DUNCANownsKOBE2
12-15-2008, 12:06 AM
I had heard several rumors the Suns had made posters as a team building exercise because they weren't having enough "fun". I figured it was just a rumor, until I read this article:
BICKLEY ONLINE
Porter shows Suns who's in charge
There was a surprise awaiting the Suns at the end of Tuesday's practice.
It wasn't pretty.
"In the locker room!" coach Terry Porter bellowed. "Everybody!"
Off they went, silently and obediently, bracing for the conversation ahead.
It was an impressive show of authority from the new man in charge. It was prompted by a shoddy practice before the team left for New Orleans but could've been directed at any number of nuisances, from the dissenting voices in the locker room to the recent and reckless comments by Amaré Stoudemire.
It was just what this ruffled, shuffled team needed to hear, and very conveniently, it was just what the media needed to see. Hopefully this will be rock bottom, the day the 2008-09 Suns turned the corner.
"Fortunately, we have good guys and guys that like each other," point guard Steve Nash said. "So we have our chance. That's what that means."
For a team that's won 11 of 18 games, we're all enduring a severe transition period here on Planet Orange. The Suns have a losing record at home and have allowed visiting guards to post more than 40 points in successive games at US Airways Center. Stoudemire chipped in, giving the new coach a lukewarm endorsement to ESPN. With galling irony, he also has longed for the glory days of Mike D'Antoni, whom he helped kick out of town.
It's become so silly so early that owner Robert Sarver appealed to the team's sensibilities Saturday morning. It also appears Sarver was behind the 30-minute, team-building exercise where players made togetherness collages. (We all knew this was a team built on crafty veterans, didn't we?)
Unfortunately, those posters came down before Sunday's game, before the world could get a look at the results. But it's clear that Sarver wasn't happy with the commitment or the passion of his team, and by treating his players like children, he made his point very effectively.
"I think, in the grand scheme, in today's market, that if you have a job and a house, you should be happy," Sarver said.
By NBA standards, this is garden variety material, and not exactly Team Gone Wild. Nash laughed it off, saying it "happens everywhere," and mainly because we're all dealing with "a bunch of young millionaires."
But collectively, all this early drama has made Suns fans ponder the competency of their new coach. The open questioning of his offensive system was never malicious, but it undercut Porter's authority. It made him look like the wrong fit for this team.
Though Porter has shown great patience, it's essential that he wrestle control of this situation, for his perception in the locker room, the league and in the Valley. Maybe he just did.
He spoke with the team about the importance of unity and has spoken with Stoudemire privately. Porter would give no further details but admitted his Suns tenure has not gone "as smooth as I'd have liked."
Between us, this situation between Porter and Stoudemire bears watching. Stoudemire didn't back off his inflammatory words, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns are shopping him, and others, just in case the season becomes toxic.
Then the coach said the strangest thing. After returning from the locker room alone, Porter told the media that Nash might soon take a greater hand in this offense by controlling the ball more frequently. Nash could then create plays, shots and spacing. Effectively, it means the offense no longer starts in the post.
"It's a lot easier to control turnovers from one guy than from 12 guys," Porter said.
And then the coach tossed the window open:
"If Formula 1 isn't working, you go to Formula 2," he added.
To recap: In one busy day, Porter called his team off the court, proving who's in charge. Then he admitted the potential error of his offensive design and showed a willingness to change. It was nice to see a coach hold everyone accountable.
It's either the beginning - or the beginning of the end.
I figured everyone here would find it hilarious that Nash and Amare (and Bell) had torn the Suns locker room apart so much that the coach and owner had them do arts and crafts with each other to bond. This is an old article (10 days or so), but I went to look for it after hearing several jokes about the team doing collages together. Sarver's tactics never cease to amuse.
BICKLEY ONLINE
Porter shows Suns who's in charge
There was a surprise awaiting the Suns at the end of Tuesday's practice.
It wasn't pretty.
"In the locker room!" coach Terry Porter bellowed. "Everybody!"
Off they went, silently and obediently, bracing for the conversation ahead.
It was an impressive show of authority from the new man in charge. It was prompted by a shoddy practice before the team left for New Orleans but could've been directed at any number of nuisances, from the dissenting voices in the locker room to the recent and reckless comments by Amaré Stoudemire.
It was just what this ruffled, shuffled team needed to hear, and very conveniently, it was just what the media needed to see. Hopefully this will be rock bottom, the day the 2008-09 Suns turned the corner.
"Fortunately, we have good guys and guys that like each other," point guard Steve Nash said. "So we have our chance. That's what that means."
For a team that's won 11 of 18 games, we're all enduring a severe transition period here on Planet Orange. The Suns have a losing record at home and have allowed visiting guards to post more than 40 points in successive games at US Airways Center. Stoudemire chipped in, giving the new coach a lukewarm endorsement to ESPN. With galling irony, he also has longed for the glory days of Mike D'Antoni, whom he helped kick out of town.
It's become so silly so early that owner Robert Sarver appealed to the team's sensibilities Saturday morning. It also appears Sarver was behind the 30-minute, team-building exercise where players made togetherness collages. (We all knew this was a team built on crafty veterans, didn't we?)
Unfortunately, those posters came down before Sunday's game, before the world could get a look at the results. But it's clear that Sarver wasn't happy with the commitment or the passion of his team, and by treating his players like children, he made his point very effectively.
"I think, in the grand scheme, in today's market, that if you have a job and a house, you should be happy," Sarver said.
By NBA standards, this is garden variety material, and not exactly Team Gone Wild. Nash laughed it off, saying it "happens everywhere," and mainly because we're all dealing with "a bunch of young millionaires."
But collectively, all this early drama has made Suns fans ponder the competency of their new coach. The open questioning of his offensive system was never malicious, but it undercut Porter's authority. It made him look like the wrong fit for this team.
Though Porter has shown great patience, it's essential that he wrestle control of this situation, for his perception in the locker room, the league and in the Valley. Maybe he just did.
He spoke with the team about the importance of unity and has spoken with Stoudemire privately. Porter would give no further details but admitted his Suns tenure has not gone "as smooth as I'd have liked."
Between us, this situation between Porter and Stoudemire bears watching. Stoudemire didn't back off his inflammatory words, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns are shopping him, and others, just in case the season becomes toxic.
Then the coach said the strangest thing. After returning from the locker room alone, Porter told the media that Nash might soon take a greater hand in this offense by controlling the ball more frequently. Nash could then create plays, shots and spacing. Effectively, it means the offense no longer starts in the post.
"It's a lot easier to control turnovers from one guy than from 12 guys," Porter said.
And then the coach tossed the window open:
"If Formula 1 isn't working, you go to Formula 2," he added.
To recap: In one busy day, Porter called his team off the court, proving who's in charge. Then he admitted the potential error of his offensive design and showed a willingness to change. It was nice to see a coach hold everyone accountable.
It's either the beginning - or the beginning of the end.
I figured everyone here would find it hilarious that Nash and Amare (and Bell) had torn the Suns locker room apart so much that the coach and owner had them do arts and crafts with each other to bond. This is an old article (10 days or so), but I went to look for it after hearing several jokes about the team doing collages together. Sarver's tactics never cease to amuse.