Suns Name Lindsay Hunter Interim Head Coach

[Chaplin]

http://www.nba.com/suns/suns-name-hunter-interim-head-coach

 

[Mainstreet]

I keep thinking that Lindsey Hunter may have connections with Lance Blanks from the past. Maybe someone knows if this is true. I can't help but think Hunter will strongly be considered for the HC position when it opens. He seems well respected.

 

[BC867]

Welcome to The Impossible Dream, Lindsey. Interim head coach of the 2012-2013 Suns.

It will be interesting to see if the Front Office steers him in the direction of winning games for the rest of the season or that of rebuilding. Or neither.

I am glad that Majerle didn't get it.

 

[Ronin]

meh.

 

[Mainstreet]

Welcome to The Impossible Dream, Lindsey. Interim head coach of the 2012-2013 Suns.

It will be interesting to see if the Front Office steers him in the direction of winning games for the rest of the season or that of rebuilding. Or neither.

I am glad that Majerle didn't get it.

I think Hunter will be directed to develop whatever youth is on the roster. He was a former PG. Maybe he can do something with Marshall if that is possible.

 

[Mainstreet]

Here is more from Paul Coro at azcentral dated 1-20-13.

After former four-year coach Alvin Gentry’s departure Friday morning, Suns General Manager Lance Blanks led the decision on picking an internal replacement and chose Hunter over Suns veteran assistant coaches Elston Turner, Dan Majerle and Igor Kokoskov.

I don't like Lance Blanks being the decider although I have no problem with Hunter being the interim HC. IMO, Blanks is part of the problem... not part of the solution.

http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/p...ix-suns-name-lindsey-hunter-as-interim-coach/

 

[Griffin]

Turner would have been a better choice, imo. Not that it really matters, though.

So will we see Beasley back in the starting lineup and playing 40 minutes a game now? Blanks' own brief GM career is in jeopardy if he can't get something out of Beasley, even if it means 30-point blowouts and league-worst PER. I guess we'll find out soon enough what this coaching change was all about.

 

[SirStefan32]

Way to piss on Turner and Kokoskov. I believe between the two of them, there is 25+ years of experience, so yeah, let's hire someone with absolutely no experience.

 

[Mainstreet]

Turner would have been a better choice, imo. Not that it really matters, though.

So will we see Beasley back in the starting lineup and playing 40 minutes a game now? Blanks' own brief GM career is in jeopardy if he can't get something out of Beasley, even if it means 30-point blowouts and league-worst PER. I guess we'll find out soon enough what this coaching change was all about.

I have not been impressed by the Suns defense under Turner so I had no problem looking elsewhere on the staff. However, Kokoskov and Majerle have a legitimate beef. What really worries me the most, I do not believe Blanks' job is in jeopardy.

 

[slinslin]

Majerle shouldn't even be an assistant. He is a party boy. Way to lead young players.

 

[Phrazbit]

Another Lance Blanks decision... so expect it to work out as poorly as possible.

 

[KloD]

I'm good with the choice of Hunter. My only issue is that they say the decision was made by Blanks. Any decision he make is suspect at this point. That's not fair to Hunter, but it is what it is. I expect the 2nd half of the season to yield a worse record than the first with more minutes going to youth. What they do with their pick(s) this summer is what really has me concerned. The draft is weak, but there are a few standout guys and the Suns hopefully land 1 with their top pick.

As for Turner, Kokoskov, and Majerle being passed over. So what? I wouldn't have given the position to any of them either. They are part of the "old" staff. They will all likely move on by the end of the season and Hunter (should he continue in the roll) will put his own staff together. I get that they may feel "burned", but if you don't believe any of them are right for the long term, you don't waste the time giving them the position in the short.

It's an awful period for the Suns right now, but with some smart trades and draft choices this season and Summer, things can start to turn for the better. Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom and the Suns are no exception. One thing is certain, if they continue to suck for a few years, I can't imagine Sarver wanting to hold onto the team just to lose lots of money. This all may be a blessing in disguise.

 

[SirStefan32]

Majerle left the arena once the decision was announced, and Turner was nowhere to be found either. I hope Kokoskov walks out as well, though I know he has too much character to do that. Babby, Blanks, and Sarver can assist Hunter.

 

[Phrazbit]

Amazing. Reports coming out that Marjerle and Turner have possibly quit.

Didnt take long for the "Another Lance Blanks decision... so expect it to work out as poorly as possible." prediction to start coming true in a big way.

 

[Errntknght]

I like Lindsey Hunter for the job, though, I agree Blanks choosing him puts a sour note on it. He was not only a good defender, he was the leader of the defense for the Pistons back in the day... the kind of player the Suns have never had. I hope they wind up making him permanent... well, permanent in the manner of NBA coaches. With some standing in the organization he may be able to stand up to Blanks when the latter's about to make another awful player decision. In Hunter's mind that would be anyone who is a poor defender (I hope).

 

[Errntknght]

I can understand Marjele, Turner and Kokoskov being pissed at the brand new kid on the block being put over them but I'm not sorry to see Marjele opting out. I was not much impressed with what Turner was doing for the defense either so I don't see him as a major loss. It might clear the way for Hunter to bring in his own assistants immediately, which is a good thing, IMO.

 

[hcsilla]

I like Lindsey Hunter for the job, though, I agree Blanks choosing him puts a sour note on it. He was not only a good defender, he was the leader of the defense for the Pistons back in the day... the kind of player the Suns have never had. I hope they wind up making him permanent... well, permanent in the manner of NBA coaches. With some standing in the organization he may be able to stand up to Blanks when the latter's about to make another awful player decision. In Hunter's mind that would be anyone who is a poor defender (I hope).

That's OK but he has zero, I mean zero coaching experience.

 

[Chaplin]

Remember January 20, 2013 everyone. This is possibly the worst period in the history of this franchise. Well, maybe 2nd to the drug scandal, but a close 2nd anyway.

 

[SunsTzu]

Remember January 20, 2013 everyone. This is possibly the worst period in the history of this franchise. Well, maybe 2nd to the drug scandal, but a close 2nd anyway.

Firing Blanks is the only move the Suns could make that would give me hope.

 

[Phrazbit]

Its unbelievable how poorly this team is being ran. How in the world do you not have an INTERIM coach tabbed the day you fire the head coach (for reasons that had nothing to do with his coaching ability).

Its going to be funny to see what staff they scrounge together on the fly over the next few days before our game.

Lance Blanks is making Isiah Thomas look like an astute executive.

 

[Errntknght]

That's OK but he has zero, I mean zero coaching experience.

Better that than ten years experience under D'Antoni!

I know its scary but I'm just tickled to have a defensive minded head coach. He did hang around the league for 17 years and he was a PG for some top coaches so he could well have picked up a lot. I suppose its a good thing that he's only an interim coach... if he's not up to the job, there's a quick out.

 

[Folster]

Obviously the Suns weren't planning on releasing Gentry until the end of the season. Something either came to a head where they could no longer continue or they tried to take advantage of a busy Valley sports day with the Cardinals coaching news and try to pass it through under the radar.

A long holiday weekend with two huge national stories (Teo and Armstrong) and huge local news is the perfect time for this. Quite the political thing to do.

 

[Griffin]

I know its scary but I'm just tickled to have a defensive minded head coach.

Didn't we just have one a few years back in Terry Porter? Didn't really help much defensively, as far as I recall. But I doubt Hunter's tenure as head coach will be much longer than Porter's.

Btw, I don't think that being a good defensive player necessarily makes you a good defensive coach. Playing good defensive is not the same as being able to teach others and get others to play good defense. Hunter has not shown that ability yet. He hasn't even shown an ability to be a head coach, having only been an assistant for less than three months.

I am not surprised the other assistants are upset and may quit. Hunter hasn't earned a promotion yet and there were others more deserving. But I guess he must have endeared himself to Blanks somehow, although I doubt it was with his coaching ability.

 

[Folster]

I want Majerle to remain part of the organization. I wish he never got into coaching.

 

[mojorizen7]

I like Lindsey Hunter for the job, though, I agree Blanks choosing him puts a sour note on it. He was not only a good defender, he was the leader of the defense for the Pistons back in the day... the kind of player the Suns have never had. I hope they wind up making him permanent... well, permanent in the manner of NBA coaches. With some standing in the organization he may be able to stand up to Blanks when the latter's about to make another awful player decision. In Hunter's mind that would be anyone who is a poor defender (I hope).

I agree.
This Suns organization and team are in dire need of an identity(besides one of dysfunctional losers). Hunter likely won't change any of that but he'll be good for the player development of some of these young guys including Dragic.

We all know where the real problems stem from here.