The Real Star of the Suns

[scotsman13]

http://www.nba.com/blog/blog20.html

The Real Star of the Suns
Mike D'Antoni makes the difference in Phoenix
Let's get one thing out of the way, I am a little biased when it comes to Mike D'Antoni. He is one of the greatest people I have ever met and, and I know this is a cliche, but success really hasn't changed him a bit. He is as approachable and nice now that he is on the verge of winning the NBA Coach of the Year award (I know it is early but believe me, nobody will take that award away from him this year...) as he was when he was an unknown assistant coach in Denver, Portland and Phoenix... or when he was a player... and later a coach in Milan and Treviso. In Italy people who know Mike repeat the same story: To meet him is to like him.

For now let's set aside the respect that I have for Mike D'Antoni as a person, and lets talk coaching. He's a genius when it comes to basketball and I am not surprised one bit for the success that he's enjoying. As a player he was a true leader; one of the greats of Italian basketball. Now he's been able to translate these qualities very smoothly into coaching.

Mike is the ultimate players' coach, a trait he's shown since his days leading Treviso. There he played a very similar style to the one he's utilizing in Phoenix. The major difference though is that he had a floor general named Tyus Edney there who was running at will, dishing, assisting and scoring a la Steve Nash. Well obviously they didn't have Amare or Shawn Marion but Bostjan Nachbar and Jorge Garbajosa really created matchup problems to opponents in Mike D'Antoni's system. And Mike was also working on an extremely interesting project, Nikoloz "Skita" Tskitishvili who probably left too early for the NBA, but whose talent is undeniable.

Now in Phoenix Mike has a perfect group of players who believe in him and in his system. Who would have thought that the Suns, a team that last year won 29 games, would be one of the bright stars of the tough Western Conference? Of course Steve Nash has been instrumental in the turnaround, Quentin Richardson has brought versatility and Stoudamire and Marion are having amazing seasons. But to me the real star of the Suns is Mike D'Antoni.

 

[Goldfield]

I for one think Coach hasnt got enought credit. I saw a huge difference when he took over last year. It didnt show up in win's because the talent level was very low, but the guys were playing hard & were not getting blownout anymore.


Sofar I have noticed he is VERY good at drwing up out a bounds plays. He also gets the guys to play hard & not get caught up in the amount of wins they have right now. A big part of the teams success is due to the fact that they are staying hungry and not becoming content with their early seccess. That is unheard of in todays NBA.

This team is special. Everything is working perfectly right now. "IF" the Suns can over come the lack of veteren players on the team they have a shot at a GREAT season & postseason...

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I really really want D'Antoni to coach the All Start game in Denver after how he was treated. It would be a great story.

 

[Gaddabout]

I give credit to D'Antoni to sticking to his guns. I also think his staff is very underrated. Gentry seems to have had a positive influence. Watching the Suns in the halfcourt, with their spacing in a chaotic scheme, color me impressed. The defense has also been taken up a notch.

 

[George O'Brien]

I give credit to D'Antoni to sticking to his guns. I also think his staff is very underrated. Gentry seems to have had a positive influence. Watching the Suns in the halfcourt, with their spacing in a chaotic scheme, color me impressed. The defense has also been taken up a notch.

The Suns are never going to be a lock down defensive team because they need to double the low post. Teams that pass and shoot well can score against the Suns, but it is hard for most teams to beat the Suns by shooting from the outside.

 

[F-Dog]

The Suns are never going to be a lock down defensive team because they need to double the low post. Teams that pass and shoot well can score against the Suns, but it is hard for most teams to beat the Suns by shooting from the outside.

I think Gaddabout's point was that the Suns coaches are pretty good.


I doubt Denver fans need too many reminders about D'Antoni. When you look at what Kiki Vandeweghe has tried to do--mine foreign talent and build a team that runs through the thin Denver air--D'Antoni would be the perfect complement for that. Just one more thing to blame Dan Issel for, I suppose...

 

[SirStefan32]

The Suns are never going to be a lock down defensive team because they need to double the low post. Teams that pass and shoot well can score against the Suns, but it is hard for most teams to beat the Suns by shooting from the outside.

You're right George, but I want to add one thing- while Phoenix is not a great defensive team, they get stops when push comes to shove.

 

[Joe Mama]

Caller (Cameron): My question is that Amare came out in the beginning of the year and said he wasn't really comfortable with the role of being the starting center for the team. What do you think long-term wise about getting into a true center for the team.

D'Antoni: If we can get Shaq, I think that'll be great. If we don't, then whoever you get is going to lose. So, we probably won't get Shaq. And Amare said he didn't want to play at center, but I don't think he really understood exactly how we were going to play. He's up for Most Valuable Player and he should be. His numbers are way up, so I think he's enjoying playing his role. Ninety percent of the time, he's playing power forward. Amare will guard Duncan and Duncan's a power forward. Shawn is the one who has really changed his game and he's elevated it. I think Amare's really happy with his position and I think we can win this way. And we'll see. Maybe we need a bigger guy, but so far we haven't. I think it's a fallacy and we're going to try to prove you can win this way. If not, yeah, we're going to have to go get somebody.

This was from D'Antoni's KTAR interview. At least he is saying he is willing to adjust if things are not working. He seems confident that his style of basketball can win in the NBA, but he's open to changes if they are needed.

At least that's what he says anyhow.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Interesting that he doesn't think the guy is already on the team.

 

[SirStefan32]

Interesting that he doesn't think the guy is already on the team.

I wonder how Hunter and Voskhul feel about Mike's quote.

 

[Chaz]

I wonder how Hunter and Voskhul feel about Mike's quote.

I think Hunter and Voskuhl understand there is room for improvement in their games.

 

[Gaddabout]

If Hunter could develop an offensive game from 8 feet in and figure out how to count defenders to find an open shooter on the wing, he would be the guy. He's not a problem on defense and he can certainly run with the rest of the gang.

An 8-foot jumper ... how long does it take to learn that? I'm 5-10, and I think I can hit an 8-foot jumper about 80 percent of the time over someone of the same height. Boot to ass, Hunter should be in 60 minutes early each day fortifying his career and picking up millions for his next contract. If that doesn't motivate him, hope he's satisfied with the vet min and a spot on the bench. I'm afraid he is.