And the blogosphere says...D'Antoni Stays
In a historic histeric coming together of the greatest minds on the internets (which is the equivalent of this ) the Bright Side of the Sun NBA Blogosphere Star Chamber has rendered a verdict.
Coach Mike D'Antoni has been found to have faults in the areas of a) defensive emphasis and coaching b) development of bench players c) failure to hold players accountable for lack of energy and effort all leading to d) his inability to bring a highly talented team into the NBA Finals culminating e) in a humiliating first round defeat this season.
Despite these "challenges" the collective wisdom of the (exhibit a: readers) of this site along with the self-appointed and so-called experts of the (exhibit b: NBA blogosphere ) have overwhelming voted to give Coach D'Antoni another chance.
Read on for a recap of the arguments for and against along with the specific voting results...
Arguments from the Prosecution
The prosecution's case for firing D'Antoni was based on these main points:
1) Failure to deliver a championship with an extermely talented team over a four year period despite being ever so close and pointing the collective eye's of the Suns world on the prize
2) Failure to hold players accountable for lackluster low energy performances resulting in the inevitable game 3 disaster in this year's playoffs. This was just another in string of similar no-shows such as crucial end of season matchup's with the Rockets and Mavericks
3) Failure to develop and use a deeper rotation to provide more lineup flexibility and depth which came back to bite the Suns in key playoff moments over the years
4) Tremendious hubris and stubbornness leading to a failure to adjust in a timely fashion to changing circumstances as evidenced by D'Antoni's own words saying he was "snookered" after game 1 into believing his team was good enough to win when clearly it wasn't
5) Failure to instill a defensive philosphy and system resulting in the now discredited belief that championships can be won without being a top defensive team
Arguments from the Defense
1) The Sun's post-season failures were the result of a series of unforeseen events such as injuries, bad breaks and commissioner's rulings
2) The Sun's didn't have the roster to either develop bench players or have a legit shot at a title thanks mainly to poor personnel decisions and penny pinching from the owner
3) The Shaq Trade left the Suns little time to adjust to a new system and identity
4) Coach D'Antoni is a brilliant coach who revolutionized the sport and deserves more time in Phoenix
5) The Suns won't find anyone better
The Tally
Two polls were taken - one a public vote of BSoS readers and the other of the so-called experts. The results were nearly identical.
| The Fans | The "Experts" | |
| Send him packing | 24% | 26% |
| He's doing great - consider extending him | 15% | 16% |
|
Give him one more year - talk to him about his short-comings |
60% | 58% |
The Final Outcome
It will be a few more days before we know the final decision from the Suns. Kerr will certainly demand some changes from D'Antoni and he will have to decide if he's willing to adjust or perhaps go somewhere else and start over.
For my money, while I argued for a fresh start I would certainly be satisfied with a committment to address some of his coaching weaknesses next year. The Suns talk as if the window is still open (I doubt it) and if they believe that it makes sense to give Mike one more shot.
The Suns roster of older, less athletic players and fewer long range shooters all combine with lack of post season success to demand a change in how next year's Suns plan on contending for a title.
Defense. Depth. Fewer turnovers and fewer possessions. These will define the 08-09 Suns. It's up to Coach D'Antoni to decide if he wants to prove himself to be a well-rounded coach that can adjust to his team or if he wants to go somewhere else and cement his legacy as a one-trick pony.
Thank you to everyone from around the NBA blogocommunity that participated in this debate and of course to the reader's of this site. This topic has generated a lot of interest and passion and I am confident that we explored every angle and gave a platform to a wide variety of voices. All of this is completely meaningless of course in the actual IRL outcome but it certainly was a nice expression of fan opinion.
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For Coach D, staying is a no-lose proposition
Bear in mind, I want him to go. If he stays, though, I’m assuming it’s on the condition that he makes some significant changes. If he makes the changes and goes deeper into the playoffs next year, people will say, “Wow, he’s NOT just a one-trick pony. Turns out he’s got two or three tricks. He’s even better than we thought, and we already thought he was pretty good.”
On the other hand, if his results are the same as or worse than they were this year, people will say, “You shoulda let D’Antoni be D’Antoni. You watered down his system, and look what happened…things got worse.” Then he’ll go get paid somewhere else…somewhere that will celebrate 50-plus win seasons, no matter how they end up.
Either way, D’Antoni wins. Unfortunately, I think that means that Suns fans lose.
by beatcal on May 4, 2008 9:30 PM MDT 1 recs
I think that's a little harsh
Only eight coaches have won a championship in the past twenty-six seasons. So, relatively, I think it’s pretty harsh to deflate the remarkable accomplishments of D’Antoni’s tenure with a statement like “[they can] celebrate 50-plus win seasons, no matter how they end up.”
Because it’s one thing to say that the Suns might need a new perspective. That makes sense. It’s another to imply that D’Antoni isn’t a great coach. That’s just dumb.
Decision '08: Batum or Alexander
by rosewood on
May 5, 2008 2:48 AM MDT
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Great?
I do think its way to soon into this guys head coaching career to call him great. He had a very talented team and won a lot of regular season games over a relatively short period of time. I think the jury is still out to see if he can a) keep winning somewhere else and b) win with a different style and c) ultimately take a team further in the playoffs then he has so far…
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on
May 5, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
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Expectations are different here
I didn’t mean to diminish D’Antoni’s accomplishments; 50-win seasons are not easy to come by.
However, the standard here in the past few years-a standard that even D’Antoni has (at times) embraced-is legitimate championship contention. But in the last three years we’ve gone from conference finals to conference semis to a first-round out. Not one of those series even went seven games.
So, if legitimate title contention is your standard, D’Antoni’s not cutting the mustard. If it’s more than 50 wins and a playoff berth every year, then yeah, he’s your guy. For some teams, that would be a dream come true. For the Suns, it’s not good enough.
by beatcal on
May 5, 2008 9:15 AM MDT
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give it five years
and you’ll be dying for a 50 win season!
by KJ7 on
May 5, 2008 9:23 AM MDT
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I like how the fans = experts
Not much valued added by the experts… =)
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on May 5, 2008 9:10 AM MDT 0 recs
I wonder how the choice of new coach and longer practices
affects Grant Hill’s desire to re-up his player option this year.
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on May 5, 2008 9:42 AM MDT 0 recs
That's a good point
He really seemed to like Coach D
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
by PanamaSun on
May 5, 2008 9:43 AM MDT
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Not a big deal
If Grant Hill departs, that’s an opportunity to fill his spot with youth. This is going to sound unjustifiably harsh, but his getting injured right before the playoffs, then repeatedly trying to play when he shouldn’t have hurt this team every bit as much as D’Antoni’s coaching gaffes, Amare’s fouls, Nash’s turnovers, or Shaq’s free throws. I know it’s not his fault, and I’m not trying to bag on him, but with so many, shall we say, past their peak players on the team already, I think inserting some youth at SF would not be the worst move ever.
by TexSUN on
May 5, 2008 9:50 AM MDT
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True
That’s dead-on with Grant Hill
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on
May 5, 2008 10:31 AM MDT
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I say we start in 3D at SF!
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on
May 5, 2008 12:04 PM MDT
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Do we have any other choice?
Really? Do we?
Doris will be starting at SF. Avery Johnson will be coaching the team. LB will be trade bait packaged with the #15 pick to move up in the draft. The only time the Suns will run will be in practice.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on
May 5, 2008 12:50 PM MDT
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Buy your season tickets now...
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on
May 5, 2008 1:38 PM MDT
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Too late for me
I got my 2009 All-Star hat in the mail (for renewing my tickets) the day after the Game 5 loss. They took a shot at my man region.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on
May 5, 2008 1:41 PM MDT
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so cranky today! =)
Wondering what the skip-2-my-loo to do next with my empty summer
by ZonaFlash on
May 5, 2008 2:20 PM MDT
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