The Suns' problem lies with GM Kerr and Robert Sarver; not coaching staff
By Gregory Moore
Al Davis. Daniel Snyder. George Steinbrenner. Donald Sterling. Jerry Jones.
You know what all of these rich team owners have in common? Robert Sarver.
Now you're asking yourself, "What does Sarver have to do with these five owners?"
It's quite simple. Sarver is now as meddlesome with his team as these other five owners and he is as clueless why the team doesn't win as the rest of his new found fraternity is too.
By the time this is posted, Terry Porter will be out as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and Alvin Gentry will be in. Sarver thinks that a change in leadership is needed but in reality what is needed is a change in philosophy and that starts with his general manager; Steve Kerr.
If anyone needs to go, Kerr does.
What many fans don't realize is that Kerr, with Sarver's blessing, has derailed the Suns from what they used to be. When you trade away key pieces of what made the eight second offense effective, you are not going to get the same personnel. But Kerr doesn't see that as the problem; he only sees Porter as the problem and that has now filtered into how the team acts as well.
The firing of Porter only does one thing; it delays the inevitable.
The sun is setting in Phoenix and nobody can save this franchise from being on the outside looking in any longer.
You would have thought Sarver understood this when he replaced Mike D'Antoni as head coach. Under D'Antoni the team did thrive in making the playoffs. Granted defensively the team was suspect but when you are capable of throwing up huge amounts of points and you can play a modicum of defense with Shaquile O'Neal in the middle, the system works for the moment.
But Sarver wanted NBA championship caliber effort and with the way the team was structured, he wasn't going to get that result. Kerr should have realized that and instead of signing off on replacing a coach, he should have found a way to keep guys like Shawn Marion on the roster and push for a common goal.
In other words Kerr is a lousy team leader from the GM slot and Sarver is even worse as an owner. The two of them aren't about winning. They couldn't be if they are thinking replacing Porter is the answer.
Maybe its my new found wisdom of team concepts and goals because of the classes I've taken already while going back to school. Yeah I'll admit that the team collaboration and conflict resolution course actually opens up my eyes and pinpoints where sports teams fall as top contenders but I'm not paid millions to figure that out.
Then again, maybe I should be. I know what the problem is with the Suns.
If you replace Terry Porter, you have to fire Steve Kerr at the end of the season. Alvin Gentry is a good guy but he isn't going to be the head coach next season.
There is way too much turnover in that organization for it to be successful and compete with the likes of the Lakers, Spurs and Hornets. Those three organizations have solid team leaders as general managers and they have a support staff that can get the job done. Phoenix on the other hand is a total mess of a situation that is brought on by what Sarver has fallen victim to; microwavable results.
Was Porter the right pick for the head coaching job two seasons ago? Maybe not. But then again what could he do with all the turmoil that was thrown at him by Kerr and Sarver.
Suns' fans should be up in arms about the fluctuation of the team by the front office.
If the Suns make the playoffs it is not going to be because of how they play or because they have new inspiration. Somebody outside of the big three I mentioned earlier will falter. That's five other teams from Denver to Golden State that will help them along the way.
The team will be an eighth seed and if they get Los Angeles, San Antonio or New Orleans in the first round, they will be unceremoniously swept or embarrassed in five games.
What will Gentry get? Nothing.
What should he get? A medal for dealing with the tom foolery that is the front office.
What should Sarver and Kerr get?
How about a one way ticket out of Phoenix.
The Suns' fan base deserves strong leadership at the top and Sarver is a very rocky leader at the helm of this team. But its hard to fire an owner so the next logical candidate after Porter's dismissal this week is Steve Kerr; Sarver's right hand man.
Somebody needs to take the blame for this and Kerr is as good a choice as any.
Al Davis. Daniel Snyder. George Steinbrenner. Donald Sterling. Jerry Jones.
You know what all of these rich team owners have in common? Robert Sarver.
Now you're asking yourself, "What does Sarver have to do with these five owners?"
It's quite simple. Sarver is now as meddlesome with his team as these other five owners and he is as clueless why the team doesn't win as the rest of his new found fraternity is too.
By the time this is posted, Terry Porter will be out as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and Alvin Gentry will be in. Sarver thinks that a change in leadership is needed but in reality what is needed is a change in philosophy and that starts with his general manager; Steve Kerr.
If anyone needs to go, Kerr does.
What many fans don't realize is that Kerr, with Sarver's blessing, has derailed the Suns from what they used to be. When you trade away key pieces of what made the eight second offense effective, you are not going to get the same personnel. But Kerr doesn't see that as the problem; he only sees Porter as the problem and that has now filtered into how the team acts as well.
The firing of Porter only does one thing; it delays the inevitable.
The sun is setting in Phoenix and nobody can save this franchise from being on the outside looking in any longer.
You would have thought Sarver understood this when he replaced Mike D'Antoni as head coach. Under D'Antoni the team did thrive in making the playoffs. Granted defensively the team was suspect but when you are capable of throwing up huge amounts of points and you can play a modicum of defense with Shaquile O'Neal in the middle, the system works for the moment.
But Sarver wanted NBA championship caliber effort and with the way the team was structured, he wasn't going to get that result. Kerr should have realized that and instead of signing off on replacing a coach, he should have found a way to keep guys like Shawn Marion on the roster and push for a common goal.
In other words Kerr is a lousy team leader from the GM slot and Sarver is even worse as an owner. The two of them aren't about winning. They couldn't be if they are thinking replacing Porter is the answer.
Maybe its my new found wisdom of team concepts and goals because of the classes I've taken already while going back to school. Yeah I'll admit that the team collaboration and conflict resolution course actually opens up my eyes and pinpoints where sports teams fall as top contenders but I'm not paid millions to figure that out.
Then again, maybe I should be. I know what the problem is with the Suns.
If you replace Terry Porter, you have to fire Steve Kerr at the end of the season. Alvin Gentry is a good guy but he isn't going to be the head coach next season.
There is way too much turnover in that organization for it to be successful and compete with the likes of the Lakers, Spurs and Hornets. Those three organizations have solid team leaders as general managers and they have a support staff that can get the job done. Phoenix on the other hand is a total mess of a situation that is brought on by what Sarver has fallen victim to; microwavable results.
Was Porter the right pick for the head coaching job two seasons ago? Maybe not. But then again what could he do with all the turmoil that was thrown at him by Kerr and Sarver.
Suns' fans should be up in arms about the fluctuation of the team by the front office.
If the Suns make the playoffs it is not going to be because of how they play or because they have new inspiration. Somebody outside of the big three I mentioned earlier will falter. That's five other teams from Denver to Golden State that will help them along the way.
The team will be an eighth seed and if they get Los Angeles, San Antonio or New Orleans in the first round, they will be unceremoniously swept or embarrassed in five games.
What will Gentry get? Nothing.
What should he get? A medal for dealing with the tom foolery that is the front office.
What should Sarver and Kerr get?
How about a one way ticket out of Phoenix.
The Suns' fan base deserves strong leadership at the top and Sarver is a very rocky leader at the helm of this team. But its hard to fire an owner so the next logical candidate after Porter's dismissal this week is Steve Kerr; Sarver's right hand man.
Somebody needs to take the blame for this and Kerr is as good a choice as any.
posted by NBA Scribe (Gregory) | 8:06 AM
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