Gentry hiring good or bad?

[Covert Rain]

You apparently only had your eyes on the negative events when it comes to Amare. Unable to hold the ball at times, is it all you have against his decision making? What does rebounding, defense, holding lowpost PF position to do with highpost decision making? It's like he sucks at one thing, then he must suck at everything kind of argument with you.

What the heck are you talking about? I have repeatedly called Amare a fantastic offensive player. Also, you didn't read what I posted. I think Amare has a piss poor basketball IQ which leads to terrible rebounding, forcing the ball in the paint and disappearing on defense.

Doesn't exactly scream great decision making.

Okay, but what if the perceived weakest link (Nash) defensively is the Suns best player offensively not to mention the team chemistry he creates. Let's get a a young PG that can replace Nash on the roster (Dragic still needs work) before some fans kill the goose that lays the golden egg. I thought you were on to something when you noted Amare's deficiencies. Defense is played by a team and not just one player. If the Suns had four other stellar defensive players in their starting lineup then your point about Nash would be stronger.

I know what Nash can do and I know the impact of not having Nash run this system would do to our offense. However, IMO that is only magnified because of the offensive and defensive philosophy this team has had since he got here. The Suns care more about offense then defense. You can't take a team with players who fit this system and expect them to manufacture defensive skills. They are not those types of players.

I don't believe in this system and I don't believe in the players we have to be a good defensive team. So, you start from the ground up. I just don't think it's realistic that the Suns are going to be able to find 4 shut down defensive starters in the NBA to surround Nash. Even if you did, Nash would still struggle keeping guys in front of him which will allow dribble penetration and get our bigs in foul trouble.

When I ask myself would this team be better with Billups in the starting PG spot and I can say undeniably yes....that tells me something.

 

[cly2tw]

What the heck are you talking about? I have repeatedly called Amare a fantastic offensive player. Also, you didn't read what I posted. I think Amare has a piss poor basketball IQ which leads to terrible rebounding, forcing the ball in the paint and disappearing on defense.

Doesn't exactly scream great decision making.

So, I read you correctly.

Human perception and attention has to be selective. Very often we have a theoretical guidance as to what to look for, in any thing. I'm currently mainly seeing Nash's weakness, though I am fully aware of his good sides too. So probably is your perception of Amare's never being capable of smart offensive decision making. And you can't understand why I have a different theory and observed things with a different kind of bias. It's normal. Let's agree to disagree at that.

 

[Covert Rain]

So, I read you correctly.

Human perception and attention has to be selective. Very often we have a theoretical guidance as to what to look for, in any thing. I'm currently mainly seeing Nash's weakness, though I am fully aware of his good sides too. So probably is your perception of Amare's never being capable of smart offensive decision making. And you can't understand why I have a different theory and observed things with a different kind of bias. It's normal. Let's agree to disagree at that.

Your not reading me correctly. It's not I don't think Amare never makes good decisions. It's that I think Amare is the type of player that relies more on his instincts then good basketball decisions. I fully recognize his offensive skill but just disagree with you on what makes him good offensively.

To me guys that make good decisions are usually the high basketball IQ guys and based on Amare's overall game he clearly isn't one of them.

 

[cly2tw]

Your not reading me correctly. It's not I don't think Amare never makes good decisions. It's that I think Amare is the type of player that relies more on his instincts then good basketball decisions. I fully recognize his offensive skill but just disagree with you on what makes him good offensively.

To me guys that make good decisions are usually the high basketball IQ guys and based on Amare's overall game he clearly isn't one of them.

I said he made improvement there. We fans used to complain the stupid offensive fouls he'd commit driving from the high post. He really changed that this season, just as LB almost eliminated the head/shoulder down and drive into 3 people moves. Like the 3 consequetive failures to drive on TD in one loss to Spurs last season, he can only learn from error and trial which DA didn't want to give him as it was so easy to have Nash create for everybody for easy scores. They only used him to do what he could already do very well by following instinct and relying on pure athleticm or shooting.

So, he was given by Porter a little consistent chances to learn in real game conditions what DHoward and Al Jefferson got their first years in the NBA. If you want to focus on the negative from this, it's fine. But I tried and found something positive and encouraging. That's all. Peace!

 

[Covert Rain]

I said he made improvement there. We fans used to complain the stupid offensive fouls he'd commit driving from the high post. He really changed that this season,

That was more of result of us having a dominant post player in Shaq. Amare didn't spend as much time in the paint and committed fewer offensive fouls as a result. However, notice that Amare was still forcing the ball, especially when Shaq was out, and had one of the worst TO rates at the PF position. Amare never stopped forcing the ball. He just shifted from making stupid offensive fouls to making stupid TO's.

So, he was given by Porter a little consistent chances to learn in real game conditions what DHoward and Al Jefferson got their first years in the NBA. If you want to focus on the negative from this, it's fine. But I tried and found something positive and encouraging. That's all. Peace!

Amare is not a 1st or 2nd year player. He has had plenty of time to grow into all aspects of his game. Again, think Amare is a great offensive talent. I just feel he is average to below average in other parts of his game. That is not focusing on the negative. That's pointed out all sides of his game. I just choose not to ignore it.

 

[lou_skywalker]

Seems like the future of Nash as a Sun looks grim now. I wonder which point guards can replace Nash and be effective enough in Gentrys SSOS

 

[Yuma]

Seems like the future of Nash as a Sun looks grim now. I wonder which point guards can replace Nash and be effective enough in Gentrys SSOS

I was pissed when we let Nash go because we had Jason Kidd. I always wondered how Bibby would do in our system.

 

[Skkorpion]

I was pissed when we let Nash go because we had Jason Kidd. I always wondered how Bibby would do in our system.

Aha. "Bear down Suns!" might be a sweet stadium chant to Steve Kerr and his owner.

 

[Errntknght]

We ought to factor the way Amare treats the refs into the equation for his bball IQ.

 

[Yuma]

We ought to factor the way Amare treats the refs into the equation for his bball IQ.

How about Gentry. It's getting tired seeing him being drug away by his assistants every game. You either get technicalled and asked to leave because you really made your point, or you quietly work the refs to get calls at the end of the game. But to be drug away by assistants and not get a technical, to me that means he just isn't trying hard enough! LOL!

 

[leclerc]

It seems next year will be a sort of transition year. We'll play most of our old chumps and try to make the playoffs. I only hope Gentry continues to give our youngsters experience and keep the vets somewhat fresh for the possible playoffs.

What this team will look like after next year I have no idea. I think it's better to give Gentry a chance and start a new coach with an overhauled roster at the next crossroads.

 

[Southpaw]

Alvin Gentry is Vanilla Ice Cream. Just one of those recyclable coaches who never seem to go away.

Coach Botox

 

[Yuma]

It seems next year will be a sort of transition year. We'll play most of our old chumps and try to make the playoffs. I only hope Gentry continues to give our youngsters experience and keep the vets somewhat fresh for the possible playoffs.

What this team will look like after next year I have no idea. I think it's better to give Gentry a chance and start a new coach with an overhauled roster at the next crossroads.

Looking at his contract, it's really a 2 year year, because the third is an option. So, basically we "could" get rid of him after next season and only eat a year's salary, which is something NBA teams do all the time. This makes me think the Suns aren't really giving him a big confidence vote. Players can see that, too. Unless lightning strikes, I see next year as a play out the contracts year for Gentry and some of the players. I don't see anything to get excited about. I WANT to be excited about the Suns. I really do!

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[cly2tw]

Looking at his contract, it's really a 2 year year, because the third is an option. So, basically we "could" get rid of him after next season and only eat a year's salary, which is something NBA teams do all the time. This makes me think the Suns aren't really giving him a big confidence vote. Players can see that, too. Unless lightning strikes, I see next year as a play out the contracts year for Gentry and some of the players. I don't see anything to get excited about. I WANT to be excited about the Suns. I really do!

I thought they had an incentive-triggered 3rd year: Gentry get it guaranteed if they get into 2nd round in playoffs 2011. This is kind of saying, screw 09/10 season and develop the young players and see whether we could get something big done in 10/11. If not, you are out.

 

[Southpaw]

Are there any rumors about the Suns being sold? Gentry looks like the perfect coach for one of these scenarios.

 

[Yuma]

I thought they had an incentive-triggered 3rd year: Gentry get it guaranteed if they get into 2nd round in playoffs 2011. This is kind of saying, screw 09/10 season and develop the young players and see whether we could get something big done in 10/11. If not, you are out.

If it is, you could always read it like, management knows the odds will be slim to make the playoffs when Shaq, maybe Nash, possibly Grant Hill, and maybe even Amare gone after next season, so if Gentry pulls some miracle the following season, then he must be one hell of a coach and we would keep him. I'm looking at management could be setting Gentry up for a fall. That's not my problem.

My problem is barring a major free agent acquisition, a change to bring in a top notch coaching staff (we now know won't happen), or landing a couple players who will start/push to start from the draft, I don't see any excitement coming from the Suns this season. Who cares if we are the ninth best team in the Western Conference again next year?

 

[cly2tw]

If it is, you could always read it like, management knows the odds will be slim to make the playoffs when Shaq, maybe Nash, possibly Grant Hill, and maybe even Amare gone after next season, so if Gentry pulls some miracle the following season, then he must be one hell of a coach and we would keep him. I'm looking at management could be setting Gentry up for a fall. That's not my problem.

My problem is barring a major free agent acquisition, a change to bring in a top notch coaching staff (we now know won't happen), or landing a couple players who will start/push to start from the draft, I don't see any excitement coming from the Suns this season. Who cares if we are the ninth best team in the Western Conference again next year?

I think management has done the right thing regarding the contract terms with Gentry. They are not convinced Gentry is the man, particularly after he played Nash too much in crucial games to lose them and miss the playoffs. Also, if Nash is gone, he would not have any excuse by playing Nash 45 min and blame the loss on him. Gentry apparently was aware of this caveat and thus agreed to "prove" himself with a team without Nash in 10/11 to "earn" the job.

The Suns main problem is the incompatibility of the roster talent: Nash vs. Shaq mainly. When you give away Shaq and build around Nash, there is no way Suns perform better than 07/08, with Nash now two years older. On the other hand, if Nash gets some valuable pieces back in trades, the level of performance will be a big unknown. With the way Shaq and Hill showed of their games, for example, the current Suns with Amare healthy and Billups hypothetically replacing Nash should be able to compete with any of the remaining 4 teams in the playoffs.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think management has done the right thing regarding the contract terms with Gentry. They are not convinced Gentry is the man, particularly after he played Nash too much in crucial games to lose them and miss the playoffs. Also, if Nash is gone, he would not have any excuse by playing Nash 45 min and blame the loss on him. Gentry apparently was aware of this caveat and thus agreed to "prove" himself with a team without Nash in 10/11 to "earn" the job.

Agree. Hiring Gentry as HC for essentially a two year contract (unless he over achieves and gets a third year) is a no brainer. There are not any top coaches out there that would take such a thrifty offer from the Suns.

The Suns main problem is the incompatibility of the roster talent: Nash vs. Shaq mainly. When you give away Shaq and build around Nash, there is no way Suns perform better than 07/08, with Nash now two years older. On the other hand, if Nash gets some valuable pieces back in trades, the level of performance will be a big unknown. With the way Shaq and Hill showed of their games, for example, the current Suns with Amare healthy and Billups hypothetically replacing Nash should be able to compete with any of the remaining 4 teams in the playoffs.

I think we can agree the Suns should not build their team around two aging stars in Shaq and Nash, however, this does not mean they are dumpster material either (which you are not suggesting). I think if the Suns make one major trade (like Shaq) this will have a ripple effect for the entire roster. If the Suns get value back (like Chandler + a pick) the Suns might look at their roster and the draft differently. I do think if the Suns draft a PG in the draft (like Flynn), this will likely signal Nash's departure.

Really I am just waiting for the first domino to fall. This team could go in so many different directions if one domino fell right.

 

[Yuma]

To me, this team is like the Celtics when Bird, McHale, Parrish were at the last couple years in their contract and all the players were beat up and beat down. The Celtics couldn't get anything good in trade because the players were so old and beat up, and their salaries prevented getting some good talent to play alongside the oldsters, so Boston just let them play out their contracts.

 

[cly2tw]

To me, this team is like the Celtics when Bird, McHale, Parrish were at the last couple years in their contract and all the players were beat up and beat down. The Celtics couldn't get anything good in trade because the players were so old and beat up, and their salaries prevented getting some good talent to play alongside the oldsters, so Boston just let them play out their contracts.

after they won several titles, that is.

 

[Yuma]

after they won several titles, that is.

Thanks David Stern! I heard him on the AM radio this morning. Not a fan!