Mike Budenholzer - Officially Suns new Head Coach

[Covert Rain]

Fascinating, can you recall anything specific? I've always wanted to sit close to the bench for that exact reason - to hear the conversations.

Oh he was jawing at the other team's bench and players throughout the game. When the ball was on our side of the court he was freaking salty. Dropped multiple F bombs and trashed talked a ton. That is Book being Book though. There were a couple other times he was jawing at the refs and I thought for sure he was going to get a T during the TV timeout. In fact, I bet if he did that while on TV those would have been T's. What coach Bud mentioned above? Yeah, I had seen some of that too. Him just talking to the other guys over the coaches. That's why the Bud conversation wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Phrazbit]

Two things. It's not a good sign if your coach basically has to tell you to sit down and listen instead of yap. I shared with you guys that I had seats close to the bench and didn't realize how much Book runs his mouth....even during TV time outs. Second, I would much rather see James Jones go despite the weird decisions out of Bud.

There are only 2 constants left with the Suns since their historic finals collapse and regression playoff wise since. James Jones and Booker. It's easier to replace a GM than a player like Booker.

I think the main reason for the franchise falling apart isn't what few things remain from the finals team, rather how thoroughly that team was torn apart.

 

[Covert Rain]

I think the main reason for the franchise falling apart isn't what few things remain from the finals team, rather how thoroughly that team was torn apart.

I could buy that if it were not the same lack of leadership and the same mental collapses during adversity carried over to each of the teams since that time.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think the main reason for the franchise falling apart isn't what few things remain from the finals team, rather how thoroughly that team was torn apart.

It's always seemed a ridiculous notion to me how some felt the team that went to the finals and lost to the Mavs needed to be torn apart while the team who was swept and embarrassed by Minnesota deserved another run. I know the options to retool aren't great since we took on all these bad contracts attached to stat chasing "stars" but I'll take a second round collapse over failing to show up in round 1 at all.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think the main reason for the franchise falling apart isn't what few things remain from the finals team, rather how thoroughly that team was torn apart.

The main reason the franchise fell apart is because CP3 did.

Now we definitely had a bunch of assets to reload MUCH MUCH MUCH BETTER than what we did with KD, but CP3 was the straw that stirred that drink and that core outside of him was a 3 of good but not elite wings and a head case at center with a propensity for quitting in games and even before elimination games.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I could buy that if it were not the same lack of leadership and the same mental collapses during adversity carried over to each of the teams since that time.

And every Suns team prior to CP3.

 

[Phrazbit]

I could buy that if it were not the same lack of leadership and the same mental collapses during adversity carried over to each of the teams since that time.

We mentally collapsed against Dallas, that team had something go sour behind the scenes. However, the narrative that we collapsed against the Bucks is rubbish, it was a really hard fought, close series, they didn't roll over and die, those last 3 games came down to a few individual plays.

Against Denver Ayton quit (again) and the rest of the roster was either gutted from the trade or injured, looking back, it is a miracle they pushed it to 6.

 

[Covert Rain]

We mentally collapsed against Dallas, that team had something go sour behind the scenes. However, the narrative that we collapsed against the Bucks is rubbish, it was a really hard fought, close series, they didn't roll over and die, those last 3 games came down to a few individual plays.

Against Denver Ayton quit (again) and the rest of the roster was either gutted from the trade or injured, looking back, it is a miracle they pushed it to 6.

I disagree by that last game is looked like the team was mentally punched in the face. Again, that's not the same as completely rolling over. Plus, it has been a consistent feature since.

 

[Superbone]

This is new info to me:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Mainstreet]

I disagree by that last game is looked like the team was mentally punched in the face. Again, that's not the same as completely rolling over. Plus, it has been a consistent feature since.

By game 6 the Suns were banged up and they had no defensive answer for Giannis.

I think Ayton played as well as could be expected against the Bucks, but he was not enough upfront. Getting into foul trouble was always a concern, the way Giannis charged into the lane.

 

[Covert Rain]

By game 6 the Suns were banged up and they had no defensive answer for Giannis.

I think Ayton played as well as could be expected against the Bucks, but he was not enough upfront. Getting into foul trouble was always a concern, the way Giannis charged into the lane.

When Giannis turned it on the Suns looked like a deer in the headlights. Again, I am not saying they threw in the towel but they certainty looked like a team that knew it had no idea how to stop him. People can spin this all they want. You know that by how many times it's happened in history. We can debate the why all day.

 

[Mainstreet]

When Giannis turned it on the Suns looked like a deer in the headlights. Again, I am not saying they threw in the towel but they certainty looked like a team that knew it had no idea how to stop him. People can spin this all they want. You know that by how many times it's happened in history. We can debate the why all day.

The Suns didn't have a stopper for Giannis, but it's unfair to characterize the Suns that way.

They won two games in that Championship series.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is new info to me:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

I'd like to see this in context.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Suns didn't have a stopper for Giannis, but it's unfair to characterize the Suns that way.

They won two games in that Championship series.

It’s fair to characterize any team that accomplishes that historic defeat with all the other teams that did it as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

It’s fair to characterize any team that accomplishes that historic defeat with all the other teams that did it as well.

Winning two games in the Finals is nothing to be ashamed of. It's not like losing a series 4-0.

 

[Covert Rain]

Winning two games in the Finals is nothing to be ashamed of. It's not like losing a series 4-0.

I was referring to winning the first 2, going up 2-0 and what teams in the past went on to win instead of losing the series in 4 successive losses after that.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was referring to winning the first 2, going up 2-0 and what teams in the past went on to win instead of losing the series in 4 successive losses after that.

Losing Saric didn't help.

 

[Covert Rain]

Losing Saric didn't help.

It was a factor but Dario couldn’t stay in front of anybody. It wouldn’t have changed the series. Other teams in history faced other issues too. There is a reason 85% of teams that went up 2-0 win the finals.

 

[Mainstreet]

It was a factor but Dario couldn’t stay in front of anybody. It wouldn’t have changed the series. Other teams in history faced other issues too. There is a reason 85% of teams that went up 2-0 win the finals.

It's the “deer in the headlights” comment that is in dispute.

 

[BirdGangThing]

Bud is Durant's 6th coach in 6 years since leaving Golden State.

Durant doesn't have an interest in playing in any offense "system", he's made that pretty clear. I think Bud probably needs to go, but I don't know how you prepare and scheme when your best player is just going to do his own thing and "hoop" night after night.

kd didn't have bol bol in no where's land when he clearly should've been playing bench minutes this whole time - kd didn't tell book to shut up in the huddle - kd doesn't banish players with no rhyme or reason - given to the players - kd never failed to find a rotation and let it gel due to the banishments - kd this - is that - i agree kd needs to go (like 1,000,000%) but you can go sell that kd is the root of all evil nonsense elsewhere - im done talking kd this season - bud has failed

 

[Phrazbit]

kd didn't have bol bol in no where's land when he clearly should've been playing bench minutes this whole time - kd didn't tell book to shut up in the huddle - kd doesn't banish players with no rhyme or reason - given to the players - kd never failed to find a rotation and let it gel due to the banishments - kd this - is that - i agree kd needs to go (like 1,000,000%) but you can go sell that kd is the root of all evil nonsense elsewhere - im done talking kd this season - bud has failed

I agree, Bud has got to go, every few weeks Bud is banishing a new player to the shadow realm, Okoge, Dunn, Bol, Iso, Morris (wtf happened with Morris? He was an important player early in the season when we didn't suck yet), even Nurk, as awful as he was should have at least gotten a chance to get things going from the bench, instead of basically being kicked off the team.

However... I just don't think KD is going to listen to anyone, guys who coach him get fired.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I agree, Bud has got to go, every few weeks Bud is banishing a new player to the shadow realm, Okoge, Dunn, Bol, Iso, Morris (wtf happened with Morris? He was an important player early in the season when we didn't suck yet), even Nurk, as awful as he was should have at least gotten a chance to get things going from the bench, instead of basically being kicked off the team.

However... I just don't think KD is going to listen to anyone, guys who coach him get fired.

sorry man - rough season - i need to chill - but i don't think either will be here next year - who knows tho - up is often down and down is often up on planet orange

 

[Chaplin]

It was a factor but Dario couldn’t stay in front of anybody. It wouldn’t have changed the series. Other teams in history faced other issues too. There is a reason 85% of teams that went up 2-0 win the finals.

Disagree that it wouldn't have changed the series. Instead of losing 4 in a row, we would have won at least one of those games, and by then, it would have changed the way the series was going.

 

[Phrazbit]

It was a factor but Dario couldn’t stay in front of anybody. It wouldn’t have changed the series. Other teams in history faced other issues too. There is a reason 85% of teams that went up 2-0 win the finals.

We went from the bench being a huge strength to it really struggling after he went down, he was the engine that made that bench hum.

 

[Covert Rain]

We went from the bench being a huge strength to it really struggling after he went down, he was the engine that made that bench hum.

I didn’t say Dario was worthless on offense but he had no lateral quickness and could stay in front of people. He doesn’t impact Giannis going off one bit.