Suns Coaching Search

[JCSunsfan]

I want D'Antoni too. Very interested in what he can do with Booker and Warren.

DAntoni is the worst choice for young players.

[Superbone]

I don't know about that. I think he might prefer to be here rather than Philadelphia. He'd get a lot more golf in here.

[Superbone]

As far as Walton, I don't think we know anything about his coaching. He just got on the freeway and turned on the cruise control when he got the keys.

[EDC]

I really hope that list is wrong. It definitely fits into the theme of Sarver not willing to pay for experience. Everyone on that list can probably be signed pretty cheap.

So frustrating.

[Mori Chu]

As far as Walton, I don't think we know anything about his coaching. He just got on the freeway and turned on the cruise control when he got the keys.

Luke Walton's coaching style seemed to be "relaxed" or "hands-off" with the Warriors, which was right for that squad, but probably not the best for a struggling team like ours. We need somebody who's a teacher, who can instill the right team culture and attitude.

Sigh; I wish we had Thibs so bad. It's a pity he can do much better than to come here.

[pickle]

I wouldn't mind Brett Brown.

[Ring_Wanted]

I want D'Antoni too. Very interested in what he can do with Booker and Warren.

DAntoni is the worst choice for young players.

Obviously you need to make sure he is ok with this type of long term plan, otherwise D'Antoni is as poor of a choice as any coach who wants (or is instructed) to win now. The black legend says Mike D doesn't like kids, but if that's all he has on his roster, what else is he going to play? Ideally his hiring would serve as well as a catalyst to a real roster overhaul where the dumb and they ugly get erased. After all, this is exactly what happened during his first season here in 03-04.

[ShelC]

For me, before you start talking coach, you need to determine what the plan for the roster is.

Are we keeping Bledsoe and Knight?
Are we moving one? Which one?
Is Booker our starting SG next year?
Is Chandler still going to be here or is the plan to move him and start Len at C?
If Chandler stays, is Len our starting PF or are we targeting one in free agency?

I would not make MikeD head coach with the roster as currently constructed. Bledsoe and Knight simply don't play the kind of basketball MikeD wants from his guards. It'd be Hornacek all over again. They aren't pick and roll/probing, pass first guards. They're halfcourt, ISO, penetrate and kick guards. I'd even wager that if you could trade both Bledsoe and Knight, sign Jeremy Lin and put him on the floor with Booker, TJ, Leuer/Tele and Chandler, we could get back to 7 seconds or less and be successful. And no, MikeD coaching a 3 guard lineup of Bledsoe, Knight and Booker won't work either. Remember our record/style when Nash was out and it was LB or Marcus Banks running point?

Same is true of Walton. I think he's a very good young basketball mind/coach, but if we're committed to one or both of our guard, he's not the guy. Neither is Majerle, though I do wish Majerle would be brought back if only to work with Booker.

If we're keeping the roster as is, we need a gritty, defense, halfcourt minded coach. Embrace the physical athleticsm, defensive potential and hero ball style of our guards and make it a low scoring, defensive possession game.

[Ring_Wanted]

Yep. First things first, but no one can tell what's the plan with the FO. Maybe they chalk up this disaster of a season to injuries and insist on the Bledsoe-Knigth combo.

My wish is that they trade at least Knight. We have no use for a chucker like him (want his spot to go to Bogdanovic) and Booker is the future. Bledsoe-Booker could work, but I wouldn't hesitate to make Bledsoe available too, once he proves he can play.

Tyson Chandler bothers me way less, and I think he makes a good rotation with Len plus some kind of stretch 4. Speaking of which, Teletovic has earned respect and a contract, but I don't think it will be with us. Too many good teams can use him and MLE money should be enough. Won't really have a problem as I want to see more of Leuer if nothing better comes up.

[Mori Chu]

D'Antoni might make sense if we somehow shed both Bledsoe and Knight, AND acquired Ricky Rubio. Rubio/Booker? Now THAT is a Mike D backcourt.

[pickle]

No Rubio please... He can't run Mike D's offense coz he can't shoot. Sorry...

[Shabazz]

For me, before you start talking coach, you need to determine what the plan for the roster is.

Are we keeping Bledsoe and Knight?
Are we moving one? Which one?
Is Booker our starting SG next year?
Is Chandler still going to be here or is the plan to move him and start Len at C?
If Chandler stays, is Len our starting PF or are we targeting one in free agency?

I would not make MikeD head coach with the roster as currently constructed. Bledsoe and Knight simply don't play the kind of basketball MikeD wants from his guards. It'd be Hornacek all over again. They aren't pick and roll/probing, pass first guards. They're halfcourt, ISO, penetrate and kick guards. I'd even wager that if you could trade both Bledsoe and Knight, sign Jeremy Lin and put him on the floor with Booker, TJ, Leuer/Tele and Chandler, we could get back to 7 seconds or less and be successful. And no, MikeD coaching a 3 guard lineup of Bledsoe, Knight and Booker won't work either. Remember our record/style when Nash was out and it was LB or Marcus Banks running point?

Same is true of Walton. I think he's a very good young basketball mind/coach, but if we're committed to one or both of our guard, he's not the guy. Neither is Majerle, though I do wish Majerle would be brought back if only to work with Booker.

If we're keeping the roster as is, we need a gritty, defense, halfcourt minded coach. Embrace the physical athleticsm, defensive potential and hero ball style of our guards and make it a low scoring, defensive possession game.

All this.. or we could just hire a coach who doesn't have a predetermined style that he must play regardless of the roster. The best coaches adapt their styles to the rosters they're given, not the other way around. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

[ShelC]

I think that's always something fans wish for, but do they really exist? Have we seen a defensive coach all of a sudden switch to uptemp because of his roster, or vice versa? I think the best coaches have perfected their style and learned from coaches they've trained under, either offensively or defensively.

[Shabazz]

I think that's always something fans wish for, but do they really exist? Have we seen a defensive coach all of a sudden switch to uptemp because of his roster, or vice versa? I think the best coaches have perfected their style and learned from coaches they've trained under, either offensively or defensively.

Pat Riley coached the Lakers and the Knicks very differently. Pop is constantly adjusting his style. His team last year vs. this year don't even play the same way. Carlisle is constantly adapting. Terry Stotts is running different stuff this year.

Coming in with a "style" almost never works.

[JCSunsfan]

D'Antoni might make sense if we somehow shed both Bledsoe and Knight, AND acquired Ricky Rubio. Rubio/Booker? Now THAT is a Mike D backcourt.

The next coach has to be willing to play younger players and develop younger players even at the expense of losing some games. DAntoni has never been willing to do that. You would see PJ and Tyson playing HUGE minutes. There will be 7 players he likes, and no one else will see the light of day. That's just how he rolls.

[Indy]

D'Antoni might make sense if we somehow shed both Bledsoe and Knight, AND acquired Ricky Rubio. Rubio/Booker? Now THAT is a Mike D backcourt.

The next coach has to be willing to play younger players and develop younger players even at the expense of losing some games. DAntoni has never been willing to do that. You would see PJ and Tyson playing HUGE minutes. There will be 7 players he likes, and no one else will see the light of day. That's just how he rolls.

Coaches are hired to be fired. They keep their job or get their next contract by beating expectations. That's why you saw Horny playing those guys big minutes, and the same with Watson. It's not because they don't like playing young players, but they want to play people that know how to play and not learning as they go.

[pickle]

It's pretty tough to hire a coach to a 2 year contract with a 1 year team option though, for both the coach and the players. So no matter what I would hope that this next one has a stronger player development lean.

[Ring_Wanted]

D'Antoni might make sense if we somehow shed both Bledsoe and Knight, AND acquired Ricky Rubio. Rubio/Booker? Now THAT is a Mike D backcourt.

The next coach has to be willing to play younger players and develop younger players even at the expense of losing some games. DAntoni has never been willing to do that. You would see PJ and Tyson playing HUGE minutes. There will be 7 players he likes, and no one else will see the light of day. That's just how he rolls.

Another part of the black legend. Wasn't the problem that he didn't want to play guys who didn't fit his style? PJ Tucker and Chandler are pretty limited offensively so maybe he'll have to find something else. Maybe he looks at the roster and says 'mmh, this Booker kid is pretty smart and talented, I could run something around him'. This TJ Warren guy sure can score from anywhere. Len has a decent touch. There are picks and cap space to fill the voids.

This coach has made the likes of Chris Duhon and Raymon Felton look like good players. Maybe he can do something with Bledsoe as well in case he remains with the team.

[Nodack]

I think Booker is a starter until he gets too old and starts to come off the bench or retires.

D'Antoni? I loved 7 seconds of less but, even D'Antoni was run out of town after awhile. We hated his short rotations and lack of defense.

[JCSunsfan]

I think Booker is a starter until he gets too old and starts to come off the bench or retires.

D'Antoni? I loved 7 seconds of less but, even D'Antoni was run out of town after awhile. We hated his short rotations and lack of defense.

I don't remember him being run out of town. I wanted him to stay. His offense was a thing of absolute beauty. Kerr just asked him to hire a defensive assistant and he bolted for NY. Kerr was later proven correct. The Warriors us a modified form of MDA's offense but have added good defense to it. They have a championship and now have the best season ever. MDA was mostly right. He was also a bit stubborn and did not receive constructive suggestions.