Yes, they did. Those teams were loaded and could not get past an elderly Spurs teams and the perennially choking Mavs. It never had anything to do with tempo, D'Antoni's teams lost because despite their superior talent they were mentally and physically weak and could not get stops.
The only year I think you can make a strong case the Suns had the most talent was the suspension year. Unfortunately the Suns were hit with the twin blows of the suspensions and ref scandal, it was pretty bad luck. Should they have been deeper and mentally tougher? Sure, but so is life, it didn't work out that year, when it finally does and they have that parade down Washington, itll just make it even sweeter.
That's speculative at best. You weren't even alive then.
Well there's a moronic point. If you aren't alive when something happens, you can't comment on it. I wish that excuse would've worked in Middle School when I didn't feel like doing my report on Pearl Harbor. "Sorry teach, I wasn't alive then, how could I know anything about it?"
Haha, Kerr already re-worked the team once. Twice actually. I'm sure he was terrified of losing Amare, a guy he always thought of as replaceable.
Amare is replaceable, but there's almost no way to replace him currently since Kerr didn't trade him earlier. Unless the Suns get real lucky and do a sign and trade with him, theyre going to be hurting next year.
Successful? Try underachieving.
Please find me a 4 year span in Suns history where they won as many games. Let me help you, it doesn't exit. Sure they didn't win a title, but thats not the only measure of success. Success can be defined in many ways, sure a title would be the ultimate success but every time your team doesn't win one doesn't make the season a failure or an under achievement.
The D'Antoni era Suns entertained millions of people and brought the community together, they made game nights an event and must see TV, I have a hard time finding any qualms with that.
You've made this point numerous times and I've corrected you on it numerous times but like a petulant child you keep coming back with the same retort.
Sarver likely said to Kerr "cut payroll" how Kerr chose to do that was his call. He dropped the ball by giving up two picks, he carried out that plan and due to his inexperience got screwed. I'm not in anyway defending Sarver, I hate him and wish JC never sold the team. But Kerr made the deal, his name was on the GMs door when it happened, he takes the blame.
Yeah, I'm sure Cleveland was chomping at the bit for a 37 year old overweight has-been who makes $20 million annually and who has imploded his last three teams because of a poor attitude. Anyone would tell you the Shaq trade was the worst move Cleveland made all year. he killed their chemistry just like he did the Suns.
Pretty easy to say looking back on things. At the time they thought he was the answer to Dwight Howard and the piece they needed to get them over the hump to a title.
Acting as if getting the last pick in the 1st round for what they perceived to be the missing piece is some sort of ludicrous goal is ludicrous itself.
Talented enough to get to the Western Conference finals, no?
Nope. If the Suns don't have Amare next year for nothing (which is what I was talking about) they likely won't be talented enough to get to the WCF.
I just think its laughable that D'Antoni wins more regular season games and gets to the WCF (x2) and he sucks. Kerrs teams win less regular season games, miss the playoffs, and get to the WCF once, and he's great, a visionary, had the team headed in the right direction, heck he made them better defensively (which of course isn't true, but shhh lets not bring in facts!)
D'Antoni had his faults (he was an awful GM and unqualified to be one, it was a bad hire) and Kerr really ham strung the team for a few years with some of his early moves.
I hope the Suns can hire someone more qualified but Sarvers reputation precedes him and its unlikely. Not many qualified candidates are going to want to come work in this environment where there's not a lot of pieces for the future and a cheap skate owner.
It could just be that TNT/ABC is going to pay the man, I can understand if he is unwilling to move his family to Phoenix how that could be enticing. Make a ton of cash, work alot less, stay home alot more. Sometimes people just make the best decision for themselves and not for the betterment of the Suns.
Sure, I think thats a huge part of it. Im not making up some wild consipracy theories, Id likely do the same if I was Kerr.
Look at his situation "this job makes me live in a city I dont want to live in, I work with a cheapskate boss who's clueless, the pieces I have going forward don't set me up for success (partially my own fault) and Id like to see my family more...ok Ill quit." It all makes sense and Im not blaming the guy at all.
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