Thank goodness Mike D is gone

by beatcal on Oct 28, 2008 11:56 PM MDT

I'll admit it: I'm a hater. But come on, look at this quote from Coach Pornstache, talking about his team in New York: "If we don’t come out and we don’t play hard, and we don’t play smart and give a good show, I’m going to be bummed,” D’Antoni said. “We can do that. I know we’ve got enough talent to do that. If we don’t do that, then we need to do some soul searching, and we will. But fans can expect a good chance to win every night.”

Here's how the quote should read: "if we don't come out and we don't play hard, and we don't play smart and give a good show, then a lot of players--including starters, including veterans, and including our highest-paid personnel, if necessary--are going to be sitting on the bench. Fans pay too much for tickets, and these players and I get paid too much money, for anyone to be satisfied with a mediocre, heartless performance. So, here's the way it's going to be: you play hard, or you don't play at all. Don't like it? Ask for a trade."

But no, that's not what Coach D says. He says that if his team doesn't play hard, he'll be "bummed," and the team will "need to do some soul searching."

Does Pop ever say that sort of thing? Does Joe Paterno? Does Joe Torre? Does, I dunno, some really successful hockey coach? NO.

I've said it before, and now I'll say it again: I don't care how bad the Suns are this season, I am damn happy that Mike D is gone.

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Mike D priceless quote

Probably the best answer coming out of Tuesday’s practice for Wednesday’s season-opener was only one word long and came from Mike D’Antoni when he was asked if Eddy Curry, former franchise center, whom the team was promoting as an All-Star center a mere two seasons ago, would start the season in his “circle” (his word for "rotation").

“No,” D’Antoni said.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?

by Hawk42 on Oct 29, 2008 6:38 AM MDT reply actions

I miss him

You can be a hater of Mike D, I disagree. I think he did a fantastic job as coach, we won a whole lot of games with him and were basically only beat by another great team in the playoffs, the Spurs.

When we were finally healthy all around and had a great team and were pouring it on everything was clicking the dirty Spurs pulled out Robert Horry who hipchecked us into the sorry state we are in now.

by eagleheart on Oct 29, 2008 12:51 PM MDT reply actions

Mike is just chill. That’s the way he is. That temperment won a couple Euro championships and a lot of NBA games.

I recall seeing him scream and yell many times at players and referees. Does that make him a better coach? Or rather, does a coach have to talk tough for his teams to play well? I doubt it.

by RD74 on Oct 29, 2008 4:15 PM MDT reply actions

but, but, but...

How many nights did you see his Suns teams not play hard, and then see D’Antoni shrug and say, “We just didn’t come out with any energy”? At a certain point I think Mike should have said, “I’m not going to accept this any more. If I can’t figure out a way to fix it, then I may not be the right guy to coach this team, or I might not have the right personnel.” I don’t think he ever committed to that, though, and now he’s in New York…sounding as if he still hasn’t committed to it.

by beatcal on Oct 29, 2008 8:40 PM MDT up reply actions

Dantoni was affable to the media

but he would blow his top at his players. I don’t think he lacks fire because he understates his points to outsiders.

His main problem was that he wouldn’t enforce structure and just wasn’t passionate about all parts of the game.

Can any Sun Starter last 70 games?

by ZonaFlash on Oct 29, 2008 9:17 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm torn on Coach D...

…because he always seemed to have a plan until the playoffs; the Suns seemed to rarely make the adjustments that were glaringly obvious. That said, he’s a fantastic coach who brought back small-ball to the national stage and forced the NBA to change. On top of that, he saved us from the several years of mediocrity that would have likely consumed the team if Frank Johnson had stayed at the helm.

I’m not quite sure what I’m trying to say. Mainly I think that the Suns made a change for the better, but I’ll miss the usual Cotton/Westphal/D’Antoni pace. We’ll just have to wait and see.

by Genesius on Oct 29, 2008 4:23 PM MDT reply actions

Classic D'A

Hey. I like him. I wish him and Kerr could have gotten on the same pge. I just like his answer. Eddy Curry’s career in New York ended when Coach D was hired.

April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?

by Hawk42 on Oct 30, 2008 3:56 PM MDT reply actions