http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5784440.html Hoping to move from veteran lead assistant to first-time head coach, Rockets assistant Elston Turner on Thursday became a candidate for one of the most coveted positions in the NBA. Turner will interview for the Phoenix Suns' head coaching position next week, with the Suns receiving permission Thursday from the Rockets to interview Turner to succeed Mike D'Antoni, who resigned to become the coach of the New York Knicks. Suns president Steve Kerr on Thursday interviewed Detroit Pistons assistant Terry Porter, who like Turner was an assistant under Rockets coach Rick Adelman when they were with the Sacramento Kings. Kerr is scheduled to meet with ESPN analyst Mark Jackson today. "I'm excited," Turner said. "I'm looking forward to it, very much looking forward to talking about it and seeing if I'm the kind of guy they're looking for." Turner was an assistant with the Kings for six seasons, the last two as Adelman's lead assistant, and was an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers for four seasons. With the Rockets, he helped guide the defense to second in the NBA in opponents' field-goal percentage. "There are striking similarities between the teams," Turner said of the Suns and Rockets. "Both teams had two of the biggest men in the league (Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming), and you have to put those guys where they can excel on both ends of the floor. They're an up-tempo team, and I've been with Sacramento, and that's what we're trying to do here, as far as being up-tempo. "(The Suns) are looking for more aggression, being more productive on the defensive end. This would be a great situation if it works out."
He doesn't seem as vocal as needed to be a head coach IMO. And I'm not sure you want a rookie head coach to coach a team who has an aging Steve Nash and a over the hump Shaq. They can't afford one more dissapointing season before blowing the team up (if they haven't already)
exactly right... but this was the exact reason dallas jumped on carlisle. who else is out there? avery's been a disappointment so far, blowing interviews with the bulls and knicks (both stated they had mark jackson ranked higher than avery after his interview. if i were the suns i'd ask to speak with PJ carlesemo. the guy implemented the spurs new offense, and now knows their defense. he's been ridiculed for not working with his young players enough in seattle. PJ to the suns and jackson to the sonics makes the most sense for all 4 parties, but it wont happen. the suns are screwed.
Congrats if he gets the job. He's served under Adelman for a long time and probably deserves a shot, regardless of whether or not we think he's the most vocal guy out there.
that's new news to us. This means suns are pretty much in rebuilding mode and that with this relationship. maybe we can trade with them for nash, diaw or barbos?
yea didnt we let the spurs take our president? or some executive and then we "magically" acquired scola from the spurs, a division rival?
How come of all the coaches out there, the Suns wanted someone under Adelman .. someone who know our team very well. This cannot be advantages to us.
This makes me nervous if we lose him, if only for the job Thibodeau has done in Boston. The head coach takes the credit when its going well and the blame when the team doesn't perform. How should we know who is responsible for what? Since we can't watch meetings or practice... eh I hope he stays. Only bc I have no idea what he brings to the table, but I'd like to believe we have awesome assistant coaches. I fear change.
As a Rockets fan, I would love for the Suns to experiment with a rookie head coach. I hope the Spurs, Hornets, Jazz and Lakers replace Popovich and PJax with rookies.
I would bet they interview Thibs as well as soon as the playoffs end. They have interviewed Mark Jackson as well, they are looking for defensive minded coach and don't seem to mind giving a rookie a chance. This is the type of team a rookie coach would do well with, veteran team that has played together for a while.
If he does go to the Suns, I wonder how this changes the Rockets style of play. I guess we'll really see if the Rockets were using jvg defense or turner defense this season.
So the coaches have no impact on the outcome of a game or a teams season through the development of behavior in their players? Who believes this? The point is, how do we have any clue which seemingly insignificant assistant coaches are a real part of our success? If its all the players then the coaching search wouldn't take so long for some teams.
