Suns are tweaking coaching staff

[Mainstreet]

The Suns are making changes with their coaching staff. This makes me think the Suns are going to stay with Hornacek or why make the changes now? The intent is to make the Suns coaching staff more energetic. See article from Paul Coro at azcentral dated 5-29-15 for more.

The Suns are tweaking coach Jeff Hornacek's staff in hopes of making improvements beyond what they will do to the roster in the next two months.

Assistant coach Kenny Gattison's two-year tenure on the Suns staff ended as he was informed that his contract, set to expire June 30, would not be renewed. The Suns also will reassign assistant coach Mark West to the front office, promote player development coach Corey Gaines to assistant coach and hire D-League affiliate head coach Nate Bjorkgren as a player-development coach.

Director of Player Personnel John Treloar, who ran most of the basketball operation for former Suns General Manager Lance Blanks, also will leave after the June 25 NBA draft to become the associate head coach at Louisiana State, where he was an assistant coach from 2004-08. Treloar has scouted prospects and organized draft workouts for the Suns since Ryan McDonough became general manager in 2013, the same time assistant GM Pat Connelly was hired.

I'm still wondering if the Suns have someone on their staff that can command more discipline which seemed needed last season.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-staff-jeff-hornacek-kenny-gattison/28170329/

 

[Hoop Head]

I think firing Hornacek this offseason wouldn't go over well but if things start rough next year then he is the only one to blame. I know he was given an unbalanced roster this year but that's no excuse for the way players walked all over him and played without any discipline. Hopefully that will be corrected next year, not just by changing the roster some but Hornacek and staff being in more control of the players. Also seeing them run set plays in the halfcourt would be an upgrade.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think firing Hornacek this offseason wouldn't go over well but if things start rough next year then he is the only one to blame. I know he was given an unbalanced roster this year but that's no excuse for the way players walked all over him and played without any discipline. Hopefully that will be corrected next year, not just by changing the roster some but Hornacek and staff being in more control of the players. Also seeing them run set plays in the halfcourt would be an upgrade.

I don't think Hornacek would be fired this offseason either. The Suns have tweaked their coaching staff to hopefully enhance success. Actually, I hope the pieces fall into place. However, if Hornacek gets off to a bad start, I can see a coaching change later this coming season, perhaps even before January. Mike Longabardi might be a suitable interim coach if things fall apart.

 

[BC867]

I like Mark West as a person, but he is not the one to mentor Alex Len. A Center who couldn't stay out of foul trouble coaching a Center who can't stay out of foul trouble.

I applaud the Suns Front Office facing up to it and returning Mark to that area. And letting Kenny Gattison go. I think Corey Gaines is a good addition to the Suns coaching staff.

But these are baby steps. We need to see more proactive moves on the part of the Suns before next season, so we are not doing the same thing over and over. Again and again.

 

[Mainstreet]

I like Mark West as a person, but he is not the one to mentor Alex Len. A Center who couldn't stay out of foul trouble coaching a Center who can't stay out of foul trouble.

I applaud the Suns Front Office facing up to it and returning Mark to that area. And letting Kenny Gattison go. I think Corey Gaines is a good addition to the Suns coaching staff.

But these are baby steps. We need to see more proactive moves on the part of the Suns before next season, so we are not doing the same thing over and over. Again and again.

It looks like Mark West will continue to mentor Alex Len so he is still in the coaching equation for the Suns big men.

West will continue to work with the Suns' big men on the floor, particularly when they are in Phoenix. He has a successful, strong relationship with Alex Len and Markieff Morris. His new role as a director of player relations will focus on mentoring a young Suns team that had behavioral issues on and off the court last season.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-staff-jeff-hornacek-kenny-gattison/28170329/

 

[Hoop Head]

West isn't a good "big man" coach. I'm pretty sure he used to work with Amar'e in the same capacity and other than his explosiveness offensively it didn't seem West helped him at all. I'd like to see them bring in someone like Patrick Ewing as an assistant coach or send Len to Hakeem's summer camp, at the least.

 

[Mainstreet]

West isn't a good "big man" coach. I'm pretty sure he used to work with Amar'e in the same capacity and other than his explosiveness offensively it didn't seem West helped him at all. I'd like to see them bring in someone like Patrick Ewing as an assistant coach or send Len to Hakeem's summer camp, at the least.

This is my take. IMO, I think the Suns would be better served if Mark West's duties were limited to the front office. Two areas in which the Suns can most easily improve are coaching and scouting, particularly scouting outside the United States. The Suns should be looking for hidden talent like Barbosa and Dragic when they were drafted by the Suns. I'd like the Suns to put more emphasis on scouting. The Suns shouldn't try to save money here.

 

[Hoop Head]

This is my take. IMO, I think the Suns would be better served if Mark West's duties were limited to the front office. Two areas in which the Suns can most easily improve are coaching and scouting, particularly scouting outside the United States. The Suns should be looking for hidden talent like Barbosa and Dragic when they were drafted by the Suns. I'd like the Suns to put more emphasis on scouting. The Suns shouldn't try to save money here.

+1 especially with all the picks they have down the line. Next year they have Clevelands, then in 2017 the Heat pick, possibly, and potentially more.

 

[sunsfan88]

This is the type of move the Suns should have made instead of sitting with their thump up their you-know-what

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--pelicans-coach-alvin-gentry-164205332.html

But hey, who really cares about defense though right?

 

[slinslin]

This is the type of move the Suns should have made instead of sitting with their thump up their you-know-what

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--pelicans-coach-alvin-gentry-164205332.html

But hey, who really cares about defense though right?

Please just do us all a favor and stop posting.

1 month ago you were complaining why the Suns are not the high scoring Suns anymore and how you miss Barbosa.

Your only motivation of posting seems to instigate.

PS: The Suns were an average defensive team last season.

 

[3rdside]

Please just do us all a favor and stop posting.

1 month ago you were complaining why the Suns are not the high scoring Suns anymore and how you miss Barbosa.

Your only motivation of posting seems to instigate.

PS: The Suns were an average defensive team last season.

How about you both take your dislike for each other off line - or ignore each other... whatever, just stop bickering like two year old girls cause no-one wants to hear it.

 

[Mainstreet]

I was so, so about the Pelicans hiring Gentry as head coach because offense is his specialty. However, hiring Darren Erman as an associate coach head coach to over see the defense should make a good combination. Personally, I would like to see the Suns look at this format.

 

[elindholm]

I was so, so about the Pelicans hiring Gentry as head coach because offense is his specialty.

What do you base that on? The fact that he had an offense-oriented roster when he coached the Suns?

 

[Mainstreet]

What do you base that on? The fact that he had an offense-oriented roster when he coached the Suns?

I was looking at the Gentry of today with his offensive focus with the Suns and Warriors. I think the Pelicans will look to Gentry for an uptempo offense.

 

[Chaz]

I think firing Hornacek this offseason wouldn't go over well but if things start rough next year then he is the only one to blame. I know he was given an unbalanced roster this year but that's no excuse for the way players walked all over him and played without any discipline. Hopefully that will be corrected next year, not just by changing the roster some but Hornacek and staff being in more control of the players. Also seeing them run set plays in the halfcourt would be an upgrade.

I don't know where the idea comes from that they don't run plays or that Hornacek doesn't have an offense.

It is like the old myth about the Nash Suns not being good in the half court offense.

It just isn't true yet people keep repeating it.

 

[Chaplin]

Nobody saying anything about Earl Watson joining the staff? Out of the blue.

 

[Mainstreet]

Nobody saying anything about Earl Watson joining the staff? Out of the blue.

Paul Coro is not reporting anything as yet. The only mention I can find now is the RealGM discussion board.

 

[Chaplin]

Paul Coro is not reporting anything as yet. The only mention I can find now is the RealGM discussion board.

I got it from Bleacher Report, who got it from a site called Sportando who got it from someone named Chris Haynes.

Edit: Chris Haynes is a Cavaliers beat reporter and NBA Insider for NEOMG representing Cleveland Plain Dealer. I believe NEOMG is the Northeastern Ohio Media Group.

 

[Mainstreet]

I got it from Bleacher Report, who got it from a site called Sportando who got it from someone named Chris Haynes.

Edit: Chris Haynes is a Cavaliers beat reporter and NBA Insider for NEOMG representing Cleveland Plain Dealer. I believe NEOMG is the Northeastern Ohio Media Group.

I guess we will have to wait.

 

[Chaplin]

Jordan Schultz from the Huffington Post has also reported it.

 

[Matt L]

Is there any truth to the rumor of Hornacek moving to Iowa?

 

[FArting]

No. He is going to stay

 

[JCSunsfan]

No. He is going to stay

KTAR is reporting that Horny's agent is disputing a claim out of Iowa that Horny refused an interview. Hmmm.

 

[Mainstreet]

KTAR is reporting that Horny's agent is disputing a claim out of Iowa that Horny refused an interview. Hmmm.

It's all too confusing even after reading the azcentral article about it today.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...ek-declines-meeting-with-iowa-state/28417251/

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is a tweet from Paul Coro.

https://twitter.com/paulcoro/status/606236089263603712