaningless. Ranks right up there with Terry Porter saying "defense" every third word.

If coaching in the NBA boiled down to fortune cookie inscriptions, anyone could do it.

"Visualizing success," what a load of dung.

 

[sunsfan88]

Meaningless. Ranks right up there with Terry Porter saying "defense" every third word.

If coaching in the NBA boiled down to fortune cookie inscriptions, anyone could do it.

"Visualizing success," what a load of dung.

Not only that, press conference quotes only mean so much right now. Pretty much every coach in the league gives the same standard "Gonna hold everyone accountable, we're gonna push the ball, we're gonna play hard for 48 mins" etc crap. It's a matter of whether or not all that wisdom transfers on the court to the players and if they buy in. That said, I don't expect Watson to win a bunch of games nor do I want him to either due to our Simmons chances. I just hope Warren, Booker, Goodwin and Len all get good minutes that's the only thing left for this season.

 

[JerkFace]

I am with Slin... I was impressed. Obviously at this point it is just talk, but it was a press conference, it was suppose to be just about talk. The only thing that matters is results on the court, but in evaluating the press conference, I thought he came across well.

 

[sunsfan88]

I just listened to his interview with Bickley & Marotta, I had the total opposite impression. He sounds to me like a guy in WAAAAAY over his head. It's embarrassing that this franchise has fallen to his point

I haven't watched it yet but this is the same feeling I got from the media who went to his presser as well

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694588872366292992

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694588986690437120

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694591816948002817

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694592703636459520

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694593643940679681

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694594295433592833

 

[JerkFace]

I haven't watched it yet but this is the same feeling I got from the media who went to his presser as well

From the media?? You quoted one guy six times.

 

[Covert Rain]

suns.com right now

This is probably one of the best introduction conference I have seen, very impressed by Watson.

What were you watching? Everything he said came off as canned and cliche?!?!? I don't put much stock in pressers but as pressers go that was pretty run of the mill. Nothing stood out.

 

[JerkFace]

And you left out this quote which I think applies to a lot of posters here:

https://twitter.com/sethpo/status/694594529341472768

 

[sunsfan88]

From the media?? You quoted one guy six times.

Bryan Gibberman, and couple other BSOTs writers had the same quotes, I just didn't feel like posting every single one.

 

[TJ]

Who cares who's coaching this team at the moment? I'm fine with the towel boy taking over the position. Just put us in the best position to get the most ping pong balls.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Who cares who's coaching this team at the moment? I'm fine with the towel boy taking over the position. Just put us in the best position to get the most ping pong balls.

they really should have made the towel boy the coach. Would anyone in Phoenix mind if this team lost literally every single game the rest of the season? No one cares anyway AND it would help us with ping-pong balls!

 

[3rdside]

Even though I disagree with Slinslin on Hornacek (although he did package up him up quite nicely as the scapegoat) I have to agree with him on Watson.

I was all ready to say too young, too unintelligent etc but I saw this on youtube and thought he was pretty impressive. And who knows, maybe there's something to this millenial thing which EW, by default of age, will be better suited to addressing.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[3rdside]

FTFM

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Watson is just an overpaid babysitter until the real HC can be hired at seasons end. I dont expect anything to change and as long as they keep losing its all good.

 

[Mainstreet]

they really should have made the towel boy the coach. Would anyone in Phoenix mind if this team lost literally every single game the rest of the season? No one cares anyway AND it would help us with ping-pong balls!

This is what made the timing of the Hornacek firing surprising. I think one of the reasons the Suns fired Hornacek now is their intent to see if Watson can get anything out of Markieff before the trade deadline.

 

[Russ Smith]

Maybe Phoenix found the next Kevin Ollie but the odds are they didn't.

Earl played for one of the worst college coaches in Steve Lavin so he certainly didn't learn anything from him except how NOT to coach. He had a long NBA career so maybe he picked up stuff there. Earl has been involved in AAU ball for awhile mainly sponsoring a team not coaching it.

Was a tough player at UCLA that played hard but not necessarily smart, used to drive me nuts with all the lobs and never making a jumpstop on the break.

When Ollie was playing everyone said someday that guy is going to be a great coach, his coaches, his teammates. Durant credits Ollie with completely changing the mindset of the Thunder when he was there. I think coaches loved Earl because he played hard but I don't recall many saying that guy is going to be a great coach some day.

I certainly hope he will be but he's very inexperienced.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm wondering if Earl Watson fits this description by Ryan McDonough.

In the radio interview, McDonough said the Suns' culture has become too "loose," "unstructured" and "undisciplined." He said Watson will be a candidate to keep the job permanently as part of an offseason coaching search and that the Suns are in search of stability.

"We need to create a culture where we are developing our young players, where guys come in and play hard and play the right way and are learning good habits," McDonough said.

He seems so young and inexperienced to take the interim head coaching role. I have to question the decision although I am willing to give him a chance. I wonder if he is ready to be a disciplinarian when the job calls for it. If the Suns hire a new head coach I imagine they will encourage the new coach to keep him as an assistant.

See the Paul Coro article dated 2-2-16 at the link below.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...s-were-not-responding-jeff-hornacek/79693742/

 

[sunsfan88]

He's apparently a big Markieff fan

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/694661646581518336

 

[Covert Rain]

I thought Porter was a disciplinarian? Yet Earl Watson is suppose to bring that here? Yeah...OK. Like others said...this is interim baby sitting job until the Suns find someone they really want. Hey..he may end up bring a great coach. That would be great. Just not holding my breath.

 

[Mainstreet]

He's apparently a big Markieff fan

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/694661646581518336

Player development and stability are likely the primary reasons Watson got the interim coaching job.

 

[Errntknght]

Don't you just know the team is going to play far over their heads the rest of the way to make sure that we maintain our 48 year string of not getting the number 1 pick... Number 14 is out of reach so I'm thinking like 9-11...

 

[Catlover]

Don't you just know the team is going to play far over their heads the rest of the way to make sure that we maintain our 48 year string of not getting the number 1 pick... Number 14 is out of reach so I'm thinking like 9-11...

I'll take that bet. I don't see us winning 6 more games this season. And even if 3 teams below us hit it big in the lottery I still don't think we draft below 8th. Unless Knight comes back and plays like a top 5 player we're almost definitely going to suit up the least talented lineup in each matchup remaining this season. We'll steal a game or two along the way but it won't happen often IMO regardless of who is coaching this group.