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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ml?eref=sircrc
later, jackholeSAN ANTONIO -- Mike D'Antoni, the NBA's Coach of the Year for the 2004-05 season and the man credited with re-invigorating fast-break basketball in a league gone stale, will not be back to coach the Phoenix Suns for the 2008-09 season, SI.com has learned.
D'Antoni deferred questions about his job status after the Suns were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at the AT&T Center in Alamo City. "I'm just really proud of my guys," D'Antoni said after the Spurs' 92-87 win that marked the third time in four years that San Antonio has ended the Suns' season. He did not address his own situation. But sources within the organization confirm that D'Antoni feels he does not have the backing of upper management--specifically owner Robert Sarver and general manager Steve Kerr -- and considers the situation irredeemable.
The Suns have long been one of the NBA's model franchises, and both D'Antoni and Kerr, for whatever differences they might have about the direction of the team, are respected around the league. It's hard to believe, then, that D'Antoni's situation would devolve into an ugly, protracted war, New York Knicks style.
How exactly the scenario unfolds depends largely on whether or not D'Antoni gets another job offer. The most palatable scenario for all in Phoenix would be: Team A asks the Suns for permission to talk to D'Antoni, who has two years left on his contract; Suns say OK; D'Antoni interviews and is hired.
One landing spot for him would seem to be Chicago, where general manager Jim Paxson has not yet replaced Jim Boylan, who himself replaced Scott Skiles (now in charge in Milwaukee). The Bulls underachieved this season under both coaches but would seem to have the kind of offensive nucleus (Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni) with which D'Antoni could build.
One other possibility is New York, where new GM Donnie Walsh is taking his time making a head-coach decision despite speculation that the hiring of former point guard Marc Jackson is a done deal. There has also been whispers of D'Antoni taking over in Toronto, where Sam Mitc 's coaching future is an ongoing discussion and where Bryan Colangelo, D'Antoni's former boss in Phoenix and still a close friend, is calling the shots. But Toronto doesn't seem as comfortable a fit for D'Antoni as Chicago or even New York. Don't look for that to happen.
As is the custom with all NBA teams, D'Antoni will meet soon with Sarver and Kerr, together or separately. Kerr said before Sunday's Game 4, which turned out to be the Suns' lone series win, that D'Antoni's departure was not a fait accompli as far as he is concerned. He would not comment on D'Antoni's status after Game 5. But a source said that Kerr would make a few demands in the postseason debriefing: that D'Antoni devote more practice time to defense; have more confidence in his bench players, i.e., go to an expanded rotation; develop a clearer plan for a point guard to back up Steve Nash; get more planned touches out of Amare' Stoudemire in post-up situations.
D'Antoni, sources say, believes that the situation has been festering all season and that nothing would be accomplished in the meeting. Whatever the cir stances of his departure, it will probably be presented as as a rift between coach and GM, and to a large extent that's true. But when Colangelo left for Toronto, mostly because he and Sarver were doomed not to co-exist harmoniously, D'Antoni lost his biggest booster in the front office, as well as a friend. It's what happens in the NBA and in all pro sports.
Over four full seasons D'Antoni racked up a 232-96 record, made the Western finals twice and changed the way that observers both in and out of the league thought about the game. Management might have some legit gripes about his defensive coaching, and remember that D'Antoni was a bigger booster of the trade for Shaquille O'Neal than Kerr was.
But Suns' management now faces one extremely formidable challenge in l'affaire D'Antoni: Finding someone better.
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OMG!!!
rotflmao!!!!
I hope this is true.
no way. wow.
Dan Tony to Mavs. Avery to the Suns. It's planned.
No more "couple more stops, guys" for Dasani boy
First Avery now Mike they are dropping like flies. I am NOT shocked at all. This is a classic case of "This coach has taken us as far as he can" right here.
Please basketball Gods, do not let AJ end up in Phoenix. He'd take that team over the help.
P.S.
D'Antoni is a pretty bad coach but I think this is pretty harsh. The Suns lost this series mostly because Nash finally got old. If Nash played his MVP level, this series would still be going on.
Besides, that was an advantage the Spurs could count on
That didn't take long at all.
Damn, I must have been one minute late on my post.
And yeah, AJ to the Suns would be a nightmare for the Spurs.
Please basketball Gods, do not let AJ end up in Phoenix. He'd take that team over the help.
P.S.
D'Antoni is a pretty bad coach but I think this is pretty harsh. The Suns lost this series mostly because Nash finally got old. If Nash played his MVP level, this series would still be going on.
Besides, that was an advantage the Spurs could count on
Agreed, now if they get Carlisle, I think they are tougher, BUT, not AJ level tough.
you're kidding, right? you must be. really.
This was the Suns' last chance. They have set.
Do you seriously think Shaqs gonna listen to AJ?? LOL
Doing it the night of the last game is not a classy move. When the trigger is pulled before they leave the arena is such chicken sh**.
Carlisle would take them to another level for one or two years, and that what the Suns need.
But now we do not have to worry
**edit: D'Antoni..... my bad. Fact still stands.***
What, was he in a race with Avery?
SAN ANTONIO -- Mike D'Antoni, the NBA's Coach of the Year for the 2004-05 season and the man credited with re-invigorating fast-break basketball in a league gone stale, will not be back to coach the Phoenix Suns for the 2008-09 season, SI.com has learned.
D'Antoni deferred questions about his job status after the Suns were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at the AT&T Center in Alamo City. "I'm just really proud of my guys," D'Antoni said after the Spurs' 92-87 win that marked the third time in four years that San Antonio has ended the Suns' season. He did not address his own situation. But sources within the organization confirm that D'Antoni feels he does not have the backing of upper management--specifically owner Robert Sarver and general manager Steve Kerr -- and considers the situation irredeemable.
The Suns have long been one of the NBA's model franchises, and both D'Antoni and Kerr, for whatever differences they might have about the direction of the team, are respected around the league. It's hard to believe, then, that D'Antoni's situation would devolve into an ugly, protracted war, New York Knicks style.
How exactly the scenario unfolds depends largely on whether or not D'Antoni gets another job offer. The most palatable scenario for all in Phoenix would be: Team A asks the Suns for permission to talk to D'Antoni, who has two years left on his contract; Suns say OK; D'Antoni interviews and is hired.
One landing spot for him would seem to be Chicago, where general manager Jim Paxson has not yet replaced Jim Boylan, who himself replaced Scott Skiles (now in charge in Milwaukee). The Bulls underachieved this season under both coaches but would seem to have the kind of offensive nucleus (Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni) with which D'Antoni could build.
One other possibility is New York, where new GM Donnie Walsh is taking his time making a head-coach decision despite speculation that the hiring of former point guard Marc Jackson is a done deal. There has also been whispers of D'Antoni taking over in Toronto, where Sam Mitc 's coaching future is an ongoing discussion and where Bryan Colangelo, D'Antoni's former boss in Phoenix and still a close friend, is calling the shots. But Toronto doesn't seem as comfortable a fit for D'Antoni as Chicago or even New York. Don't look for that to happen.
As is the custom with all NBA teams, D'Antoni will meet soon with Sarver and Kerr, together or separately. Kerr said before Sunday's Game 4, which turned out to be the Suns' lone series win, that D'Antoni's departure was not a fait accompli as far as he is concerned. He would not comment on D'Antoni's status after Game 5. But a source said that Kerr would make a few demands in the postseason debriefing: that D'Antoni devote more practice time to defense; have more confidence in his bench players, i.e., go to an expanded rotation; develop a clearer plan for a point guard to back up Steve Nash; get more planned touches out of Amare' Stoudemire in post-up situations.
D'Antoni, sources say, believes that the situation has been festering all season and that nothing would be accomplished in the meeting. Whatever the cir stances of his departure, it will probably be presented as as a rift between coach and GM, and to a large extent that's true. But when Colangelo left for Toronto, mostly because he and Sarver were doomed not to co-exist harmoniously, D'Antoni lost his biggest booster in the front office, as well as a friend. It's what happens in the NBA and in all pro sports.
Over four full seasons D'Antoni racked up a 232-96 record, made the Western finals twice and changed the way that observers both in and out of the league thought about the game. Management might have some legit gripes about his defensive coaching, and remember that D'Antoni was a bigger booster of the trade for Shaquille O'Neal than Kerr was.
But Suns' management now faces one extremely formidable challenge in l'affaire D'Antoni: Finding someone better.
Last edited by Samr; 04-30-2008 at 01:36 AM. Reason: trigger-happy
Shaq and Nash are too old. No coach is going to be able to turn back the clock. Fuggedabou .Carlisle would take them to another level for one or two years, and that what the Suns need.
But now we do not have to worry
The article doesn't say that D'Antoni got fired exactly. It just says that he won't be back. I'm guessing, they'll talk about it and just come to a mutual agreement buyout. It doesn't seem like he wants to be there anyway. I think the same will happen with Avery. I don't think they'll technically be fired, but I think a buyout will happen.
Oh.. timvp changed the le of the thread.
This series loss isn't solely D'Antoni's fault....(at least not this year's series).
This is Kerr and Sarver thinking that their team is the , and that there is no possible way they could've lost to ANYONE, much less the Spurs. So now that they lost, they would NEVER NEVER ever point the finger at themselves. Someone's got to eat it, and it ends up being Mike.
Pat Riley?
Doug Collins?
Brian Hill?
JVG?
Del Harris?
Kerr?
Avery Johnson?
Hopefully the Spurs will offer D'antoni an assistant coaching position...
He's been a pretty good judge of talent(especially European talent) and he knows how to play small ball which Pop likes. I could definitely see this as being an arrangement that benefits the Spurs.
D'antonio knew Beno was going to be lazy and unmotivated back when everyone else thought he was going to be good...he knew Manu was going to be a stud. I definitely think this guy has insight to offer the Spurs.
Fantastic replacement for the offensive insight of PJ if you ask me...
The Big Cactus claims his first victim!!!!
Wow. That was really funny. I cannot believe A) how fast two of the former premier coaches in the NBA will "no longer be with the team" (fired, whatever) B) How fast everyone found and posted the stories, and c) how fast the 10 D'Antoni threads were merged into one.
I think that the Spurs should s out some cash and hire AJ, JVG and Carlisle as assistants to keep them away from others.The Mavericks have like 15 assistants, the Spurs should too.
Woah More panic moves from teams that are prone to panicing. This is just a bit crazy. D'Antoni got more from his run and gun style than most coaches could even dream.
And AJ lost his team. He couldn't keep his hands off the reigns enough to make things work out.
I wouldn't mind D'Antoni here as an offensive coordinator, but leave AJ to the league. He's too much of a locker room cancer.
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