Who else is excited for the new Suns era?

[Chaplin]

In my opinion, Dan has no business being a head coach in the NBA. I like him, he was one of my favorite players back in the day, I liked him as an announcer, I am sure he is a great guy to have around, but I've seen nothing that would suggest he'd be a good head coach.

The real question is if you've seen anything to suggest he'd be a BAD head coach?

 

[Griffin]

Didn't Lin average nearly 5 turnovers a game as a starter? You need to factor that in.

Yes he did, 4.7 to be exact. And Dragic does have an edge on him in that department. He managed to keep his turnovers down to a mere 3.5/game

and Griffin do the +/- of those numbers

I am not sure what +/- numbers show in this case since they so greatly depend on who else is on the floor at the same time. But, since you asked, I did look it up and Dragic was at +5.4 while Lin was at +6.5 in games started.

Btw, I was never arguing that Lin had a better season or is the better player. But to conclude that Dragic clearly is or will be the better player is premature and not substantiated by any real evidence at this point in their respective careers.

 

[mojorizen7]

You're hand-picking the facts which fit your narrative.

And you're not?

28 games is too small of a sample for one who doesn't believe in said player. Thats what i'm consistently reading into your Dragic-related posts.

Thats fine if you don't think Dragic will be a NBA caliber starter...but what is a sufficient sample of games in your mind? Lets start there.

 

[mojorizen7]

As far as the Lin/Dragic comparison....i dont think either player has proven themselves completely yet. Lin is definately the type of player that i can see endearing himself to the majority of the Suns fan base over a guy like Dragic though....no surprise there.

I'm glad we got who i think is the more complete player at this point of their young careers.

 

[elindholm]

The real question is if you've seen anything to suggest he'd be a BAD head coach?

It seems to me that the burden of proof should lie with the potential coach to demonstrate his qualifications, not with the fans to figure out where exactly he is deficient. You haven't seen anything from me to suggest that I would be a bad coach either, but that doesn't mean that I should be on anyone's short list.

 

[BC867]

In my opinion, Dan has no business being a head coach in the NBA. I like him, he was one of my favorite players back in the day, I liked him as an announcer, I am sure he is a great guy to have around, but I've seen nothing that would suggest he'd be a good head coach.

Having watched Dan since he began, I share your opinion. His personality, similar to that of Mark Grace, is that of the adolescent bad boy. Y'know, the kid with a constant grin on his face looking for mischief.

Even if he surrounded himself with the best and the brightest as Head Coach, he just doesn't have the aura of a figurehead -- the image at the top of the in-front-of-the scenes chart.

Captain of a schoolyard bunch of jocks, yeah. The face of a multi-million dollar business, as you said, we've seen nothing that would suggest he'd be a good head coach.

All of this is opinion. I wouldn't dream of giving him an NBA Head Coaching job without watching him try it for two years in the D League.

 

[Mainstreet]

Give me another serving of Gentry but hold the Majerle.

This Suns team needs a coach like Gentry, who has the like and respect of the players to work with this young group. Maybe the Suns will need to make a head coaching change down the road but now is not the time. I'm not against Dan Majerle becoming the Suns head coach. I just do not think the time is right. Also it is hard to see Majerle replacing Gentry except on an interim basis. However, this may be when he gets his chance.

 

[SirStefan32]

As far as the Lin/Dragic comparison....i dont think either player has proven themselves completely yet. Lin is definately the type of player that i can see endearing himself to the majority of the Suns fan base over a guy like Dragic though....no surprise there.

I'm glad we got who i think is the more complete player at this point of their young careers.

I (much like you) will always take the better defender, assuming all other things are similar.
The only thing that I like about Lin more than Dragic is that he is a bit younger. Neither of them is a great shooter, neither of them is an amazing distributor, so I'll take the guy who can play D.

 

[SirStefan32]

The real question is if you've seen anything to suggest he'd be a BAD head coach?

See BC's last post. That pretty much sums up my position/ opinion on Majerle.

 

[Chaplin]

It seems to me that the burden of proof should lie with the potential coach to demonstrate his qualifications, not with the fans to figure out where exactly he is deficient. You haven't seen anything from me to suggest that I would be a bad coach either, but that doesn't mean that I should be on anyone's short list.

Sure, but he has a lot more pedigree than you do, so comparing yourself to him isn't exactly a fair comparison.

 

[elindholm]

Sure, but he has a lot more pedigree than you do, so comparing yourself to him isn't exactly a fair comparison.

As an NBA player, sure. But his coaching experience consists of cheerleading as an assistant and piloting irrelevant summer league games. I doubt anyone thinks he has learned anything from those experiences about coaching beyond what he already picked up as a player.

 

[Mainstreet]

As an NBA player, sure. But his coaching experience consists of cheerleading as an assistant and piloting irrelevant summer league games. I doubt anyone thinks he has learned anything from those experiences about coaching beyond what he already picked up as a player.

You are baiting or being sarcastic.

I don't think you believe this.

 

[elindholm]

You are baiting or being sarcastic.

I don't think you believe this.

Of course I believe it! What qualifies Majerle to be a head coach more than any other former semi-star? Seriously? The list of former players who were hopeless as coaches is hundreds of names long. The skills really aren't that similar. What possible characteristics has Majerle demonstrated that would lead anyone to think that he'd be one of the few former players who succeed, rather than one of the many who fail?

 

[desertdawg]

Of course I believe it! What qualifies Majerle to be a head coach more than any other former semi-star? Seriously? The list of former players who were hopeless as coaches is hundreds of names long. The skills really aren't that similar. What possible characteristics has Majerle demonstrated that would lead anyone to think that he'd be one of the few former players who succeed, rather than one of the many who fail?

I was speaking about some entirely new blood. Maj can stick around, same with some of our best, like the medical squad. I didn't suggest Barkley for Head Coach either but we can probably fit a few pages on why that would suck. Gentry is done IMO. That's what I'm saying.

 

[leclerc]

I like Gentry and hope he stays on. I don't want Majerle as a head coach, at least not for the next three years.

 

[Sonec]

Oh good Lord, not another +/- guy.

I like Dragic a lot, and I think he will surprise a lot of people this year, but saying he was much better than Lin is not really true. He is definitely a better defender, but he was not better than Lin last season.

sorry to disappoint you not a +- guy, first time for me
...and who said he's or was much better than Lin. He was better in those games he started looking overall (I'm not into stats so have to admit you got me there with PPG) better defensively, he's faster and to add to that he's better passer than Lin as well.

 

[Mainstreet]

1-10-ARI 12 (6:29) 4-K.Kolb pass short right to 35-A.Sherman to ARI 16 for 4 yards (58-S.Shanle) [98-S.Ellis]. ARI-4-K.Kolb was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.

Kolb takes a drop all the way back to the 5. Prior to this there is a well defined pocket. The defender beats his man and LaRod chips him.

Kolb just has to slide slightly to the right and hit Sherman who is wide open for a large gain. However, he may take a hit afterwards.

The Cardinals forum might appreciate it more.

 

[Mainstreet]

Of course I believe it! What qualifies Majerle to be a head coach more than any other former semi-star? Seriously? The list of former players who were hopeless as coaches is hundreds of names long. The skills really aren't that similar. What possible characteristics has Majerle demonstrated that would lead anyone to think that he'd be one of the few former players who succeed, rather than one of the many who fail?

Thunder Dan played in the NBA for 14 years. He is an assistant coach for the Suns plus he has been coaching the Summer League Suns since 2008. I won't even get into his basketball career. He has some credentials especially for the Suns. To compare Dan Majerle to other players who have failed as head coaches is unfair.

 

[elindholm]

Thunder Dan played in the NBA for 14 years. He is an assistant coach for the Suns plus he has been coaching the Summer League Suns since 2008. I won't even get into his basketball career.

None of this is particularly relevant to his possible qualifications as a head coach.

He has some credentials especially for the Suns.

Being a fan favorite isn't a qualification. If he isn't qualified to be head coach of the Pacers, or Jazz, or pick any other team, then he isn't qualified to be head coach of the Suns.

To compare Dan Majerle to other players who have failed as head coaches is unfair.

Why? Haven't there been scores of other former players, who had long careers and put in some time as assistants, who were unsuccessful head coaches? We can find a few even in the Suns' history. What makes Majerle a better coaching prospect than Westphal or Porter?

 

[Mainstreet]

None of this is particularly relevant to his possible qualifications as a head coach.

Having played in the NBA for 14 seasons, serving as an assistant coach and coaching the Summer League Suns doesn't count?

Being a fan favorite isn't a qualification. If he isn't qualified to be head coach of the Pacers, or Jazz, or pick any other team, then he isn't qualified to be head coach of the Suns.

Never mentioned the fan favorite part. Who says he isn't qualified to coach another team? Never mind, I guess you.

Why? Haven't there been scores of other former players, who had long careers and put in some time as assistants, who were unsuccessful head coaches? We can find a few even in the Suns' history. What makes Majerle a better coaching prospect than Westphal or Porter?

I didn't say he was a better coaching prospect than Westphal or Porter. Just saying I don't see why he shouldn't be given a chance to become a head coach.

 

[elindholm]

I didn't say he was a better coaching prospect than Westphal or Porter. Just saying I don't see why he shouldn't be given a chance to become a head coach.

Oh! I didn't understand your point. Sure, if the Suns are looking for someone with basically no credentials to be their next head coach, then they might as well give Majerle a shot. There's no reason to expect he'd do better than, say, Chris Webber or Reggie Miller, but there's no obvious reason to expect him to do worse, either.

 

[Mainstreet]

Oh! I didn't understand your point. Sure, if the Suns are looking for someone with basically no credentials to be their next head coach, then they might as well give Majerle a shot. There's no reason to expect he'd do better than, say, Chris Webber or Reggie Miller, but there's no obvious reason to expect him to do worse, either.

I think you understand my point. What you are disputing is Majerle's credentials to be a head coach. You are saying, he has "basically no credentials to be their next head coach" which is false. They may not be what you would prefer but they are there.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I'm not complaining. I've been saying all along that this team's asset fundamentals are far, far too weak for a quick recovery to be possible. Sure, they had an okay off-season, even a good one, given what they had to work with. And it's probably a step in the right direction, but it's a very small one. For people to talk about the playoffs this season is staggeringly unrealistic, but acknowledging that fact isn't "complaining"; it's just the way it is.



That's why I don't follow draft prospects. If the best basketball minds in the country can't predict who is going to pan out and who isn't, I know I don't have a chance.

I'm sorry, that comment was not directed at you in particular.

 

[elindholm]

What you are disputing is Majerle's credentials to be a head coach. You are saying, he has "basically no credentials to be their next head coach"

Yes, that's right.

which is false.

Well neither of us knows what NBA front offices really consider to be NBA head coaching credentials, but if standing on the sidelines in Las Vegas with a bunch of D-League castoffs is on the list, safe to say I'd be very surprised. And if being an assistant is the magical line on the resume, then why not Cartwright?

 

[JCSunsfan]

In my opinion, Dan has no business being a head coach in the NBA. I like him, he was one of my favorite players back in the day, I liked him as an announcer, I am sure he is a great guy to have around, but I've seen nothing that would suggest he'd be a good head coach.

I totally agree with this. As I have watched Dan in interviews especially regarding players and strategy, I am pretty well convinced he does not have the presence or (ok I'll say it) intelligence to be a hc. I am not even sure he belongs on the bench as an assistant.

On the other hand, I think Jeff Hornacek would make a great HC. So would Grant Hill.