Evaluating Triano

[BC867]

Surprising. When he was elevated at the start of this season, he said something about how he wasn't a candidate for a longer-term job and didn't see himself as head coaching material. It's hard to see how a bunch of blowout losses would have changed his mind. I think he has done a good job in some ways, but it's disturbing that the team's psychological makeup is still so fragile. My guess is that Triano would rather be the head coach than unemployed, and he figures his chances of being retained as an assistant under someone else are slim, so he's playing the only card he has.

He said when he was hired that he doesn't like being a head coach because he does not like dealing with the media. But in an interview very recently he has embraced the job and wants to continue what he has been doing. I will give him the benefit and say it is a little bit more than just about a paycheck. I think he has connected with these guys and he feels like his is accomplishing something and wants to continue it.

I believe that Triano may be sincere in changing his mind about not wanting the non-court activities of being Head Coach. But that doesn't mean it is his decision to make. It is the Suns choice.

I'm all for Triano being retained as an assistant but don't think he should be the head coach next year. The recent blowouts don't change that either. He's got a good basketball mind and I'm sure this team would be better if had a full offseason to prepare them for what his plans offensively and defensively were but he got dealt a pretty crummy hand taking over 3 games into the year.

His presence on the bench could be an issue for the next head coach though. Players look at him as the coach now and it'd be weird to demote him. It may cause the new head coach issues winning some guys over and also cause them to think their replacement is on their staff. It would be different if he were young but he's not.

Exactly! It would be extremely difficult to change the stigma of a losing culture without a new Head Coach. One bringing experience from a winning culture would be ideal. Scratch that. It would be necessary for our team overloaded with young players. Otherwise any rah-rah would just be lip service.

It is bad enough that the Managing General Partner (and hopefully not, the GM) will still be around, but at least they are not with the players all the time -- training camp, practices, games.


EDIT: 'Just read your post, Cheese, after I posted mine. Right on!

 

[Mainstreet]

Surprising. When he was elevated at the start of this season, he said something about how he wasn't a candidate for a longer-term job and didn't see himself as head coaching material. It's hard to see how a bunch of blowout losses would have changed his mind. I think he has done a good job in some ways, but it's disturbing that the team's psychological makeup is still so fragile. My guess is that Triano would rather be the head coach than unemployed, and he figures his chances of being retained as an assistant under someone else are slim, so he's playing the only card he has.

I think Triano has grown close to the players and he is aware the Suns are going to make a major push this summer to take the next step forward. The Suns have the assets.

He wants to be part of that... not just the developmental part which has involved a lot of losing. IMO, keeping a job is a not big factor with Triano. Triano has credentials. He can always get an assistant coaching position somewhere if he wants to keep working.

My 2 cents, if I were were working a job and laid the foundation for the future, I'd like to see it come to fruition as well.

 

[BC867]

I think Triano has grown close to the players and he is aware the Suns are going to make a major push this summer to take the next step forward. The Suns have the assets.

He wants to be part of that... not just the developmental part which has involved a lot of losing. IMO, keeping a job is a not big factor with Triano. Triano has credentials. He can always get an assistant coaching position somewhere if he wants to keep working.

My 2 cents, if I were were working a job and laid the foundation for the future, I'd like to see it come to fruition as well.

I'll say it again. It is not Triano's decision. He seems to be an honorable person. But the Suns need a check-up from the neck-up and Triano is part of that. He would represent status quo from an embarrassing season and that's not good enough.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'll say it again. It is not Triano's decision. He seems to be an honorable person. But the Suns need a check-up from the neck-up and Triano is part of that. He would represent status quo from an embarrassing season and that's not good enough.

The Suns need to interview multiple candidates who are capable this time around.

I think it is only fair to allow Triano to compete for the head coaching job... no promises.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Sorry. I lose track of who the pro-tankers are and the anti-tankers on this board. It would seem to me that people who are pro-tank and want McD and Triano fired are inconsistent. They are doing exactly what the pro-tankers want them to do. Maybe there is no one here in that category. Just sayin.

There are 20 some games left. We will see how it goes. I will reserve total judgment on Triano until the end of the season.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Sorry. I lose track of who the pro-tankers are and the anti-tankers on this board. It would seem to me that people who are pro-tank and want McD and Triano fired are inconsistent. They are doing exactly what the pro-tankers want them to do. Maybe there is no one here in that category. Just sayin.

There are 20 some games left. We will see how it goes. I will reserve total judgment on Triano until the end of the season.

You're inability to understand this is issue is very sorry. McD's entire tenure has sucked... and NOT because he planned it to, save 15 games last year. That's why some of the "pro-tankers" want him fired. Because he's been an abject failure creating a winning team or picking coaches. He hasn't tried to tank (again outside of 15 games last year)... we've just been atrocious and he's the guy who puts the team together.

Triano is part of the culture of losing and to be honest, hasn't shown anything that will change the needle in the other direction and I believe that for this team to change, EVERYONE calling the shots needs to change with it.

If this is really that hard to understand, that's your problem, not mine.

 

[Chaplin]

You're inability to understand this is issue is very sorry. McD's entire tenure has sucked... and NOT because he planned it to, save 15 games last year. That's why some of the "pro-tankers" want him fired. Because he's been an abject failure creating a winning team or picking coaches. He hasn't tried to tank (again outside of 15 games last year)... we've just been atrocious and he's the guy who puts the team together.

Triano is part of the culture of losing and to be honest, hasn't shown anything that will change the needle in the other direction and I believe that for this team to change, EVERYONE calling the shots needs to change with it.

If this is really that hard to understand, that's your problem, not mine.

Spot on, but it all boils down to 2 40-point losses amongst 4 such losses this season, the worst this franchise has seen. There’s losing and there’s LOSING.

 

[Phrazbit]

You're inability to understand this is issue is very sorry. McD's entire tenure has sucked... and NOT because he planned it to, save 15 games last year. That's why some of the "pro-tankers" want him fired. Because he's been an abject failure creating a winning team or picking coaches. He hasn't tried to tank (again outside of 15 games last year)... we've just been atrocious and he's the guy who puts the team together.

Triano is part of the culture of losing and to be honest, hasn't shown anything that will change the needle in the other direction and I believe that for this team to change, EVERYONE calling the shots needs to change with it.

If this is really that hard to understand, that's your problem, not mine.

This was a tanked season, by NBA standards, from the word go. That is something the hardcore "tanking" crowd has failed to grasp. McD got an extension, added nothing but a 19 year old to a terrible team... it was a license to tank, Bledsoe was not down, he got shipped.

I don't get how the same posters who so strongly advocate tanking can simultaneously whine about the culture of losing. It's hypocrisy on another level. They rest half their effective players on a given night, they've been doing it for over a year now. This is tanking, it's ugly and humiliating, but this is what it is.

 

[Phrazbit]

I'm fine with a new coach, in fact, I'd prefer it, but being mad that the team is doing exactly what many have asked for over the last several years is mind boggling.

This. Is. Tanking.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Sometimes its best to look outside the Box. The Suns are hardly the only team in the West to tank the last few years. You have the powers in the West that can't be beat. Maybe the GM here is smarter then you think. I'm fine with a new coach next year. Most of us wanted one after the young guns grew up.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm fine with a new coach, in fact, I'd prefer it, but being mad that the team is doing exactly what many have asked for over the last several years is mind boggling.

This. Is. Tanking.

Losing by 40 points 4 times in a season isn’t tanking. Its being hopelessly bad. Tanking is doing the little things to prevent wins. Where is the evidence of that this year?

 

[BC867]

Spot on, but it all boils down to 2 40-point losses amongst 4 such losses this season, the worst this franchise has seen. There’s losing and there’s LOSING.

And an interim Coach who has condescended to saying that he may want to take the responsibility after all. Whoopie! That is cancelling a negative. Which is not the same as offering a positive from the start.

We are so used to losing that we grasp at straws. Maybe we can keep the interim Coach who said he doesn't want the job. Maybe we'll finally luck out in the draft. Maybe the boy General Manager will grow up. Maybe a predominantly young, inconsistent team will all mature and reach star status.

Here is the definition of "proactive":

Adjective -- (of a person, policy, or action) creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.

Synonyms -- enterprising, take-charge, energetic, driven, bold, dynamic, motivated, go-ahead

Now, tell me. Does any of that describe our owner, General Manager or interim Coach? The Suns leadership is lethargic.

Being a "small market" team doesn't mean that has to happen. Perhaps if we were proactive, our city with a top-5 population (the most populated State capital in the country) wouldn't be "small market".

 

[Hoop Head]

Losing by 40 points 4 times in a season isn’t tanking. Its being hopelessly bad. Tanking is doing the little things to prevent wins. Where is the evidence of that this year?

Not making any changes to the roster they rolled out during the 2nd half of last season when everyone openly admitted they were tanking. All they did was bring Chandler back, who they sat then. They traded away Bledsoe who they also sat also. The only additions to the team were a castaway from Memphis, Troy Daniels, and rookies. They rolled this team out to tank, essentially, for the entire season. Player development was the stated #1 priority while winning and their record came 2nd to that. They knew that would result in another high draft pick so they could add another piece to their core and they plan on doing so and also making a run at some veterans to turn the corner this offseason. It may not be tanking in the way that some had hoped or the way that Philly had done it but this was a tanked season from the very start.

 

[BC867]

Not making any changes to the roster they rolled out during the 2nd half of last season when everyone openly admitted they were tanking. All they did was bring Chandler back, who they sat then. They traded away Bledsoe who they also sat also. The only additions to the team were a castaway from Memphis, Troy Daniels, and rookies. They rolled this team out to tank, essentially, for the entire season. Player development was the stated #1 priority while winning and their record came 2nd to that. They knew that would result in another high draft pick so they could add another piece to their core and they plan on doing so and also making a run at some veterans to turn the corner this offseason. It may not be tanking in the way that some had hoped or the way that Philly had done it but this was a tanked season from the very start.

The start, as you pointed out, was during the previous season when they benched Bledsoe and Chandler

 

[JCSunsfan]

Not making any changes to the roster they rolled out during the 2nd half of last season when everyone openly admitted they were tanking. All they did was bring Chandler back, who they sat then. They traded away Bledsoe who they also sat also. The only additions to the team were a castaway from Memphis, Troy Daniels, and rookies. They rolled this team out to tank, essentially, for the entire season. Player development was the stated #1 priority while winning and their record came 2nd to that. They knew that would result in another high draft pick so they could add another piece to their core and they plan on doing so and also making a run at some veterans to turn the corner this offseason. It may not be tanking in the way that some had hoped or the way that Philly had done it but this was a tanked season from the very start.

If that’s what your definition of tanking is, well then yes, that is exactly what they did. I am not sure the Bledsoe trade was a planned part of it all, but they rolled with it just the same. This is the first time in Suns history they have gone through a full rebuilding process. Losing is a part of it unfortunately. The 40 point losses in the middle of the season seem different than those early. That team early seemed to have no interest in competing and that was on Bledsoe and the coach. They had no offensive scheme whatsoever. This team tries to compete and keeps it close most nights. Due to injuries and youth, when they have a bad night, it’s a really bad one.

 

[Chaplin]

Wait. We're talking about Triano. Is he responsible for benching Bledsoe and Chandler last year when he wasn't even Head Coach?

We all admit we were tanking last year. So what? We're talking about THIS YEAR.

 

[Ronin]

SLAM Magazine
@SLAMonline

Suns targeting David Fizdale to replace interim coach Jay Triano, reports @Mitch_Lawrence (link: http://slam.ly/suns-fizdale) slam.ly/suns-fizdale

 

[Mainstreet]

SLAM Magazine
@SLAMonline

Suns targeting David Fizdale to replace interim coach Jay Triano, reports @Mitch_Lawrence (link: http://slam.ly/suns-fizdale) slam.ly/suns-fizdale

So if the Lakers land Fizdale, Luke Walton may be looking for a job.

 

[JCSunsfan]

So if the Lakers land Fizdale, Luke Walton may be looking for a job.

I think Walton has done a pretty good job with the Lakers. I would be fine with him. I might like him more than Fizdale. Walton worked under Kerr and coached under that system which I think is where we want to be as a team.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Walton has done a pretty good job with the Lakers. I would be fine with him. I might like him more than Fizdale. Walton worked under Kerr and coached under that system which I think is where we want to be as a team.

Walton appears to be a legitimate head coach candidate for the Suns if Fizdale ends up with the Lakers. The Suns could do much worse.

 

[Errntknght]

Warren is officially out.

Who is Warren in this context, and what is he out of?

Jay Triano, Luke Walton and David Fizdale are the only three people in this discussion - Warren is closest to Walton in spelling but that doesn't make much sense.

 

[Mainstreet]

Who is Warren in this context, and what is he out of?

Jay Triano, Luke Walton and David Fizdale are the only three people in this discussion - Warren is closest to Walton in spelling but that doesn't make much sense.

Inadvertently posted on wrong thread. Warren is not playing tonight against the Grizzlies.

Post deleted.

 

[StreetTruckinTitan]

Walton appears to be a legitimate head coach candidate for the Suns if Fizdale ends up with the Lakers. The Suns could do much worse.

No to Walton. He's done nothing with the lakers and the Warriors can pretty much coach themselves. Find a seasoned veteran HC thats seen everything not some retired player turned HC.

 

[BC867]

Bickley says the Suns need to hire Dan Majerle as Head Coach. I suggest that Thunder Dan has overcome his immaturity, has experience coaching young players as well as recruiting.

I think he's ready. And all it would take is for the brass and him to shake hands and move forward.

What are your opinions?

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...-dan-majerle-their-next-head-coach/379849002/

 

[Hoop Head]

Bickley says the Suns need to hire Dan Majerle as Head Coach. I suggest that Thunder Dan has overcome his immaturity, has experience coaching young players as well as recruiting.

I think he's ready. And all it would take is for the brass and him to shake hands and move forward.

What are your opinions?

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...-dan-majerle-their-next-head-coach/379849002/

I'd rather have someone as the coach that has proven they can coach in the NBA. Majerle may end up being a good coach but this hiring is too important to bring him in. It will be viewed as a move to please fans and sell tickets rather than improve the team.