If Sarver and Kerr decide that D'Antoni has outlived his usefulness . . .

[Crash]

No it's not possible, because our pick goes to Seattle this year.

Damn that's right. Well that sucks!

 

[Crash]

I don't know what the future will bring but I know the Suns have had a great ride for the past three seasons and could conceivably have won a Championship in a couple of the years if they had the right breaks. Also I know the Suns are only 3 games behind in the loss column behind conference leading SA. If the Suns should gel and they take off on a winning streak through a tough part of their schedule I wonder what the naysayers will be saying... when they are trying to jump back on the bandwagon.

I am not a bandwagon fan. I'm just a realist. You say "if" the Suns gel. That doesn't sound to optimistic IMO. LOL I've watch the games and I just don't see it happening. Shaq does not fit here. They played better without him in the lineup right after the trade.

 

[nashman]

You've watched them play what 6 games and in your expert opinion its not going to work huh? Well I will take the opinion of experts and myself after about a month not 6 games to see if it gonna work. I personally believe with all the talent on this team its damn near impossible for these vets not to figure out a way for it to work. You believe what you want but if you think you know if its gonna work by the 6 games then I don't what to tell you apparently you just started watching basketball, because 6 games is not enough time for any team to incorporate a player thats opposite of their style.

 

[BeeBeard]

Yeah, both of these coaches wouldn't be able to do much more than what D'Antoni's done. It's not like they've won any championships or anything....oh, wait, they've won 13 between them.

Oh yes, the championships must mean they're good coaches. Yes, "coaching" three of the greatest guards to ever play the game (Magic, Jordan, Bryant) must have been pretty difficult years ago. Not to mention the difficulty of "coaching" two Hall of Fame Centers in Kareem and O'Neal, both of whom would have been terrible players and would have never won any championships themselves, if not for their coaches. Everybody knows that Michael Jordan, in particular, was just a product of good coaching in the triangle offense.

Let's cut the crap and just admit that if you remove Hall of Famers from the equation, you get--in Riley's case--the Miami Heat. And with Jackson you get nothing at all, because the man simply won't coach a team that's rebuilding to begin with.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Oh yes, the championships must mean they're good coaches. Yes, "coaching" three of the greatest guards to ever play the game (Magic, Jordan, Bryant) must have been pretty difficult years ago. Not to mention the difficulty of "coaching" two Hall of Fame Centers in Kareem and O'Neal, both of whom would have been terrible players and would have never won any championships themselves, if not for their coaches. Everybody knows that Michael Jordan, in particular, was just a product of good coaching in the triangle offense.

Let's cut the crap and just admit that if you remove Hall of Famers from the equation, you get--in Riley's case--the Miami Heat. And with Jackson you get nothing at all, because the man simply won't coach a team that's rebuilding to begin with.

His past few years with the Lakers have proved otherwise.

 

[nashman]

His last few years have proved what? He can't get out of the first round.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

His last few years have proved what? He can't get out of the first round.

That he is willing to coach a rebuilding team, not that he is a good coach to begin with.

 

[BeeBeard]

His past few years with the Lakers have proved otherwise.

How do you figure? A playoff team by definition is not a lottery team. And collecting pieces to try to get better next year is something that every team does. If you're trying to compare the Lakers of the post-Rudy T era to today's Timberwolves, Heat, or Sonics, then that comparison fails outright. THAT is rebuilding. It's blowing it up and starting over, NOT trying to figure out who you can surround the best player in basketball with to garner yet another championship.

What exactly have Phil Jackson's "past few years" proved at all, to you? Please feel free to elaborate.

 

[nashman]

Proved that he only stayed for the CASH he got

 

[dreamcastrocks]

How do you figure? A playoff team by definition is not a lottery team. And collecting pieces to try to get better next year is something that every team does. If you're trying to compare the Lakers of the post-Rudy T era to today's Timberwolves, Heat, or Sonics, then that comparison fails outright. THAT is rebuilding. It's blowing it up and starting over, NOT trying to figure out who you can surround the best player in basketball with to garner yet another championship.

What exactly have Phil Jackson's "past few years" proved at all, to you? Please feel free to elaborate.

Because you can be a playoff team, and still be rebuilding.

I'm not saying Phil is a good coach, or not, but I will say that he has coached a rebuilding team. You can't honestly say that those Laker playoff teams that you mention were championship contenders the past couple years, can you?

 

[bko32]

Oh yes, the championships must mean they're good coaches. Yes, "coaching" three of the greatest guards to ever play the game (Magic, Jordan, Bryant) must have been pretty difficult years ago. Not to mention the difficulty of "coaching" two Hall of Fame Centers in Kareem and O'Neal, both of whom would have been terrible players and would have never won any championships themselves, if not for their coaches. Everybody knows that Michael Jordan, in particular, was just a product of good coaching in the triangle offense.

Let's cut the crap and just admit that if you remove Hall of Famers from the equation, you get--in Riley's case--the Miami Heat. And with Jackson you get nothing at all, because the man simply won't coach a team that's rebuilding to begin with.

Yes, Riley and Jackson both coached teams with loads of talent. When was the last time a team with crappy talent won the championship?

Obviously, you need very good, if not, great players to win it all. D'Antoni's got one of the best PG today, as well as one of the best PF today, in addition, he had Marion, who was a very good 3rd option, along with some other solid role players. And that's got them what exactly?? If you are telling me that Riley and Jackson couldn't do more than 1 WCF appearance in the last 4 years with the roster that the Suns have had, you're delusional.

Also, when Jackson came back to the Lakers a couple of years ago, they were in rebuilding mode. They were nowhere near the championship contenders, yet one of those years, they took the Suns to 7 games before bowing out.

Give credit where credit is due. These are great coaches, period. Was Auberbach a crappy coach because he simply had a bunch of HOF's on his roster? What about John Wooden? He must've really sucked because he continually got the best college players on his roster.

 

[nashman]

And your assuming we had our full roster the last 4 years, come on man.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am not a bandwagon fan. I'm just a realist. You say "if" the Suns gel. That doesn't sound to optimistic IMO. LOL I've watch the games and I just don't see it happening. Shaq does not fit here. They played better without him in the lineup right after the trade.

The Suns need time to gel with the major addition of Shaq. My tone is that of realism. I believe the Suns will gel in time however there is no doubt time is the Suns enemy in a tight playoff race. The trade for Shaq was made for the playoffs. I just don't understand why supposed fans are jumping off the bandwagon when it is not yet clear the Suns will not make the playoffs or win a Championship. It all starts with the Suns winning a game, then the next and so on. I'm holding on tight until the Suns prove me wrong.

As I recall, everything was not going well with Miami during the regular season the year they won their Championship.

 

[bko32]

And your assuming we had our full roster the last 4 years, come on man.

The Suns didn't have a full roster, but maybe they could've survived some of their playoff losses had D'Antoni developed a little bit more of a bench. I recall many people upset that when injuries or suspensions hit the Suns, that they wished D'Antoni would've have played the bench more so they weren't so lost out on the floor.

 

[nashman]

Well with the talent we have in our top 7-8 its pretty clear the bench suffers. The talent at the end of the bench in past years has been terrible they were not going to help anything when top players went down or were suspended and have nothing to do with terrible playoff officiating.

 

[BeeBeard]

Also, when Jackson came back to the Lakers a couple of years ago, they were in rebuilding mode. They were nowhere near the championship contenders, yet one of those years, they took the Suns to 7 games before bowing out.

Sometimes it's not what people say, it's what they don't say that tells the story. Here, you're contradicting yourself. If it was such a big achievement of Jackson's for the poor lil' ("rebuilding" hahaha) Lakers to take the Suns to 7 games, then what have you implicitly said about the quality of those Suns teams? That they were contenders. And by extension, that D'Antoni had been doing some coaching of his own. Interesting.

Was Auberbach a crappy coach because he simply had a bunch of HOF's on his roster? What about John Wooden? He must've really sucked because he continually got the best college players on his roster.

The man's name is spelled "Auerbach," and without Bill Russell, you wouldn't even have heard of him in the first place. And John Wooden has no relevance to a discussion about professional basketball coaching to begin with, unless you're trying to argue that recruitment doesn't exist, or that college coaches can ALSO somehow coach 48 inch vertical leaps, pinpoint passing and good court vision, and lights-out clutch shooting from players regardless of their natural abilities.

It's funny you should say that, though, because it reminds me of the time I shook Dean Smith's hand at a fundraiser, and was from that point on miraculously able to dunk a basketball from the free throw line. Also, my cold sores went away! I can't explain it either. It must just be the power of good coaching!

I think few people are as egotistical and presumptuous to claim that they could have "coached" players like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson. I promise you that is more of a "point them to the basket and get out of the way" situation. But if you look up "egotistical" in the dictionary, it says "See Phil Jackson." And when you flip to the "Phil Jackson" entry, it says "See Pat Riley."

 

[bko32]

Well with the talent we have in our top 7-8 its pretty clear the bench suffers. The talent at the end of the bench in past years has been terrible they were not going to help anything when top players went down or were suspended and have nothing to do with terrible playoff officiating.

But as a coach, I think you've still got to play your bench in the regular season to get them comfortable and prepared in case an injury, suspension, etc. were to happen even if it means an extra loss or two. Jalen Rose was okay when he was with the Suns. You're telling me that he wouldn't have at least helped a little coming off the bench? With this year's team, shouldn't Brian Skinner be getting more time in case Shaq or Amare goes down with an injury or suspension? It's hard judge how good or bad a player is when said player gets very few and inconsistent minutes with the rest of the scrubs.

 

[bko32]

Sometimes it's not what people say, it's what they don't say that tells the story. Here, you're contradicting yourself. If it was such a big achievement of Jackson's for the poor lil' ("rebuilding" hahaha) Lakers to take the Suns to 7 games, then what have you implicitly said about the quality of those Suns teams? That they were contenders. And by extension, that D'Antoni had been doing some coaching of his own. Interesting.

Never did I say that D'Antoni was a good or bad coach, just that Riley and Jackson could do more with the roster that the Suns have had in the past few years. I also never said the Suns weren't a good team. To me, the Suns have had the best roster the last 2-3 years, but no championships to show for, and only 1 WCF appearance. Do I think Jackson or Riley could've done better? Yes.

The man's name is spelled "Auerbach," and without Bill Russell, you wouldn't even have heard of him in the first place. And John Wooden has no relevance to a discussion about professional basketball coaching to begin with, unless you're trying to argue that recruitment doesn't exist, or that college coaches can ALSO somehow coach 48 inch vertical leaps, pinpoint passing and good court vision, and lights-out clutch shooting from players regardless of their natural abilities.

Wow, without Russell, Auerbach would be relegated to just another old coach from Boston. Interesting. Also, I thought we were talking about coaching, therefore I thought Wooden would be relevant considering most believe that he was one of the greatest coaches ever, irregardless of what level he coached at.

I think few people are as egotistical and presumptuous to claim that they could have "coached" players like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson. I promise you that is more of a "point them to the basket and get out of the way" situation. But if you look up "egotistical" in the dictionary, it says "See Phil Jackson." And when you flip to the "Phil Jackson" entry, it says "See Pat Riley."

I agree that Riley and Jackson are both egotistical beyond reason. However, they have taken teams to championships. They were able to take great players, develop role players, and meld them into championship teams. Something that D'Antoni hasn't figured out yet. Just because a team has the most talented roster doesn't mean they will win the championship. Someone has to lead them and get them to play with energy and passion. That's the coaches job, imo, and Riley and Jackson have proved that they can do this better than D'Antoni so far.

 

[bko32]

It's funny you should say that, though, because it reminds me of the time I shook Dean Smith's hand at a fundraiser, and was from that point on miraculously able to dunk a basketball from the free throw line. Also, my cold sores went away! I can't explain it either. It must just be the power of good coaching!

I think few people are as egotistical and presumptuous to claim that they could have "coached" players like Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson. I promise you that is more of a "point them to the basket and get out of the way" situation. But if you look up "egotistical" in the dictionary, it says "See Phil Jackson." And when you flip to the "Phil Jackson" entry, it says "See Pat Riley."

Also, you make it seem as though coaches are completely irrelevant with these comments. I'm not being facetious, but in your eyes, what role does a coach play if all he has to do is "point them to the basket and get out of the way"?

 

[BeeBeard]

... better with Riley or Jackson...

OK, fair enough. But you forgot to address the most serious part of my reply, where I revealed that shaking Dean Smith's hand cured my herpes through the miracle of coaching. That's very distressing. Even more distressing than the herpes.*


* Be sure to ask a doctor if once-daily Valtrex, or shaking Dean Smith's hand, is right for you.

 

[nowagimp]

Jalen Rose was okay when he was with the Suns. You're telling me that he wouldn't have at least helped a little coming off the bench?

Heres a clue, the rumour on rose before he came to the suns that his knees were so shot he couldnt play NBA defense at the 2 or 3 anymore. Well the rumour was true, he couldnt move on D, another player to be hidden in the suns defensive scheme. The suns can only hide so many poor defenders on the floor. There is a reason that Jalen retired after his season with the suns, he cant play anymore.

 

[bko32]

Heres a clue, the rumour on rose before he came to the suns that his knees were so shot he couldnt play NBA defense at the 2 or 3 anymore. Well the rumour was true, he couldnt move on D, another player to be hidden in the suns defensive scheme. The suns can only hide so many poor defenders on the floor. There is a reason that Jalen retired after his season with the suns, he cant play anymore.

So why sign guys like Jalen? If D'Antoni is intent on just playing 7-8 guys no matter what, why not fill the rest of the roster with NBDL guys and save Sarver some cash? They might as well just sign me and you and stick us on the bench

 

[Crash]

You've watched them play what 6 games and in your expert opinion its not going to work huh? Well I will take the opinion of experts and myself after about a month not 6 games to see if it gonna work. I personally believe with all the talent on this team its damn near impossible for these vets not to figure out a way for it to work. You believe what you want but if you think you know if its gonna work by the 6 games then I don't what to tell you apparently you just started watching basketball, because 6 games is not enough time for any team to incorporate a player thats opposite of their style.

The 6 games that I have watch have told me a lot. 1. Shaq looks a LOT older. Dude has even a hard time jumping anymore. Even smaller centers can disrupt him inside. 2. This has been a problem all year, Not just since Shaq has been here. WE HAVE NO SHOOTERS!!! 3. And this is a big one. WE DON'T play defense. You know, that thing that is known to win championships. LOL

It was a nice run, but IMO it is over. I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it. I will eat crow if they prove me wrong. I just wish we could have kept Jones and Thomas and added Hill this year. That would have been a fun team to watch. Hopefully the ATL will free fall and get us a nice pick in the draft.

 

[nashman]

What Shooters did we lose with the trade for Shaq? We WILL play defense we are still learning how to with SHaq. And again we don't need Shaq to be the Shaq of old we just need him to be opposite of Amare. Save plenty of room for crow because you judging this trade now will probably have you eating alot!

 

[Rab]

What Shooters did we lose with the trade for Shaq? We WILL play defense we are still learning how to with SHaq. And again we don't need Shaq to be the Shaq of old we just need him to be opposite of Amare. Save plenty of room for crow because you judging this trade now will probably have you eating alot!

It's not that we lost a ton of shooters, and we certainly didn't lose any in the Shaq trade. It's more of a problem that Raja and LB haven't been consistent. LB has been off and on, and Raja has been off pretty much all year. Also, Grant Hill is not a 3 point shooter. It's made it a little harder to spread the floor. The Suns can get still shoot a ton of 3's, but they aren't making them. They miss guys like Tim Thomas, Eddie House, and even James Jones. In this system, lack of shooting is a problem. That's why they were so desperate to get Giricek or Barry.