Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

[George O'Brien]

I could not stand to watch the Maverick's game after half time. Tonight was the first time I actually began to question whether D'Antoni is going to make is a coach. It looks like he has no control over what his guys are doing.

1. Lampe and Carbakapa are still shooting jumpers. Why is he letting them do it?

2. The Suns defense seems to be regressing.

a. None of the Suns seem to be able to move their feet.
b. They stay 10 feet off hot shooters who get open looks every time they get the ball.
c. No one blocks out and the Suns keep giving up an enormous number of offensive rebounds.
d. The players are constanting losing sight of the guy they are playing, permitting easy interior passes.
e. The Suns focus too much on trying to make steals but end up just getting reach-in fouls and not staying between the opponent and the basket.
f. The Suns lose sight of shooters when they first get back on defense.
g. The Suns players are constantly getting suckered by head fakes to get put ouf of position.

3. The Suns offense lacks discipline.

a. They continue to take too many early jump shots
b. They do not wait for picks to be set.
c. They do not wait for offensive rebounders to be in place
d. They make too many lazy passes.
e. The Suns players dribble too much and lose the ball on steals when they do dribble.

4. If Jerry Sloan can get the relatively young Jazz team to play with discipline, why can't the Suns coache? If Hubie Brown can get Memphis to play as a team, why can't D'Antoni do it for the Suns?

5. Earlier the Suns were at least playing hard, but now even that seems lacking.

6. The allocaation of minutes is pretty erratic.

I'm not ready to give up on D'Antoni, but as coach he has to be held accountable when the team starts regressing.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
I'm not ready to give up on D'Antoni, but as coach he has to be held accountable when the team starts regressing.

I have been thinking about this a lot, and you may have something here. If we continue like this, it'll be very interesting to see what happens with him this summer. If he isn't fired, then I wonder what motivates the Colangelo's--and if D'Antoni's presence really does affect whether Kobe comes or not.

If Kobe signs with someone else, then I wonder if the odds of D'Antoni being gone escalate.

 

[slinslin]

Re: Re: Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

Originally posted by Chaplin
I have been thinking about this a lot, and you may have something here. If we continue like this, it'll be very interesting to see what happens with him this summer. If he isn't fired, then I wonder what motivates the Colangelo's--and if D'Antoni's presence really does affect whether Kobe comes or not.

If Kobe signs with someone else, then I wonder if the odds of D'Antoni being gone escalate.

Your posts change nightly. One night D'Antoni should be gone, the next he shouldn't.

Then again, you list Mike as a "keep" but D'Antoni as a "Get them out of here"--you really need to take more than 3 1/2 seconds to actually think about what you are writing.










*sarcasm*

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Re: Re: Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

Originally posted by Chaplin
I have been thinking about this a lot, and you may have something here. If we continue like this, it'll be very interesting to see what happens with him this summer. If he isn't fired, then I wonder what motivates the Colangelo's--and if D'Antoni's presence really does affect whether Kobe comes or not.

If Kobe signs with someone else, then I wonder if the odds of D'Antoni being gone escalate.

My question is.....What coaching candidates are out there? I know there are a few "highly profiled" ones, however, would
Colangelo be willing to hire w/him putting the Suns "up for sale"?

It seems though for some reason that the influx of the new nucleus that is forming better suits D'Antoni's system and if they were indeed going to go into another direction (yet again)...would that set them back even further?


It will take time for this team to establish the necessary chemistry...It will also take awhile for them to find their own respective individual role with the team.....

It's just too unfortunate that they had numerous injuries throughout the season that affected their chemistry.....

The best case scenario would be to keep D'Antoni at least until the first 20-games into the '04-'05....If they have a horrible record, then they must terminate him then.... Although, what really affects his cause is that he's currently a "lame duck" coach which signifies that he's not taken seriously.....Has he truly ever received a strong vote of confidence from Colangelo?

 

[Chaplin]

Re: Re: Re: Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

Originally posted by slinslin
Your posts change nightly. One night D'Antoni should be gone, the next he shouldn't.

Then again, you list Mike as a "keep" but D'Antoni as a "Get them out of here"--you really need to take more than 3 1/2 seconds to actually think about what you are writing.










*sarcasm*

When the hell was the last post I wrote that said we should get rid of D'Antoni? I have never, ever stated that. Ever. I know you're being sarcastic, but at least be sarcastic with something that has a bit of truth to it. Can't you just let it go? Guess not. How ESPN of you.

 

[Chaplin]

Re: Re: Re: Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie


The best case scenario would be to keep D'Antoni at least until the first 20-games into the '04-'05....If they have a horrible record, then they must terminate him then.... Although, what really affects his cause is that he's currently a "lame duck" coach which signifies that he's not taken seriously.....Has he truly ever received a strong vote of confidence from Colangelo?

Well, Jerry WAS adamant about D'Antoni not being an "interim" coach. The day FJ got fired, Jerry made a point to repeat that D was hired as the head coach, not an interim.

 

[Mainstreet]

I did not even bother to watch the Suns game tonight. Why? Something is wrong with this team. I'm a diehard Suns fan but I should not have to endure this pathetic brand of basketball.

The Suns are not even competitive.

I honestly don't know where the problem lies... talent, chemistry, coaching, offense, defense.

Seriously, the Suns should not be allowed to play this brand of basketball any longer. I don't know what can be done now. The fans are entitled to at least a team that plays hard all the time and has some concept of offense and especially defense.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

Originally posted by Chaplin
Well, Jerry WAS adamant about D'Antoni not being an "interim" coach. The day FJ got fired, Jerry made a point to repeat that D was hired as the head coach, not an interim.

D'Antoni essentially got the head-coaching position out of default... I wonder if those comments Colangelo made was just to appease everyone (including the players), especially the media... He might have just been trying to find the "words everyone wanted to hear" during the press conference, especially since the Suns' season still could have been salvaged at that point.....

The key factor is....Has Colangelo given any inclination on what his long-term intentions are w/D'Antoni? From my understanding, isn't D'Antoni signed only through the '04-'05 season? I bet he's earning a minimal salary for an NBA coach and his contract would be easily bought-out if the Suns begin next season in a subpar fashion......

And if in fact D'Antoni "truly" wasn't an "interim" coach, wouldnt Colangelo had immediately granted him w/an extension?

 

[Chaplin]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is D'Antoni Getting the Job Done?

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
D'Antoni essentially got the head-coaching position out of default... I wonder if those comments Colangelo made was just to appease everyone (including the players), especially the media... He might have just been trying to find the "words everyone wanted to hear" during the press conference, especially since the Suns' season still could have been salvaged at that point.....

The key factor is....Has Colangelo given any inclination on what his long-term intentions are w/D'Antoni? From my understanding, isn't D'Antoni signed only through the '04-'05 season? I bet he's earning a minimal salary for an NBA coach and his contract would be easily bought-out if the Suns begin next season in a subpar fashion......

And if in fact D'Antoni "truly" wasn't an "interim" coach, wouldnt Colangelo had immediately granted him w/an extension?

Well, it's certainly possible. But a contract is still a contract. Whether he was called interim or not, his contract still goes until the end of next year. Just because they didn't sign him to an extension doesn't mean he is automatically an interim coach.

We'll probably know a lot more about how D'Antoni stands with this team this summer.

 

[binkar]

In regards to your point to 1. about Lampe and Zarko still shooting I disagree. I think that when you have young players that are known for their shooting ability and have shown that ability in practice, since the season is lost, you have to let them keep shooting and when they start to fall then they will get their confidence and they will really start to grow as players.

But what I dont like about Coach D is that when it seems as that the suns have a horible game the night before or come off a bad loss he doesn't get really angry or upset he seems to use excuses and such.

 

[Assface]

What do you guys think of Doc Rivers? I wish the Magic had never fired him, he is the best coach we ever had. The after both Penny and Shaq were gone and before T-mac arrived he brought a talentless team to a .500 record.

 

[Forrestham]

To answer your question, I think Rivers got a raw deal in Orlando. Hill and McGrady were expected to lead them to the promised land. If I am correct Hill injured his ankle while he was still with Detroit and Orlando signed him anyway. That was not Rivers fault.

I think the Suns could be playing better but it really appears they have gone in hte tank. If we would Coach D to get us more pingpong balls he is doing the job. It appears he is in as coach to try to lure Kobe

 

[Joe Mama]

I said this repeatedly in the chat room the other night. I would love to see Phil Johnson, the longtime Utah Jazz assistant, coaching the Phoenix Suns. I think he could help them a big way on both ends of the court. Of course if the Suns are going to do something like that it's got to be done at the beginning of this summer. They can't wait until the Suns are stinking it up next season.

At this point I really have no idea what the Phoenix Suns should do or will do as far as the head coach goes. I've been a big supporter of D'Antoni so far. Part of me is saying it's only fair to give him a summer with this young team. I think his presence will help to attract Kobe Bryant, but when the team is losing this badly I wonder whether Bryant will want to join such a bad team.

Whatever the Colangelos decide to do this summer someone better do something about this defense. It's not just for a lack of effort at this defense looks so poor. These players or just lost.

Joe Mama

 

[Mainstreet]

Whatever the Colangelos decide to do this summer someone better do something about this defense. It's not just for a lack of effort at this defense looks so poor. These players or just lost.

The above quote by Joe Mama and previous comments by George O'Brien just about summarize it. This is a lost team especially on defense.

If I could see some progress with the play of this team I would feel more encouraged. I just can't believe this young team cannot play better... I'm not even talking wins but putting a competitive product on the floor.

This team should not be allowed to play the remainder of this season in this manner. Something needs to be done now. Unfortunately I do not know what can be done at this time of the season but a message needs to be sent to the coaching staff and/or players.

 

[George O'Brien]

Some of the problem is that D'Antoni is playing young players even when the team would look better with veterans such as Harvey. He said as much to my question after Friday's game.

My concern is that the defensive is screwed up. Do the Suns sit 10 feet off the outside guy because they are always trapping, because they don't move their feet better, because they are too easily tricked by head fakes, or is there something about the scheme that is at fault? I get tired of hearing that the players have no energy, when they aren't even trying to play their opponents close.

D'Antoni was known to be a creative offensive coach. I've seen some indications of that although it seems to get lost in the lack of discipline. Maybe they need a defenive guru to help out. I don't know, but obviously something is screwed up because the Mavs were only 11-20 on the road yet scored at will against the Suns.

 

[elindholm]

obviously something is screwed up because the Mavs were only 11-20 on the road yet scored at will against the Suns.

Those eleven road wins didn't happen by accident. Who do you think they came against? Bad teams, most likely.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by elindholm
obviously something is screwed up because the Mavs were only 11-20 on the road yet scored at will against the Suns.

Those eleven road wins didn't happen by accident. Who do you think they came against? Bad teams, most likely.

I take it that your point is that the Suns are a bad team. But some bad teams beat the Mavs, so does this mean the Suns are worse than bad? They certainly looked that way in Saturday.

I think the first thing the Suns have to do is to decide they are playing man defense all the time and press the outside without traps. If somebody hits their outside shots when covered, that is the way it goes. But if all the Suns ever do is stand 10 feet off them and run at them, they will keep getting killed. Standing off their man and running at them is not working.

 

[devilalum]

IMO the Suns are beggining to give up. I have a lot of experience with this from watching the Cards year after year. With them you can almost see the exact moment it happens.

Its hard to get up and play hard night after night when your teams going nowhere.

There aren't any players playing for a new contract.

Everybody's young and easily distracted.

They all know just like we do, at least somewhere in the back of their minds, that the Suns will get a better lotto pick for losing more games.

Basically what motivation do they have to go out and play hard every night especially when they are playing teams that are making their playoff push?

 

[elindholm]

But some bad teams beat the Mavs, so does this mean the Suns are wrose than bad?

No team plays at the same level every game. If a bad team has a particularly good game while Dallas has a particularly bad one, the bad team has a chance of winning.

If, however, Dallas plays a pretty good game, while a bad opponent -- let's say, for instance, the Suns -- plays an average or worse game, Dallas will win without incident.

It doesn't mean that the Suns are particularly bad. It means only that they need to play way above themselves if they want to be competitive with a good team having a good day. They didn't, so Dallas spanked them. That's about it.

 

[slinslin]

Look at the good teams. They can win without "talent".

Sacramento wins without Webber. San Antonio wins without Duncan. Utah wins with a bunch of role players. Memphis wins without an allstar.

What does that tell us about the Suns? They don't have good coaching.

Some of the most talented teams in the league have some of the worst records in the league.

The Suns can't win because of their system. The only way we win right now is if the other team plays really bad and all of our players are clicking.

Either that or our guys simply don't mesh very well on the court.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Guys, guys, I'm sorry, but this is no time to be making evaluations on coaching.

The Suns have been in preseason since the all-star break. They are not trying to win games. They know losing will make them better next year.

In fact, there might be less motivation now than in preseason games. They are working an offense, trying to see who fits where. When motivation is gone, the first thing to go is defense.

I'm not sure we should expect or want anything different right now.

 

[Skkorpion]

Good thread. I have a couple of comments.

We now have had 4 coaches in a row who weren't good according to most of you. Ainge, Skiles, Johnson, and D'Antoni. Every single one of them has ended up playing small ball.

I'd like to suggest it's the management that assembled the players and chose the coaches who is to blame. And following on that point, I truly believe the next owner will make the necessary changes, not the Colangelos.

And that's a good thing. Brian has made a mess of this franchise.

 

[F-Dog]

I'll defend D'Antoni.


As recently as last week, the Suns were playing surprisingly well, and people were complaining that they weren't playing Lampe enough, and playing guys with no future on the team (Eisley and McDyess) too much.

This week, the team is giving Lampe and Zarko significant minutes, and the team is getting its ass kicked. Why are the coaches getting blamed for the team's poor performance? Are they somehow different from the coaches that were looking very smart when Amare was wearing street clothes a month ago?


With Zarko and Maciej, the Suns have two players in their rotation who never heard of NBA defense before this year (to go with Amare, who first heard of NBA defense last year), and it's a surprise that the Suns' defense sucks all of a sudden? They're now playing without a point guard for stretches so that 'Joe Johnson can eventually become a better two-guard', and it's a surprise that the offense lacks discipline?


Comparisons with Utah don't make much sense, IMO. I think that if you look at the guys who are actually playing, you'll find that the Jazz is not a young team at all--they're mostly comprised of journeymen in the primes of their careers. The Jazz' young core of talent consists of Kirilenko, Raul Lopez (getting short minutes off the bench) and Pavlovic (DNP-CD against Phoenix). Their youngest starter after Kirilenko is Carlos Arroyo, who's 25.

There's a saying in the NBA that you don't win with young players, and the Jazz and the Suns bear this out. The Suns' young, talented rookies simply aren't as good yet as who-dat veterans like Raja Bell and Greg Ostertag.

IMO if you think that the Suns should look more like Utah, your real problem is with the GM, not the coaching staff.


The visible difference between D'Antoni and other coaches in the same situation is that he hasn't quit in a huff (O'Brien), and he's not publicly blaming the players (Skiles) or management (FJ) for his problems. I don't see this as a negative.

My understanding is that D'Antoni runs dynamite practices and prepares the players well. It should be just a question of how long before the lessons start to sink in, and the Suns are certainly in a position where they can afford to preach patience...even if the fans' patience seems to be wearing a little thin lately...

 

[BC867]

Originally posted by Mainstreet
I did not even bother to watch the Suns game tonight. Why? Something is wrong with this team. I'm a diehard Suns fan but I should not have to endure this pathetic brand of basketball.

The Suns are not even competitive.

I honestly don't know where the problem lies... talent, chemistry, coaching, offense, defense.

One of the problems was Mike D's starting Amare at Center.

"When in trouble or in doubt. Run in circles, scream and shout." . . . and go small.

According to the Republic, that starting lineup was the Suns' 22nd different combination of the season.

'Sounds like Bob Brenly's D'backs. Why is it a hallmark of Jerry's teams?

In the previous Suns game, JJ started at the Point. If you're going to try something different, fine. But give it more than one game to gel.

This is what Mike D. was quoted as saying about his lineups in today's Republic:

We'd like to keep one if we hit on something by mistake.

"We'd like to keep one if we hit on something by mistake?" Is this a joking matter? Is anyone in charge here?

 

[elindholm]

Every single one of them has ended up playing small ball.

Small ball isn't really the culprit. The Mavericks don't use a real center -- they actually have Najera in the pivot astonisingly often; Bradley and Scott Williams are used sparingly. And while the Jazz have Jarron Collins, it's not like he was the difference in the game, with his 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 0 blocks in 36 minutes.

The Suns' problem runs a lot deeper than the weakness at center. Lots of teams in the league aren't much better off at center than Phoenix is, but those other teams still find a way to be competitive.