MIKE D'ANTONI FIRED http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jack_mccallum/04/30/suns.dantonio/index.html?eref=T1
talk about over reacting around the NBA. the GMs made questionable moves, and it showed. I understand if the decision goes through a process, and the coaches are canned after, but firing coaches less than 12 hours after an eliminating loss is just crazy.
He deserves to be fired. At times he has had the best starting 5 in the NBA with nothing to show for it. For some strange reason he is obsessed with Boris Diaw. Anytime, the Suns need a clutch bucket after time out, Diaw ends up with the ball. The man simply cannot coach defense. Instead he yells from the sideline, "Cmon! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!!!!" Although, I have to say that he fit it nicely with Sarver in Phoenix because they are both classless.
I am obesessed with Diaw too. D'Antoni just uses Diaw the wrong way. If Diaw is a Rocket, he will be a perfect post for Rick Adelman's offense. Adelman will make Diaw a star.
I could see JVG with the Suns before I could see him with Dallas. Not saying that he is likely going to either.
Yes, Diaw is the perfect player for Adelman's high post offense because of his passing skills. Problem is, D'Antoni does not run that offense. He isolates Diaw for clutch buckets when he has Steve Nash and Amare on the team who are better in that role.
While JVG would help the Suns interior defense, I think he will suck the life out of them on offense. I just cant picture Nash in a grind it out, shot clock managing, calling Gundy's plays from the sidelines offense. Players like Barbosa, Nash, and possibly Diaw will suffer under Gundy. However, he will help Amare, Bell, and Shaq. Amare's defense and rebounding will improve. Overall, I am not sure JVG hiring will benefit Suns because it will be a drastic change in playing style. I want to see Gundy keep yelling at Shaq for not showing up on pick and roll defense. If he thought he had it bad with Yao.... Mavericks are a better fit for JVG simply because they are a better half court team and have better defense than the Suns as it stands. They have actually beaten the Spurs in a 7 game series while the Suns have come up short time after time. But then again, the Kidd trade might have changed all that.
The coaches are dropping like flies around the league after a first round loss. Neither D'Antoni nor Johnson deserves to be fired.
Yes to most all of the above, but I am looking at things besides the game things. JVG did his time with the Knicks and the craziness there and that has me doubting that he would want to work for a meddling owner like Cuban. There have been several stories floating around about Avery wanting to trade Dirk and Cuban said "No". I just can't see Dirk being a JVG type of player and he would want to move him and thus run into Cuban overruling that idea. The Rockets turned the roster quite a bit during JVG's years here and he changed the image to a team of hardworking players compared to the past image of players just showing up to cash their paychecks. I think Kidd is fading pretty fast and Dirk has likely peaked while Amare still can improve some. Yes, Shaq and Nash aren't at their peaks, but the Suns have enough other talent to offset that while I don't think that the Mavs do. The Kidd trade will impact them for the next several years..............yes I know that Cuban can purchase Draft Picks to recoup the ones committed to the Nets, but it still indicates a franchise that isn't ran properly and JVG should be able to see that. They got Eddie Jones, but what about Michael Finley? Stackhouse talking when he should have kept quiet during the Kidd - Harris trade discussion. Revelations by Josh Howard that indicate a loose cannon. Overall, the Mavs appear to me as a very treacherous situation for a coach. In regards to the Suns - Spurs series and Mavs - Jazz series, I think that the Suns had some glitches in coaching and oncourt execution - focus while the Mavs were outplayed at a few positions. Finally, with salary issues ignored.........if Dallas and Phoenix swapped rosters, which team comes out ahead in that scenario on a talent - potential basis?
I'm of the opinion that D'antoni does not deserve too much of the blame. He does run his starters to the ground, but how is that his fault? If only the Suns were willing to pay the luxury tax, they would've had plenty of bench players, most notably Luol Deng when they traded away their 7th pick to the Bulls. That's on the management, not the coach. His lack of caring about defense is a problem. But talent is also a problem. Especially this year, when its obvious that Nash is starting to slow down.
That is true and I agree. Sarver is meddling too, however, no where near as Cuban is. One other thing to consider is that Sarver is cheap. He has let go of players like Joe Johnson and Kurt Thomas simply because he did not want to pay them. I believe Gundy was a little irritated by Les' unwillingness to go over the salary cap. If that bad taste still lingers, Cuban is a more attractive choice. I am not sure about this. Gundy had always said that Rockets needed to surround Yao and Tmac with pitbull like players. He would try to do the same in Dallas with Dirk. I think Josh Howard is very much Gundy like player but he has hurt his stock considerably this playoffs. If Cuban is willing to get Gundy his kind of players as long as Gundy is willing keep Dirk, I think it its a very attractive situation for him. But as you said, Cuban is a control freak and cannot keep himself out of playr moves. Gundy is just as much a control freak and the whole thing would be over in one interview. I should also add, I think Gundy might be the kind of coach Kerr might be interested in, so you may be right about the fit. Kerr wanted to get Shaq to change Suns playing style to half court. If he wants a coach to implement that style, Gundy is probably the best coach out of those available. Kidd and Shaq cancel each other out in terms of their diminishing returns. Nash looked old this series and next year he will be a year older. I actually think Amare can improve a lot, not just some, under Gundy. He only plays half the game (offesnse) as it stands. Gundy will force him to play the other half. If Gundy were to look at the two situations, surely he will look at the situation with atleast 3 years or so in mind. I just don't think an aging Nash and Shaq will give him much over that span. Maybe 1 year at most. You can count out injured Grant Hill out of that equation. The only attractive pieces left then are Amare and Diaw. I think Gundy would have noticed Barbosa's struggles in playoffs. So, even if Amare is improved a lot, I dont think it offsets multiple years that Dirk, a rejuvenated Howard, Terry can give him. The only thing standing in the way, as you said, might be that disgusting Kidd contract. IMO, if Gundy wants to pick up coaching for 1-2 seasons, Phoenix is definitely the better choice. On a short term basis, they have a huge advantage in terms of talent. I think its just bad luck on their part that they ran into Spurs in the first round. But what about long term? Phoenix situation does become interesting after next season. Shaq's $20 million contract will become an expiring contract. Will Sarver make a trade for someone else and pick up the expense again or will he just let the Shaq contract expire? BTW, Gundy has said couple of times he does not want to move his family/kids from Houston. In that case Dallas might seem like a better option? I don't know. I guess I am agreeing and disagreeing with you at the same time. Too many variables to consider.
The money thing is possible because I think the Suns and Rockets are close in total salary this season while Cuban is much more extravagant. The tradeoff is a bigger budget with Cuban involved versus a smaller budget with Sarver less involved. Even though there are many BBS members that think McGrady is lacking in certain areas, I think Dirk is much more lacking overall compared to McGrady. I just see (perceive?) more court smarts and BBall IQ in Tracy compared to Dirk. An admitted bias on my part. In regards to style and demeanor, would Dallas want to go with JVG who seems more conservative than Avery? Cuban comes across as liking a Show on the court which isn't the JVG style. While the Suns have had a more freewheeling style in recent years and JVG would give them something different. Cuban had a falling out with Cuban, Avery feuded with Cuban and hard to imagine Cuban changing for JVG. The Grass is Greener perspective by the Suns and Mavs respectively when seeking new coaches? Even though the Suns work under a tighter budget than the Mavs, they come across as being smarter - judicious when making player moves while Cuban's money doesn't force them to have some wisdom. You use the Joe Johnson and Kurt Thomas moves to illustrate the monetary control by Sarver, yet it also shows that the Suns are (were?) able to assess & gather talent a bit better than Dallas has. I don't think their coach was up to the task. Probably depends on their success (or lack of) next season. If a new coach can show progress, then Sarver might be inclined to loosen up a bit. Move to Dallas or commute from Houston? Chasing 4:30..............I have to sleep some.
I was thinking more of Yao when drawing up the comparison. I consider Tracy to be a much better overall player than Dirk. (although Mac's production has been declining)
Wow, well done Kerr, well done. I really don't get why they still hire ex players with no management history to be GMs.
I've finally come to respect D'Antoni. If there are rifts within the Suns organization, then I guess he has to go. But firing a guy who has been this successful is very risky for the Suns. They had better find someone who is superior to D'Antoni.
