Evaluating Triano

[BC867]

Regarding, small ball, position-less basketball and Dan Majerle . . .

(1) I love the posts in this thread criticizing small ball (or as it was called for the Suns first two or three decades, finesse). For almost half a century, I've been hoping that someday I would see a Suns team with the power necessary to be a legitimate post-season contender. We've reached the Finals twice in our history. Once in a surprise Cinderella season and once legitimately. In a half a century.

(2) Likewise, I also never bought into position-less basketball. Flexibility during the game is fine, but not abandoning the basic responsibilities of each position, especially on offense, is a key to consistency. It goes without saying on defense. And rebounding. You don't advance without consistency.

(3) And, as I posted years ago, Dan Majerle had the mentality of a 12-year old while playing for the Suns. Once, before a game, when #9 was the only Sun on the court shooting, I motioned him over to say 'hi' to my son who was about 12 at the time and a big fan. Dan started heading our way, then saw two girls in another section and made a beeline over to them. I yelled out, "Dan", he looked their way and came over to us.

But, as I also posted a few years ago, Thunder Dan has matured as Head Coach of GCU. It took him a long time, but I think (along with owning a group of restaurants) his issue of immaturity has been overcome. Which is why I suggested a couple of years ago that he be considered as Head Coach and I think he should be considered. He has Head Coaching experience. And player's experience. And stayed in the Valley.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Regarding, small ball, position-less basketball and Dan Majerle . . .

(1) I love the posts in this thread criticizing small ball (or as it was called for the Suns first two or three decades, finesse). For almost half a century, I've been hoping that someday I would see a Suns team with the power necessary to be a legitimate post-season contender. We've reached the Finals twice in our history. Once in a surprise Cinderella season and once legitimately. In a half a century.

(2) Likewise, I also never bought into position-less basketball. Flexibility during the game is fine, but not abandoning the basic responsibilities of each position, especially on offense, is a key to consistency. It goes without saying on defense. And rebounding. You don't advance without consistency.

(3) And, as I posted years ago, Dan Majerle had the mentality of a 12-year old while playing for the Suns. Once, before a game, when #9 was the only Sun on the court shooting, I motioned him over to say 'hi' to my son who was about 12 at the time and a big fan. Dan started heading our way, then saw two girls in another section and made a beeline over to them. I yelled out, "Dan", he looked their way and came over to us.

But, as I also posted a few years ago, Thunder Dan has matured as Head Coach of GCU. It took him a long time, but I think (along with owning a group of restaurants) his issue of immaturity has been overcome. Which is why I suggested a couple of years ago that he be considered as Head Coach and I think he should be considered. He has Head Coaching experience. And player's experience. And stayed in the Valley.

Never thought I would say this, but I want a more experienced coach than Dan Majerle. Triano has much more experience and comes from a family of coaches who coached at a high level. A coach like Messina would my choice at this point though.

I am not interested in anyone with a Suns pedigree just because I think it clouds our ability to judge them.

 

[BC867]

Never thought I would say this, but I want a more experienced coach than Dan Majerle. Triano has much more experience and comes from a family of coaches who coached at a high level. A coach like Messina would my choice at this point though.

I am not interested in anyone with a Suns pedigree just because I think it clouds our ability to judge them.

I agree with you. My post was more about Dan getting consideration when the time comes then, hopefully, a skilled Front Office making the best decision.

I just paused after typing. "... a skilled Front Office Office making the best decision"? This group has yet to prove that they can do that. That will be the problem.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Triano was on the radio this morning. Just a couple of tidbits.

When asked what he first thought about when he heard that EW was being fired he would be getting the job. He said that his first thought was for Earl and his future and what he (Triano) might have done differently to help Earl be more successful.

When asked about what he thought immediately needed to change when he heard he got the job. He said that the Suns were giving up 130 points a game. He knew he wasn't going to be able to develop an offense that would get 130+ points per game, so it had to be defense. He is a big believer in defense. He said he wants close defense. Defensive players always touching in contact with other players. But this team is not in good enough condition to do that right now.

He did say that the Suns have been a top 7 defense in the NBA over the last three games. That is a small sample size and not a huge indicator. But it is an improvement, no matter how you look at it.

 

[Mainstreet]

@JCSunsfan

I keep hearing reference to the Suns lack of conditioning. I'm wondering if other NBA teams are having the same problem or is this something specific to the Suns conditioning program.

IMO, it's a little too early to talk about the Suns defense.

 

[Dback Jon]

@JCSunsfan

I keep hearing reference to the Suns lack of conditioning. I'm wondering if other NBA teams are having the same problem or is this something specific to the Suns conditioning program.

IMO, it's a little too early to talk about the Suns defense.

I wonder that too.

 

[Mainstreet]

I wonder that too.

Poor conditioning would also help explain the Suns getting blown out a couple of early games.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Poor conditioning would also help explain the Suns getting blown out a couple of early games.

Id say the lack of effort was responsible for the first three games more than anything else.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Hey. I'm just the messenger. If the coach says conditioning is a problem, I do not see why I should not believe him. There was a motivation problem too, obviously, but conditioning problems and motivation problems tend to feed each other.

About being too early to evaluate defense, I don't think so. You evaluate every game. I do think it is too early to come to any substantive conclusions. They have played three quality defensive games. That is better than what they had been doing. We just do not know whether that is an aberration or not.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Id say conditioning has some to do with it but you cant have a 180 turnaround from game 3 to game 4 without improved effort. Conditioning doesnt work that fast. Gonna takes weeks of heavy minutes to improve the players conditioning levels.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Id say conditioning has some to do with it but you cant have a 180 turnaround from game 3 to game 4 without improved effort. Conditioning doesnt work that fast. Gonna takes weeks of heavy minutes to improve the players conditioning levels.

That is true. But substituting freely can help some.

 

[Ronin]

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[Mainstreet]

Id say the lack of effort was responsible for the first three games more than anything else.

And perhaps poor coaching as well not to mention questions about Bledsoe. The list probably goes on.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

And perhaps poor coaching as well not to mention questions about Bledsoe. The list probably goes on.

I agree. Coaching is part of it, although, Triano must be a miracle working having so little time to prepare the team for game 4 and then having the performance the Suns put forth ever since.
And not having bledsoe the black hole on the floor is paying dividends as well.

 

[JCSunsfan]

1. Uninspired Bledsoe gone.
2. Coaching change and clarity for the players.
3. Mike James getting his only shot and playing like a mad man.
4. With Bledsoe gone, its now Booker's team.
5. Chandler all of the sudden looks inspired.
6. Bender's light all of the sudden went on, not sure why.

All factors, some quite inter-related.

 

[SirStefan32]

This happens in more than sports. It's not uncommon for a business team to step up immediately when the leader is replaced, especially if that leader has really alienated the team. In this case, the positional leader and the peer-leader went bye-bye, and it appears nobody liked either one of them.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Small sample size sure, but man those numbers seem tell a compelling story . . .

 

[elindholm]

Small sample size sure, but man those numbers seem tell a compelling story . . .

What I can't understand is how the team's utter aimlessness under Watson -- which extends back a lot more than the first three games of this season -- was so obvious to many people on this board, but somehow invisible to either the front office or Watson himself.

 

[BC867]

What I can't understand is how the team's utter aimlessness under Watson -- which extends back a lot more than the first three games of this season -- was so obvious to many people on this board, but somehow invisible to either the front office or Watson himself.

The front office reports to the owner, an inexperienced out of town banker whose profession is living off other people's money.

And Watson? It was it what it was. He did what he was capable of doing.

I have wanted Bledsoe and Knight gone. But the front office evidently did not consider the consequences of benching their lead "Point Guard" with a good part of last season to go, then expecting good attitudes the following season.

An inexperienced owner. An inexperienced General Manager. An inexperienced Head Coach. Low investments for the owner.

Were it not for two of our first three games being complete blowouts and embarrassments, changes would not have been made after three games. The two blowouts have proven to be the best thing that ever happened to the Suns.

The season is young, but I look ahead and fear that if Triano decides he does not want the job permanently, next season will be SOS. 'Same ol' ****.

 

[Chaplin]

Small sample size, but Triano is doing a spectacular job right now.

 

[95pro]

Small sample size but the differential between all those stats is quite amazing

 

[Hoop Head]

Okay, so now Triano has impressed me for 2 games. Tom Chambers just pointed out that he's coaching up the young guys when they're on the bench.

When I was at the Jazz game on the 25th I watched the Suns bench and body language was really good but it seemed like whoever was closest to the coaches was always talking with a coach or two and Triano himself seemed to give a lot of attention to Bender and Len in particular, whether it was in timeouts or they were by the bench.

 

[Hoop Head]

A note on conditioning I've seen mentioned across the league was the shortened preseason which also included a shortened training camp. That gives players less time to get into game shape. Players stay in shape year round for the most part but game shape is something that they need actual games in order to maintain. With 5 less preseason games though and about a week cut off of training camp that changes when players will actually work their way into shape. At this point we should be seeing that, I suspect that is one of the reasons Warren has finally stepped up. He's been solid for the last week but looked lost at times early on, even under Triano.

 

[Phrazbit]

A note on conditioning I've seen mentioned across the league was the shortened preseason which also included a shortened training camp. That gives players less time to get into game shape. Players stay in shape year round for the most part but game shape is something that they need actual games in order to maintain. With 5 less preseason games though and about a week cut off of training camp that changes when players will actually work their way into shape. At this point we should be seeing that, I suspect that is one of the reasons Warren has finally stepped up. He's been solid for the last week but looked lost at times early on, even under Triano.

I really like Warren, but I do think his game is somewhat situation specific. If the mid range and post area is clogged then he isn't going to produce... at the same time he won't kill us because he isn't selfish. But still, against teams that have long defenders that rotate on the interior, I think he will not put up consistent scoring numbers until he develops a reliable 3pt shot.

At the same time... to over hype him, I feel like he provides everything Carmelo Anthony should. He rebounds well for his size, he hustles, he isn't selfish, he has a killer game within 16 feet. If OKC offered him for Melo straight up, I'd decline.