Kerr Thinks The Suns Need Defense and Rebounding

[Irish]

In an article titled "Kerr opens up on his departure, Amar'e, etc.",
it seems like Kerr has the same opinion most of the rest of us have.

(on the Suns' lineup) "They're going to have to play him (Hedo Turkoglu) at four a lot, which will compromise their rebounding and their defense. So they'll have to run a lot and they'll be good at that because (Steve) Nash is the best in the world at uptempo . I think the Suns will be good. The questions is: 'Can they be better than just good? Can they take that next step and advance in the playoffs?' That's where guys like (Hakim) Warrick and (Channing) Frye and the front line, they're going to be tested because their rebounding and defense is going to be tested because their rebounding and defense is going to be an issue."

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/92632

His comments about the failed trade with GS and Amare confirms what we had heard, but now we know.

 

[mojorizen7]

Well i imagine he believes these things...i mean, he's not a part of this team or its seemingly neverending fun n gun culture anymore. Any objective observer outside of this franchise and fanbase(and a select few fans within it) knows what the problem is/has been for eons.

 

[Covert Rain]

Kerr said this:

My contract negotiations didn't go quite as I expected.

I figured sooner or later that he would finally say something about this. We heard that it was money related. We heard that Sarver asked him and others in the front office to take a pay cut. Even though he doesn't go into detail this just confirms it for me this was about Sarver not wanting to spend the money on Kerr and the front office. Contrary to all the "family" time talk we knew what this was about. I would be curious to see what the Sun's are spending on Lance Blanks compared to Kerr.

 

[Chaplin]

Kerr said this:

My contract negotiations didn't go quite as I expected.

I figured sooner or later that he would finally say something about this. We heard that it was money related. We heard that Sarver asked him and others in the front office to take a pay cut. Even though he doesn't go into detail this just confirms it for me this was about Sarver not wanting to spend the money on Kerr and the front office. Contrary to all the "family" time talk we knew what this was about. I would be curious to see what the Sun's are spending on Lance Blanks compared to Kerr.

Of course it's a lot less. That's a no-brainer. The real question is, what are they now spending on Babby AND Blanks vs. Kerr? I would say a lot more. Strange that Sarver would low-ball Kerr, but re-organize his front office into a potentially more pricey unit.

 

[mojorizen7]

Of course it's a lot less. That's a no-brainer. The real question is, what are they now spending on Babby AND Blanks vs. Kerr? I would say a lot more. Strange that Sarver would low-ball Kerr, but re-organize his front office into a potentially more pricey unit.

Maybe hiring 2 "yes-men" was worth the extra dollar to Mr Sarver.

Defense and rebounding dont necessarily bring in the fans,especially in this town.
Sarver knows this. Its all business.

 

[Sunburn]

Defense and rebounding? Omg what a novel approach! And to think we let this guy go. . .

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Farmers think plants need water and sunlight.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Farmers think plants need water and sunlight.

I look at this comment and the previous ones about Sarver and the Front Office and I'm pretty sure there's a fertilizer joke in there somewhere.

Steve

 

[mojorizen7]

I look at this comment and the previous ones about Sarver and the Front Office and I'm pretty sure there's a fertilizer joke in there somewhere.

Steve

Thats a load of crap.

 

[boisesuns]

Thats a load of crap.

Well, you reap what you sow, I guess.

 

[carey]

Of course it's a lot less. That's a no-brainer. The real question is, what are they now spending on Babby AND Blanks vs. Kerr? I would say a lot more. Strange that Sarver would low-ball Kerr, but re-organize his front office into a potentially more pricey unit.

That's not quite fair. Babby and Blanks are replacing Kerr AND Griffin. I bet it's comparable.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Defense and rebounding? Omg what a novel approach! And to think we let this guy go. . .

If that's all you need to know....... hell Andrew could have been GM.

 

[Irish]

That's not quite fair. Babby and Blanks are replacing Kerr AND Griffin. I bet it's comparable.

I agree. I dout the new regime is costing as much as the old. What I don't know is how much Kerr makes with TNT compared to being a Suns GM. My interpretation of the situation is different if it is a lot more at TNT or a lot less. All I've read is speculation.

 

[Covert Rain]

Of course it's a lot less. That's a no-brainer. The real question is, what are they now spending on Babby AND Blanks vs. Kerr? I would say a lot more. Strange that Sarver would low-ball Kerr, but re-organize his front office into a potentially more pricey unit.

I bet when you look at the cost of Kerr/Griffith going and Babby/Blanks coming in, I will bet it's less money. Not only that but you won't have either of these guys fighting for front offices raises for the rest of the staff either.

 

[binkar]

Why is everyone acting like Kerr was a phenomenal, top-of-the-line GM? His results were a mixed bag, and overall he was average at best.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Farmers think plants need water and sunlight.

The farmers I know believe electrolytes are what plants crave; Sarver would surely agree.

 

[Chaplin]

Why is everyone acting like Kerr was a phenomenal, top-of-the-line GM? His results were a mixed bag, and overall he was average at best.

+1

If you look back in Phoenix Suns fan history, you will notice that almost every person, whether it's front office or player, was better than what they presently have. It happened with Steven Hunter, Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas (although admittedly, it's hard to argue with KT), Bryan Colangelo, Steve Kerr, David Griffin, and will most certainly happen with Amare Stoudemire and probably Leandro Barbosa. Hell, it's even happened with Lou Amundson already and he hasn't even signed with another team yet!

 

[overseascardfan]

Why is everyone acting like Kerr was a phenomenal, top-of-the-line GM? His results were a mixed bag, and overall he was average at best.

From intuition I gather that some of the moves Kerr made were forced by Sarver. When you are getting overruled by your micro-managing owner your bound to take heat for moves that don't pan out. We do need some defense and rebounding, I mentioned this possibility before but I'll go back to it.

We could trade J-Rich for Okafor and shift everyone down to their natural position.

C Lopez
PF Okafor
SF Turkolu
SG Dudley or Childress
PG Nash

Bench:
Hill
Dragic
Warrick
Frye
Lawal
Childress or Dudley
Back-up C
Back-up SG

 

[binkar]

From intuition I gather that some of the moves Kerr made were forced by Sarver. When you are getting overruled by your micro-managing owner your bound to take heat for moves that don't pan out. We do need some defense and rebounding, I mentioned this possibility before but I'll go back to it.

I am sure that's true. I am not even including the obvious salary dumps like KT in my assessment of the job he did. Also, although some of the moves may have been forces by Sarver, I think it's a bit unfair to say all the bad moves were Sarver, and good moves were Kerr.

 

[mojorizen7]

Kerr was just another blip on the radar of the SUNS continuous culture of soft basketball.
He brought in Shaq to take a shot with a mentally burnt out and lazy 50 win roster,drafted Lopez and Dragic that took awhile to simmer and eventually cook on defense.....he brought in Matt Barnes,who couldn't shoot enough 3 pt shots for the fanbase to balance out his out of control,gritty play.....Lou was the very first Sarver afterthought when Kerr exited the building.......fine.

This team is weak.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am sure that's true. I am not even including the obvious salary dumps like KT in my assessment of the job he did. Also, although some of the moves may have been forces by Sarver, I think it's a bit unfair to say all the bad moves were Sarver, and good moves were Kerr.

I am not saying Kerr is responsible for the good, Sarver had to sign off on everything. I am just saying that Kerr was probably against some moves, there could have been a couple of moves he got lucky with but ultimately Sarver is running the show.

 

[Yuma]

Of course it's a lot less. That's a no-brainer. The real question is, what are they now spending on Babby AND Blanks vs. Kerr? I would say a lot more. Strange that Sarver would low-ball Kerr, but re-organize his front office into a potentially more pricey unit.

There seemed to be a bit of that going around the NBA, most notably with the Lakers. They wanted to pay their coach less and I think it extended to front office, too. I don't know why the Lakers would be impacted, but most teams are cutting where they can because they say the economy has affected their revenues. Last year I remember some specials going on with ticket prices to get fans to go to Suns games. It's not like they are packing the house like in the Barkley days. Then it was really hard to get tickets.

 

[Sunburn]

+1

If you look back in Phoenix Suns fan history, you will notice that almost every person, whether it's front office or player, was better than what they presently have. It happened with Steven Hunter, Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas (although admittedly, it's hard to argue with KT), Bryan Colangelo, Steve Kerr, David Griffin, and will most certainly happen with Amare Stoudemire and probably Leandro Barbosa. Hell, it's even happened with Lou Amundson already and he hasn't even signed with another team yet!

I'm not exactly sure what you're saying, but it sounds like you're painting with a pretty broad brush stroke.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm not exactly sure what you're saying, but it sounds like you're painting with a pretty broad brush stroke.

I just figured he was talking about everyone else but me.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

+1

If you look back in Phoenix Suns fan history, you will notice that almost every person, whether it's front office or player, was better than what they presently have. It happened with Steven Hunter, Tim Thomas, Kurt Thomas (although admittedly, it's hard to argue with KT), Bryan Colangelo, Steve Kerr, David Griffin, and will most certainly happen with Amare Stoudemire and probably Leandro Barbosa. Hell, it's even happened with Lou Amundson already and he hasn't even signed with another team yet!

That's not really unique to Phoenix Suns fans or even sports for that matter. In the army, it was often said that your best duty assignment ever was the one you were going to and the worst possible assignment was the one you just left. We all have a tendency to do this at times, to a degree, but I wouldn't say it sums up this board.

Steve