ducks
05-10-2008, 02:43 PM
What a mess.
A year ago, Kerr joined what was considered a model franchise. One of a handful of NBA destinations that every player in the NBA wanted to go. Stable ownership, player-oriented coach, All-NBA point guard, rabid fans. Three straight deep playoff runs. One of only 3 teams with "legitimate" shot at a championship. What else could you want?
A year later, a first-round playoff exit smacking him in the face, and the picture has changed considerably. No longer are the Suns a championship contender, as presently constructed. New Orleans, LA, Utah and San Antonio all play better basketball at this time. Portland and Golden State, as well as Houston, are not far behind.
And now his coach would rather jump ship than alter his philosophy in the slightest. Play more defense?!? Use more than 7 players?!?! Be tougher on the underachievers?!?!? Apparently, thats too much swallow, and now D'Antoni is on the auction block.
How did everything go so wrong so quickly?
Lets just call it the circle of life. Two years ago, the Suns were revolutionary. They were unique. But a short shelf life is inherent in those descriptions. How can it be a revolution if it lasts forever? How can it be unique if everyone else is doing it?
So now the Suns are at a crossroads. Start over? Sure, eventually. But for several reasons, the Suns will not do it quite yet.
In two years, the huge contracts of Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal will expire. In that summer -- possibly the trade-deadline immediately preceding it -- the Suns will officially re-shape the team around Amare Stoudemire.
In the meantime, the Suns will likely "make do" with most of what they have. Which is not bad, really. This team did win 55 games this year.
So how do we fill in the gap? How do we make the Suns competitive for one more season before they start planning for "the change"?
Being Steve Kerr - summer, 2008:
1) Hire Tom Thibodeau as Head Coach
Kerr was a player on five championship teams (three with the Bulls, two with San Antonio). He knows that defense and committment trump great offense. So if he wants to instill that on his team, he needs to hire a coach with those skills. Young Tom Thibodeau would be perfect. But could Thibodeau get Shaq's respect? Maybe not by himself, so he'd have to hire a venerable, respectable Assistant Coach to bridge the gap with Shaq. Maybe Del Harris?
2) Trade Boris Diaw and/or Leandro Barbosa
Both of these players are products of D'Antoni's system, and so we should expect them to decline a bit in productivity. But they are still only 25/26 years old, so their trade value is high. Who should they acquire instead? A backup PG (TJ Ford? Chris Duhon?), wing defender/3-pt shooter (Pietrus? Posey?), low-post backup C (Jeff Foster? Nick Collison?)
3) Draft a high-ceiling talent at #15
No more drafting role players, or selling the pick entirely. Draft a guy who can eventually start if given the right coaching. Brandon Wright. Julian Wright. Rodney Stuckey. All names last spring who were drafted around #15 that are good players and worthy of a starting spot on a playoff team in 2 years. So this year? Russell Westbrook (PG). Or JaVale McGee (C). Or Brandon Rush (SG). Maybe one of those guys would fit the rotation
4) Play a long rotation
Follow the Pistons' blueprint and share the minutes between young guys (Strawberry, Tucker and 2008 #1 pick) and old guys (Nash, Shaq, Hill). This would keep them fresher in the playoffs, rather than wear them out beforehand.
5) Have a nice defensive scheme
As long as Nash, Stoudemire, Hill et al are still in the rotation, the Suns will score points. Its a defensive scheme they need to hide Nash and Shaq's defencies. The Celtics did it this year. We all know Ray Allen, Eddie House and Paul Pierce were never considered good defensive players before. Yet they have a great scheme and get incredible results.
Making these changes can bridge the gap between the "old" Suns and the new Suns of 2010. Its all on Steve Kerr, and who he hires to coach the team.
What do you think?
A year ago, Kerr joined what was considered a model franchise. One of a handful of NBA destinations that every player in the NBA wanted to go. Stable ownership, player-oriented coach, All-NBA point guard, rabid fans. Three straight deep playoff runs. One of only 3 teams with "legitimate" shot at a championship. What else could you want?
A year later, a first-round playoff exit smacking him in the face, and the picture has changed considerably. No longer are the Suns a championship contender, as presently constructed. New Orleans, LA, Utah and San Antonio all play better basketball at this time. Portland and Golden State, as well as Houston, are not far behind.
And now his coach would rather jump ship than alter his philosophy in the slightest. Play more defense?!? Use more than 7 players?!?! Be tougher on the underachievers?!?!? Apparently, thats too much swallow, and now D'Antoni is on the auction block.
How did everything go so wrong so quickly?
Lets just call it the circle of life. Two years ago, the Suns were revolutionary. They were unique. But a short shelf life is inherent in those descriptions. How can it be a revolution if it lasts forever? How can it be unique if everyone else is doing it?
So now the Suns are at a crossroads. Start over? Sure, eventually. But for several reasons, the Suns will not do it quite yet.
In two years, the huge contracts of Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal will expire. In that summer -- possibly the trade-deadline immediately preceding it -- the Suns will officially re-shape the team around Amare Stoudemire.
In the meantime, the Suns will likely "make do" with most of what they have. Which is not bad, really. This team did win 55 games this year.
So how do we fill in the gap? How do we make the Suns competitive for one more season before they start planning for "the change"?
Being Steve Kerr - summer, 2008:
1) Hire Tom Thibodeau as Head Coach
Kerr was a player on five championship teams (three with the Bulls, two with San Antonio). He knows that defense and committment trump great offense. So if he wants to instill that on his team, he needs to hire a coach with those skills. Young Tom Thibodeau would be perfect. But could Thibodeau get Shaq's respect? Maybe not by himself, so he'd have to hire a venerable, respectable Assistant Coach to bridge the gap with Shaq. Maybe Del Harris?
2) Trade Boris Diaw and/or Leandro Barbosa
Both of these players are products of D'Antoni's system, and so we should expect them to decline a bit in productivity. But they are still only 25/26 years old, so their trade value is high. Who should they acquire instead? A backup PG (TJ Ford? Chris Duhon?), wing defender/3-pt shooter (Pietrus? Posey?), low-post backup C (Jeff Foster? Nick Collison?)
3) Draft a high-ceiling talent at #15
No more drafting role players, or selling the pick entirely. Draft a guy who can eventually start if given the right coaching. Brandon Wright. Julian Wright. Rodney Stuckey. All names last spring who were drafted around #15 that are good players and worthy of a starting spot on a playoff team in 2 years. So this year? Russell Westbrook (PG). Or JaVale McGee (C). Or Brandon Rush (SG). Maybe one of those guys would fit the rotation
4) Play a long rotation
Follow the Pistons' blueprint and share the minutes between young guys (Strawberry, Tucker and 2008 #1 pick) and old guys (Nash, Shaq, Hill). This would keep them fresher in the playoffs, rather than wear them out beforehand.
5) Have a nice defensive scheme
As long as Nash, Stoudemire, Hill et al are still in the rotation, the Suns will score points. Its a defensive scheme they need to hide Nash and Shaq's defencies. The Celtics did it this year. We all know Ray Allen, Eddie House and Paul Pierce were never considered good defensive players before. Yet they have a great scheme and get incredible results.
Making these changes can bridge the gap between the "old" Suns and the new Suns of 2010. Its all on Steve Kerr, and who he hires to coach the team.
What do you think?