Suns Coaching Search

[Ring_Wanted]

Giricek was signed after he was waived and there were only 23 games left in the regular season. That season was by far the weakest in terms of depth. Also the first season of that era where the team paid the L-tax (~3M). Coincidence? Don't think so. And that's after dumping KT.

The thing about rookies is that we really can't tell. We know some young players got to play a lot, Barbosa, Diaw. Others were ignored, but didn't get to have an NBA career anywhere. I believe at least Booker and Warren would play a ton and probably the starters.

[Mori Chu]

We also didn't seem to value keeping our role players around during that era. We paid 2 1st-rounders to get rid of KT. We signed the capable bench guy Giricek for ~1/3 of a season, he played well, then we just let him leave. We got rid of Steven Hunter. The list is long. And we made almost no effort to find a capable backup PG to play behind Nash, which accelerated the wear and tear on our franchise player.

[JCSunsfan]

Those are both fair. DAntoni seems to like international players. Of course, having coached in Italy all those years, there might be some characteristics about training, personality or something that just seems to fit better with him.

I really enjoyed those teams when MDA was here. The pairing with Steve Nash made it all work, although I think we sometimes forget how important Shawn Marion was to making those teams successful. He could run all game and not get tired, and we was so versatile offensively and defensively.

Is there any doubt that McD is committed to his system? If he came here now, who would get playing time and who wouldn't based upon his system?

Bledsoe would have to change. He walks the ball way too much.
Knight would be fine. Mike would love him. He is very fast. His new Barbosa.
Booker would prosper. He would fit Mike's system to a T.
Warren would be a question mark. He has the possibility but his conditioning would have to be better
PJ. I think Mike would love Tucker.
Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.
Chandler. I can't see it. Same problem as with Len.
Tele. Yes. He would like Tele. He is not naturally fast, but he makes himself move and works hard.
Leuer. He would probably start at center.
Archie. Love/hate situation. He would love his speed but hate his shot.

[Indy]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

[JCSunsfan]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

I am not going to argue with you on this one Indy. You might be right. Maybe he could pull something out of Len that we are not presently seeing lately. Could Len run the floor like MDA would want?

I don't think MDA would be best for the present team, but if he got hired, I would be all behind him. But that is just the way I am. I usually support mgmt, coaching, and players unless the problems are aggregious.

[Indy]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

I am not going to argue with you on this one Indy. You might be right. Maybe he could pull something out of Len that we are not presently seeing lately. Could Len run the floor like MDA would want?

I think he could run better than KT or Diaw.

[JCSunsfan]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

I am not going to argue with you on this one Indy. You might be right. Maybe he could pull something out of Len that we are not presently seeing lately. Could Len run the floor like MDA would want?

I think he could run better than KT or Diaw.

What you would never see with Mike is a big guy fighting for position down on the block with his hand in the air calling for the ball. The big guy better be able to set a pick, make a pass and shoot from 20, as well as dive to the hoop on a PnR.

What about Bledsoe? Could he adapt? Bledsoe only likes to run on occasion it seems to me.

[Indy]

Bledsoe runs when it suits him. It would drive me crazy how often you would see/hear Jeff yelling at him to run up the floor, only to walk or jog.

[Ring_Wanted]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

Interesting scenario. That's what KT did on offense. Len's jumper is not on par with Thomas' but there is hope, and he can roll to the basket more effectively. I have my doubts about Len under Mike D, but if he accepted (and even pulled for) Shaq as a role player I think Len wouldn't be instantly marginalized.

[Ring_Wanted]

Bledsoe runs when it suits him. It would drive me crazy how often you would see/hear Jeff yelling at him to run up the floor, only to walk or jog.

Too similar to Marbury. Remember that half season when D'Antoni wanted to make guys run and Marbury and Penny told him they prefered a slower pace? You want your PG to run, along with everybody else, so he can setup his teammates for easy baskets, but Bledsoe is just not that kind of player. If D'Antoni actually came back, I am ready to dump Bledsoe even before he has a real chance to play with Booker. Knight is already gone in my mind and under no circumstance I want him leading an offense, only a Barbosa rol (if possible off the bench).

[Indy]

Bledsoe runs when it suits him. It would drive me crazy how often you would see/hear Jeff yelling at him to run up the floor, only to walk or jog.

Too similar to Marbury. Remember that half season when D'Antoni wanted to make guys run and Marbury and Penny told him they prefered a slower pace? You want your PG to run, along with everybody else, so he can setup his teammates for easy baskets, but Bledsoe is just not that kind of player. If D'Antoni actually came back, I am ready to dump Bledsoe even before he has a real chance to play with Booker. Knight is already gone in my mind and under no circumstance I want him leading an offense, only a Barbosa rol (if possible off the bench).

If you ignore the fact that we were selling him to the fans as a starting PG, I am fine keeping him in the Eddie House, Gerald Green role. I think Barbosa's role is a bit much for him, because I don't see him as a guy that can slash to the hoop while stretching the D out to the corners. But he is a great heat check guy.

[Indy]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

Interesting scenario. That's what KT did on offense. Len's jumper is not on par with Thomas' but there is hope, and he can roll to the basket more effectively. I have my doubts about Len under Mike D, but if he accepted (and even pulled for) Shaq as a role player I think Len wouldn't be instantly marginalized.

I actually worry that we might see Len taking a lot more 3s under Mike.

[In2ition]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

Interesting scenario. That's what KT did on offense. Len's jumper is not on par with Thomas' but there is hope, and he can roll to the basket more effectively. I have my doubts about Len under Mike D, but if he accepted (and even pulled for) Shaq as a role player I think Len wouldn't be instantly marginalized.

I actually worry that we might see Len taking a lot more 3s under Mike.

I don't think I'd worry about that. I see him more as an expanded Stephen Hunter type role, with a little range on his shot, not all the way out to the 3 though, yet.

[Ring_Wanted]

I'm good with trying to develop him that way. He will always be the tall guy but his footwork and awareness inside are a handicap. If the tempo is high he can be allowed to launch a couple per game next year, after a summer of heavy work.

[OE32]

I think Len can master the top of the arc 3 in time. The key will be getting him to shoot with patience and not fading on it, a la Towns.

I actually think of all our players, Warren would benefit the most from D'Antoni. "Ball finds energy." TJ's got plenty of that. The problem is getting the guards who can make the ball go where it's supposed to.

I'm really hoping that Philly does not end up with the #4 pick (they are likely to). That means they wouldn't get a chance at Dunn. I'd love to send them Knight, perhaps as part of a package, for... something. I'm starting to like the idea of Archie and Bogdan as our bench guards. Archie, for all his flaws, gives us more defensively than Knight, takes it to the rack, and is not a ball hog. Not really a creator, either, but neither is Knight.

Archie over Knight. That's what I'm saying.

[Ring_Wanted]

Nah, as long as we have both Knight is clearly a better player. Now, if you pawn him off...

[Indy]

I would have to agree, that as much as I do not want BHS on this team, he is better than Archie. Certainly not better per dollar spent, but once you give out the contracts, that ship has sailed. I wish our owner could take a 5 minute lesson on sunk cost fallacies.

[OE32]

Nah, as long as we have both Knight is clearly a better player. Now, if you pawn him off...

Well, I think we'd be better off moving Knight for his FMV than moving Archie for his. Archie's not worth much in trade, whereas Knight's shown considerably more. I just don't think Knight is well-suited to this team, and so I'd rather move him and keep Archie, considering what we'd be likely to receive in return.

[JCSunsfan]

Len. Nope. Too big, too slow. Mike's system needs versatile, mobile centers that can run the court alot.

Can you imagine a well-run pick and roll with Len being the popper at the top of the key? I think Mike would use that a lot. Problem is, we don't have a PG to run it. I wonder if he could get a Booker/Len PnR working the way it could.

Interesting scenario. That's what KT did on offense. Len's jumper is not on par with Thomas' but there is hope, and he can roll to the basket more effectively. I have my doubts about Len under Mike D, but if he accepted (and even pulled for) Shaq as a role player I think Len wouldn't be instantly marginalized.

That's an odd story. I think Shaq is part of the reason he left. But that is absolute speculation. He pushed for him, but once he got him decided he didnt like it, maybe?

[Ring_Wanted]

I think Shaq was not a factor, or a big one anyway. I think D'Antoni left because of two reasons. First, he was burned out (Spurs had our number and the loss in the first round with that Duncan 3pt finally broke the team). Second, Kerr wanted changes he didn't want to make.