Mike D'Antoni Calls Out the Fans

by TexSUN on Nov 14, 2007 10:39 AM MST in Suns News Comment 19 comments

In his postgame quotes last night, Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni called out the fans for contributing to an overall lack of energy:

"I'm not really impressed. We are okay. We should have had more energy, we should have played harder. And the crowd is worse than we are. They are deader than we are. Are they waiting until April to yell at us? Well we are yelling at them. Everybody needs to get a little pep in their stomp. This is fun. So right now we need to pick it up, the fans need to pick it up and let's work for something. They are not going to give it to us."

As previously noted, I was at the game last night. I would somewhat agree with Mike D'Antoni's assessment if I were comparing the crowd at the US Airways Center with crowds in other arenas I have been to. However, compared with my prior visits to USAC, this seemed pretty normal. I think it may be the time of year. The prior two years I came to games on the tail end of particularly ugly slow starts from the Suns, so the crowd seemed to take a wait-and-see attitude before really getting into the game. This time, I think it was more a case of the game's outcome feeling fairly inevitable from the opening tip (like others have suggested in the comments to the recap), and even though the starters were still in the game, the fourth quarter and even part of the third really kind of had a "garbage time" feel. It seemed like the crowd as well as the Suns were just playing out their 48 minutes without much of a reason to be fired up. Or to put it another way, it's probably not a good sign for crowd energy when three obnoxious Knicks fans five rows down can be heard over the entire section. Overall, though, it didn't seem all that different from the previous two games I have attended here, but my sample size is so small that I'm probably not the right person to say.

Questions for Paul Coro
I am trying to hook up with the Arizona Republic's Paul Coro this week for a little Q&A if the scheduling works out. If anyone has any questions for him, you can ask them in the comments to this post and I will add them to the list. (If we can't get it done this week, I'll save the questions for later--this will happen eventually even if it's not this week). As for my own questions, they will mostly be along the line of "What is it like to do what you do?", although I'm sure I'll slip in a one or two about the Suns.

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thats the culture in PHX

Majority of sports fans in Phoenix are bandwagon fans. This goes for all teams, ASU, Cardinals, Suns, etc ....

One thing that drives me crazy is that the arena gets really loud when the Gorilla team hands out free t-shirts, instead when something great happens on the court.

Check out these greek basketball fans. More on youtube, search for HORTO MAGIKO.

Thats what we need!

by emirem on Nov 14, 2007 11:04 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Meh......

I somewhat agree with you. Especially with the Cards, Dbacks and Yotes. But seriously I wouldnt go out and say ASU or Suns fans are "mostly" bandwagoners. As far as Suns fans go (at least in the last few years) they just dont give a crap about games with craptastik-no-threat teams like the Knicks. Come to any Laker, Maverick, Rockets or ESPECIALLY Spurs game and then the crowd is very much revved up.
Overall though I think it's a combination of the time of year (too damn early in season) the oponents (no contenders, threats or rivals) and the fact that Phoenix fans are indeed quite a bit more mellow. Seriously folks we come from a city made mostly of snowbirds, they have their own primary loyalty to teams like the Celtics or Bulls.
Well thats how I feel at least.

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Nov 14, 2007 11:23 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

that is true

people in the arena dont even know who Tom Chambers is, not to speak of Jake Tsakalidis, Jake Voskuhl, etc ....

There was a time when Sir Charles left and to Steve's return from Dalla,then you could see the true fans!

by emirem on Nov 14, 2007 1:29 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Best Fans in Town

It might not be saying much, but the Suns have the best fans of any sports team in town. It's the only venue in town where the home team fans out-number the away-team fans.

I heard Coach's comments after the game (I was there), and I thought the crowd was a little thin to begin with. However, it was a pretty good crowd in the first half. Then, in the second, there was nothing to cheer for -- no great plays (except Nash's left-handed catch-and-pass to LB) and no need to "inspire" a comeback or tough play.

It would have been more exciting to see some of the bench players in the 4th, anyway.

Ask Coro how he deals with hyped-posters on his blog :)

Mmmmm ... Guinness

by JSun on Nov 14, 2007 12:57 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

It's not saying much.

It's like emirem says - it's a bandwagon town. We had pretty decent baseball fans too back in 2001 when the Diamondbacks were hot.

by NativeArizonan on Nov 14, 2007 1:27 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

on dbacks

around 2000, while living in phx, my friend rick and his family was totally into the d-backs, so they got me some tickets and I think he and I went to 10 games that season. In 2001 when they won, it was great to see, having already become hooked and listening / watching their games.

But, I have to say since that team split up so quickly due to $$$$ and the d-backs being setup like a bad credit card fully spent, and not getting tv revenue yet, with the team being so different so quickly, I lossed interest.

One nice thing about the Suns now, Nash, Amare, Marion have been around a few years, I really like that. I was a huge fan of the nba and the suns during the walter davis, larry nance, alvin adams years, and during the tom chambers, kevin johnson years. But once we got Marbury (thug), I stopped watching, (didn't help bird, magic, and jordan were fading away). But a year or so before Nash was signed, I started watching again, and haven't stopped since. I'm a huge fan, but will honestly say, if our team goes through another "1/2 the team is on drugs or are drug dealers, or thugs" phase, I'll phase them out. I'm a dedicated fan, but with a brain,

I don't follow or love the suns because I was from phx and so are they, I follow and love them for their style, and the players. I know of 3-4 couples in their 50's+, that were fans of the nba but that faded away in the late 90's. But, Nash and the Suns have brought them back full force! Watching this team play up close is the best thing in sports I've ever been a fan of!

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 14, 2007 4:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with D'Antoni...

I remember watching a game in the Western Conference Finals in 2006 and at some point in the game the fans just lost all of their energy. The camera would pan across the crowd, and they're just sitting there. Our fans are decent enough fans when it's easy to be, but at those times when the team could probably really use a boost from their crowd, the fans often seem to let them down. And even at the best of times, the fans are nowhere near the best crowd in the league.

It's about time our fans got with the program, imo. I'm slightly embarrassed to have one of the best teams in the NBA, but without a crowd to match.

by NativeArizonan on Nov 14, 2007 1:25 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

your right

the majority of the fans normally at suns games now are lame. I'd rate us out of 30 teams in the league (just looked it up, was going to guess 24 :-0 )
in the bottom 5 for active, shouting fans, but, funny enough, for attendance, we're probably in the top 10. It's kind of backwards, I think it's more of a status thing for the rich in the Phx area (scottsdale, PV, etc) to have tickets, than the normal, I'm a fanatic fan reason. My wife is laughing at me, we're eating Arby's and I've had to reheat my french fries 3 times, because they keep getting cold because I'm on this website typing instead of eating...hey, I know what's important, I ate the classic italian sandwich fast!

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 14, 2007 4:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

620 AM on the issue

Gambo and Ash are speaking of this said issue. Bringing up some interesting points

"Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating your enemy without ever fighting." Sun Tzu

by Turambar on Nov 14, 2007 1:34 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

tell us some of it when they're done please

thx

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 14, 2007 4:46 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

MESSAGE TO THE SUNS COACH

Hey Mike, listen to this and chill out

Link to youtube music

It seems strange to have Mike be such a laid back guy with the team, but then flip around and say this. Come on Mike, not making enough $$$ ?

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 14, 2007 7:10 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I know where my loyalties lie

and to me thats all that matters. When I was younger I used to care about the numbers and the enthusiasm, but that's other people's issue, I know I love my team, my region, and that's enough for me.
But as Turumbar noted, its too early in the season to be excited, especially for filler games like the NYK. Look around sports, its the same way with others. I once saw a Yankee game on TV in May where only half the stadium was full. I follow the team and all, but at this point I'm really not so excited with many more months to go and knowing the regular season capabilities of this team.
More on enthusiasm, our fans are more reactionary. Give us some thing we'll react. Play a crappy game, we'll let you know, play an awesome game we'll get up. To me there's no problem with that. I would love for others to get up with me at the games and get excited, but I know they at least support the team. Besides it gets real crazy when target teams like LA, SA, and DAL are in town. The enthusiasim for Game 5 in the 2006 series against LA after the 2 straight losses, and the homecomming game 5 in last year's SA series (with the suspension), was pretty high.
Plus as JSun said, we have high attendance, so we may not be loud, but we do show up. That's more than other franchises can say. Look at the Atlanta Braves and Miami Dolphins when they were good, they could barely fill their seats!
Plus on bandwaggoning, as much as I hate it, its more of an American problem than anything. Most fans will tell you its something that happens to everybody.
So in short, would it be awesome if we could be like those Greek fans in emirem's vid? yeah I'm totally there! (seriously, we need more chanting in the NBA like in college ball) But if the fans are complacent, I'm okay with that too, so long as you're not switching jerseys, I'm fine.

If ya can't jump 'em out, then box 'em out!

by PurplePinoy on Nov 14, 2007 8:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

on comments

Yep, bandwagon thing is definitely an American thing not exclusive to us. Funny you bring up college, now I haven't seen too many college games, but the few I have seen the crowd was crazy. Those key matchups and playoffs for the Suns are pretty awesome.

by jasonsuns1 on Nov 14, 2007 9:45 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

on NBA fans ...

The pro sports arenas tend to be too comfortable and with too many distractions and most of the fans seems to be in the "here we are now entertain us" mode. It can be like going to the movie, nor you can start booing a 60-win team if they lose one at home (badly, of course) like Suns fans did against the Lakers.
I don't like to see the second half starting with half the fans in their seats. You're there to watch the game, not to drink and eat all you can.
I am not asking college-like atmosphere (like the one D'Antoni used to experience back in his playing days in Italy), but it's better not to take the Suns greatness for granted, it's not gonna be like that forever.
I don't think it's a Phoenix thing, that is the general situation around the NBA and pro sports with the possible exception of the NFL or an isolated case here and there.

by Son of Steve Nash on Nov 15, 2007 4:35 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Coach D's comments

I like Coach D generally and with the one exception of his rotation I love his style.

But, I think these comments were wrong.

First - it was the Knicks. I gave my tix away b/c it was the Knicks. According my friend the place was pretty empty to begin with and by the 2nd half even more so.

The reason isn't the Suns, or the Suns fans. The reason is the Knicks. They suck. We all know it. The game never had a chance of being close.

So, don't blame us. Blame the damn Knicks. And Starbury. And Ike. And the owners that are trying to go all Yankee's and buy a ring and making even less progress.

That said - and putting on my psychic hat - I have to think his comments weren't really about this game but about the general bitchiness of Suns fans so far this year.

That I do agree with. This team is doing just fine and warming into the season. They haven't played great yet but so what. The record is fine. They are ramping up. What's the problem?

I also disagree w/ lots of you here that the KT trade was a bad idea and dis Sarver for being responsible. Now that we've seen Skinner do you really think KT is $14m better player? No way.

by Phoenix Stan on Nov 15, 2007 10:26 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Sarver vs. KT

My main beefs with the KT trade were that (a) we made that trade with nothing to replace him but the (over)confidence that P.J. Brown would step in at a minimum deal (at least that's how it seemed at the time), and (b) we threw in not one but two first round draft picks, including one in 2010. Who knows what this team will be like in 2010? Things can change a lot in three years.

However, all that said, in retrospect, it might be that the Suns weren't just looking at P.J. Brown to replace KT; they were, perhaps, still trying to get their hands on KG. And the fact they were willing to give away a 2010 pick likely means they have no intention of going into rebuilding mode for at least the next three years. Believing they can keep this team contending for that long is a huge gamble that could end up proving to be costly, but in a weird kind of way, it also might mean there's a lot more "risk-taker" in Steve Kerr than initially thought. After all, given what we know now, it appears he may have even had a deal for KG in place had Marion not decided that going to a then-lottery team wasn't the greatest thing for his career.

by TexSUN on Nov 15, 2007 10:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs