What did you expect from Watson as the coach?

[leclerc]

As someone already noted (I believe Chaplin) Tyler Ulis and Alan Williams have been sent to the D-league for playing time which is not a negative in my book.

At this point I agree and I'd rather send Bender than A1 (since Len is injured). Would give Bender more than 2 minutes standing behind the arc. Perhaps he gets a taste for real basketball where he can utilise his skills during an entire match.

With this fantastic isolation offence we're running we don't need a point guard on the floor. Goodwin would thrive under Watson. He doesn't seem to mind stupid shots and pathetic shooting averages from his sub.

Excited about the draft and seeing how much our rookies are improved next year. Think of Chriss, Bender and Ulis with 10 extra pounds of muscle. We need a pure point guard or a small forward in the draft or in a trade for Knight or others.

 

[Mainstreet]

At this point I agree and I'd rather send Bender than A1 (since Len is injured). Would give Bender more than 2 minutes standing behind the arc. Perhaps he gets a taste for real basketball where he can utilise his skills during an entire match.

With this fantastic isolation offence we're running we don't need a point guard on the floor. Goodwin would thrive under Watson. He doesn't seem to mind stupid shots and pathetic shooting averages from his sub.

Excited about the draft and seeing how much our rookies are improved next year. Think of Chriss, Bender and Ulis with 10 extra pounds of muscle. We need a pure point guard or a small forward in the draft or in a trade for Knight or others.

Bender received a solid taste of the NBA last night. Right now I'd like to keep him with the main team because he is starting to show flashes. I guess we will never know about Archie Goodwin because he apparently wanted out. Bender and Chriss need to develop physically as you say.

I'm not sure if Ulis can add another 10 pounds of muscle.

 

[JustWinBaby]

Take a bow, Mike D'Antoni.




Sorry but you can't make statements like this...how do you know? DA is not stupid and will have learned from his time at the Suns. Houston have the 4th best record in the league and are genuine contenders this season already; a tweak here and a tweak there and who knows.




Again, how do you know? He's just turned Harden into an MVP candidate overseeing a meteoric rise in his assists (6.6 above his career average, 4.3 above his last season). Sure our backcourt trio aren't that good but we've seen Watson turn a 20 and five guy into literally (by one measure), the worst player in the league.

The point being that at this stage, anything is better than Watson and that definitely includes DA.




Again, how do you know? If he improves Harden by that much he probably could find a way with at least one of our back court - there's a ton of talent there that Watson is just not extracting.




This is going off tangent.




Strictly speaking we're the second fastest team in the league (click on the 'pace' header in the link), we're just very inefficient:

http://www.espn.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/sort/paceFactor




He was 20 and 5 last year; DA couldn't possibly coach a decline worse than what Watson has.




Yet Dekker the rookie gets more minutes than any of ours.




I don't think Pau was the main cause of his problems:

http://www.lakersnation.com/former-...ecalls-hostile-environment-in-l-a/2016/10/26/

Between the issue this article raises and what I said already about Kobe's habits vs DA's philosophy, it was a recipe for disaster. DA isn't entirely innocent I'm sure but there are mitigating factors.




I'd like to develop Len but I'd prefer our team as a whole not to suck and Len is probably not the second coming of anyone special.




So it's DA's fault that Amare can't defend? Not sure I buy that entirely although we definitely weren't good defensively as a whole.




Houston have gone from 17th to 4th in less than one season while we have managed to get worse, again. There is surely no comparison between Watson and DA as a better option.


Final Rant:
It's all moot anyway - we're lumbered with McD and I have little faith in him as a GM; he seems egocentric, quick to pass the blame, unable to build a team of the 'right' players, and at this stage may forever be known as the guy who traded for Brandon Knight (Lakers pick update: #8 and getting higher)...So while DA probably wouldn't take us to the promised land he'd at least make us fun to watch as ball movement is just not overrated.

Fantastic post.

All these guys seem to be worried about ONLY winning 40 games or is it 50 or is it the 58 on average we won while Mike was our coach. WHAT A FREAKING JOKE. All based on him coaching for two franchises almost as bad as the one Bobby Sarver is the store keeper for.

All I want is basketball that is fun to watch. I actually cannot wait to watch us play the Rockets and have the D'Antoni haters see what fun basketball looks like. Mike plays everyone because they can play. While he was here, Sarver would only pay for 7 players that could play.

Mike never wanted to be GM but Sarver didn't think that it was an important position so he gave Mike the job, to save money. However Mike gets blamed for every poor player decision this franchise has ever made, or so it seems.

I could care less if Mike ever wins a championship but I will follow any team that he coaches because they are fun to watch.

The resident MDA hater, Phrazbit, should have been in Vegas at the Venetian with me, when Mike was coaching the knicks and had Lin as his point guard. I have never watched a sporting event more fun to watch. That was before Melo would have none of that. He wanted to go ISO all night every night. Mike said him or me. Dolan chose Melo. They had a run of sorts after Mike left but it did not last. They lost in either the 1st or 2nd round, that year and have not tasted the playoffs since.

The Lakers have not been in the playoffs since Mike's departure.

The Suns have been in the playoffs only once, with Mike's 1st Lieutenant as head coach, while coaching Mike's style.

The Suns and Coach Watson have made it not necessary to subscribe to any sleeping medication. They are horrible and getting worse. Even Booker has regressed, all these geniuses seem to ignore that fact. He is getting absolutely nothing out of Len and I have limited my expectations on our three rookies, due to our coaches ability. I happen to like all three of them but have no faith in Watson.

 

[Errntknght]

Lets see how Mike's team stands up in the playoffs before we get too carried away. As of now they are 7 & 6 against teams at .500 or above and 13 & 1 vs. teams below .500. In my book that doesn't bode well. Also, his style didn't stand up well in 7 game series, even against teams that they had a good record against in the regular season. Seven games series favors teams that adjust well and one of Mike's weak suits was adjusting. Maybe he's learned something in the interim despite the fact that he hasn't had any seven game series to practice in.

I know you find his style entertaining, and a lot of people will agree with you - even on here. I delighted in following the fast breaking Celtics of the Auerbach era so I like that style of basketball but I couldn't stand to watch a team that was so inept on defense. (Yes, I'm that old.) Part of the agony was knowing that his teams would struggle greatly come the playoffs.

 

[3rdside]

What did Alvin Gentry say when the warriors won the title when he was their assistant coach?

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on...rriors-title-tell-mike-dantoni-hes-vindicated

 

[3rdside]

Pretty powerful stuff.

It's why I could never get behind guys like Melo, Iverson and Marbury; they had some great individual stats but were largely iso ballers that didn't deliver much team success (Iverson a bit of an exception, but the East was very weak at that time) from either a playing style or W-L perspective (which are positively correlated I'm sure), just like what we're seeing with the Suns right now.

Nash, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and possibly even Jason Williams and Goran Dragic...my sort of guys; team first, ball movers who seem to have the ability to 'make everyone around them better' and are the type you want to build a team with, if you're so lucky.

And DA's system seems to work wonders for these players and their respective teams; find one, as he did and has done in Phoenix and Houston, sit back and watch the fireworks.

 

[3rdside]

JustWinBaby - on the subject of the Knicks making the playoffs that one year you mention, I just checked and saw it had Jason Kidd on the team in his first and last season with the Knicks and last season ever, as a 39 year old playing 27 minutes a game.

I wonder if this is a coincidence or not as it seems pretty uncanny, meaning I'm also wondering if something like the Hockey Assist stat might help measure this intangible of 'making players around them better' as JKidd's stats don't exactly support this (but just like when you compare Marbury / Iverson / Melo vs Nash's statistics, nor necessarily do they).

 

[3rdside]

*It might not be hockey assists that's responsible of course, it could just be 'style'; floor spacing they create, positioning, leadership etc. Either way, 'intangible' by definition; when a butterfly flaps its wings…

 

[JustWinBaby]

JustWinBaby - on the subject of the Knicks making the playoffs that one year you mention, I just checked and saw it had Jason Kidd on the team in his first and last season with the Knicks and last season ever, as a 39 year old playing 27 minutes a game.

I wonder if this is a coincidence or not as it seems pretty uncanny, meaning I'm also wondering if something like the Hockey Assist stat might help measure this intangible of 'making players around them better' as JKidd's stats don't exactly support this (but just like when you compare Marbury / Iverson / Melo vs Nash's statistics, nor necessarily do they).

The Knicks actually made the playoffs the year Mike left and the year after. The lost in the first round the first year and in the 2nd round the next year. That was the only year that the great Carmelo Anthony has made it out of the 1st round.

I loved Jason Kidd as a PG with the Suns. I expect that he and MDA would have done well together.

The thing that really gripes me about Mike's complainers is that I really do not know of many of the players that he has coached that was better with another coach other than maybe Melo and Howard. Kobe had a tremendous year playing for Mike and stabbed Mike in the back.

The thing that really bothers me about Watson is that not one of his players seems to be getting any better.

 

[3rdside]

Yeah i got a little confused as I rewrote that post a couple times and the Kidd part threw me on a tangent.

DA took the Knicks to the playoffs in his third season ('10-'11) before resigning midway through his fourth ('11-'12), when they also made the playoffs. This was the 'Linsanity' year when the Knicks sucked, Carmelo went out with injury, Lin came in and produced great results, Carmelo came back and they then lost 7 of 8 games leading to the resignation.

The following season ('12-'13) they made the second round of the playoffs with Kidd on board.



My point - i think - was:

There are types of players e.g. Kidd, who independent of a coach make those around them better, and those that don't e.g. Carmelo.

And if you stick these types of players with a coach like DA who's system brings out the best in these types of players, you get even better results, like 1 + 1 = 3 sort of thing.

Moral of the story - DA can probably coach, with the right players (or without the wrong players to be more accurate).

 

[3rdside]

FYI - Houston broke the record the other night for most threes ever in a game with 24, on 39.3% shooting and Harden, who had a triple double on a 29-13-11 line, is marginally behind Westbrook in PER rating (who are both behind Davis even though his team sucks).

 

[3rdside]

The thing that really bothers me about Watson is that not one of his players seems to be getting any better.

And are actually getting worse. Oh brother.

 

[Matt L]

Why is this thread about Mike D'Antoni?

 

[Errntknght]

Why is this thread about Mike D'Antoni?

Because there was a 'discussion' about him being a better choice than Watson some time back.

 

[slinslin]

Watson is doing a good job imo, he has a young team, no PF with experience on the roster right now and a 19yro rookie starting.

Maybe we are 2 wins belows the expectation right now but that is all. At least the team does not have this negative cloud hanging above their heads like during the last years. I credit Watson a lot for that, he brings the correct approach and mentality. It is a work in progress.

 

[slinslin]

Nash, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and possibly even Jason Williams and Goran Dragic...my sort of guys; team first, ball movers who seem to have the ability to 'make everyone around them better' and are the type you want to build a team with, if you're so lucky.
.

bwahahahahha

 

[Matt L]

Because there was a 'discussion' about him being a better choice than Watson some time back.

Was the position offered to D'antoni?

I get it, you miss the Suns from when Mike D'antoni was the coach and Steve Nash was the league MVP. Unfortunately, that time has passed. It's time to look forward with a new coach and some talented but very young players in the lineup.

 

[3rdside]

Was the position offered to D'antoni?

I get it, you miss the Suns from when Mike D'antoni was the coach and Steve Nash was the league MVP. Unfortunately, that time has passed. It's time to look forward with a new coach and some talented but very young players in the lineup.

Who made you the discussion policeman?

And Slinslin, well responded to you as well sir!

I did say 'possibly' so I'm not convinced either but I guess you failed to comprehend that in your rush to prove yourself no more mature than an 11 year old. Nothing's changed I see!

 

[Chaplin]

Who made you the discussion policeman?

And Slinslin, well responded to you as well sir!

I did say 'possibly' so I'm not convinced either but I guess you failed to comprehend that in your rush to prove yourself no more mature than an 11 year old. Nothing's changed I see!

Geez, where did this come from? Are you really that insulted?

 

[3rdside]

Geez, where did this come from? Are you really that insulted?

This board loves to snipe...maybe I'm just as guilty of it in my last post!

I weighed up ignoring it or responding in a more diplomatic manner so maybe I should have opted for the latter.

But still, they're both pretty punchy posts so either response option is probably warranted.

 

[3rdside]

Not hardly.

The guy lobbed a nerf pebble (in no particular direction) and you unloaded a full clip at him.

Agreed, i overstepped. Apologies to one and all (and I really don't like that side of me.. working on it!)

 

[JustWinBaby]

This board loves to snipe...maybe I'm just as guilty of it in my last post!

I weighed up ignoring it or responding in a more diplomatic manner so maybe I should have opted for the latter.

But still, they're both pretty punchy posts so either response option is probably warranted.

There is no sense arguing with these guys. When MDA's teams win it because of the talent he has. When his teams lose it is because he is a poor coach. Well Watson is making losing a part of our culture. After all, it is normal for him. He was a loser as a player and the losing has continued since he somehow became a head coach.

I really think that they believe that Earl Watson is a better coach than MDA.

What a joke!

It is a battle of the titans tonight. It's Watson and the Suns versus Thibodeau and the Wolves.

Who wins this epic battle?

Which team is underperforming more?

Just in - Thibodeau is coach, GM, HOBO, dishwasher and bill collector. I wonder who is the problem in Minnesota? Maybe he has too much talent.

Next up after this one I think Watson gets a shot at MDA and the Rockets. Should be a cakewalk for a clone of John Wooden.

 

[Chaplin]

There is no sense arguing with these guys. When MDA's teams win it because of the talent he has. When his teams lose it is because he is a poor coach. Well Watson is making losing a part of our culture. After all, it is normal for him. He was a loser as a player and the losing has continued since he somehow became a head coach.

I really think that they believe that Earl Watson is a better coach than MDA.

What a joke!

It is a battle of the titans tonight. It's Watson and the Suns versus Thibodeau and the Wolves.

Who wins this epic battle?

Which team is underperforming more?

Just in - Thibodeau is coach, GM, HOBO, dishwasher and bill collector. I wonder who is the problem in Minnesota? Maybe he has too much talent.

Next up after this one I think Watson gets a shot at MDA and the Rockets. Should be a cakewalk for a clone of John Wooden.

WAAAY overboard. Do I think DA is a bad coach? Maybe not bad, but certainly no better than average. Do I think Watson is a good coach? X's and O's, no. But he's at least a good motivator. You have to start somewhere and at least he's not a complete failure like Terry Porter or Lindsay Hunter.

You love Mike D'Antoni, we get it. But we are 8 years (8!) after his last year here and you are STILL singing the praises of him. And only because after 8 years, he's finally got a team playing well in the regular season. Whoopee. He hasn't proven anything yet.

But who cares? He has nothing to do with the Suns and the current state of this franchise.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm watching the Suns @ Timberwolves game tonight. Leaving the Suns out of the equation, I think D'Antoni would have the Wolves winning with their talent. That team is begging to be a running team.

 

[Hoop Head]

Do people forget that Mike D wanted to leave here? He was granted permission to interview and leave since he was under contract but the vast majority of fans were tired of his 7.5 man rotations and being drubbed the Spurs every postseason in a similar fashion because he made no adjustments.