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ESPN scroll, Article state Mike D'Antoni will not return to PHX next season
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joec32033
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4/30/2008  8:00 AM
ESPN

D'Antoni, Suns might part ways after first-round loss

ESPN.com news services

Updated: April 30, 2008, 4:53 AM ET

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Despite averaging 58 regular-season wins in the last four seasons, Mike D'Antoni might be out as Phoenix Suns coach.

An SI.com report on Tuesday night said that the coach will not return after his team was eliminated 4-1 by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

Mike D'Antoni

D'Antoni

The Arizona Republic did not go as far, saying it was unlikely that the coach would be fired with two years and $8.5 million left on his contract. But the newspaper confirmed part of a recent Sports Illustrated article which chronicled a confrontation between D'Antoni and general manager Steve Kerr.

In a November conversation, Kerr reportedly suggested that the Suns run more post-up plays for forward Amare Stoudemire. D'Antoni objected, with a shouting match ending in the coach telling the GM not to tell him "how to coach offense."

That jibes with Tuesday's SI.com report which cites sources within the organization saying that D'Antoni does not feel he has the support of owner Robert Sarver or Kerr, who took over as GM in June.

While the Web site did not say that D'Antoni's firing is imminent, it did speculate that he would not be discouraged from pursuing opportunities with the Chicago Bulls or New York Knicks, among other teams.

D'Antoni wouldn't be the only successful coach on the hot seat this season. Immediately after the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated from the playoffs on Tuesday, Avery Johnson's status appeared to be in limbo. ESPN.com's Marc Stein recently reported that his job would be in serious jeopardy if he did not make it out of the first round.

Having been eliminated by Tim Duncan and the Spurs in three of their last four playoff appearances heading into this season, Phoenix made a bold move to take the next step in February. The Suns sent four-time All-Star forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O'Neal, hoping the former MVP would provide the inside presence the team had lacked.

Phoenix sported a 37-17 record when O'Neal first took the court for the Suns and finished out the season at a little slower pace, ending at 55-27.

O'Neal did average 15.2 point and 9.2 rebounds against the Spurs, but his poor free-throw shooting cost Phoenix in the series. San Antonio's Hack-a-Shaq philosophy resulted in the big man going to the line a whopping 20 times in Game 5 alone, but he hit only nine in the 92-87 loss. He shot 50 percent from the line (32-of-64) in the series.

D'Antoni has a 267-172 record in six seasons as an NBA coach. He is credited with helping to revive the running game in the league at a time when scores were plummeting amid pedestrian half-court offenses.

Failing to blend his philosophy with a new general manager in Kerr, who then brought in O'Neal, might ultimately be what puts the brakes on this Suns era.

[Edited by - joec32033 on 30 April 2008 08:01]
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franco12
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4/30/2008  8:13 AM
D'Antoni would be smart to get out- Nash looked old & tired in the play offs and Shaq will not be anything other than a glorified version of Malik Rose!
Cosmic
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4/30/2008  9:52 AM
Would anyone be surprised if the Raptors fired Mitchell and hired DAntoni?

********************

As to any potential NY fit (for I know it's being thought about by some so here's a pre-emptive reply lol) just forget about it.

If DAntoni's system couldn't get Phoenix over the hump, a team that does play more defense than the current Knick roster (yeah, hard to imagine /sarcasm) and whose shooters are far superior to our scorers (which is the backbone to having that system work: high percentage shooters) then it would be an epic disaster here in New York.

So I just hope we don't even consider it. Besides, does a team that's destined to have at least 2 more bad seasons really need to hire a big name coach who will want 5yrs and 25M? No thanks....

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arkrud
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4/30/2008  10:06 AM
We should go with Herbs...
Smoking... Joking... Smoking...
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playa2
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4/30/2008  10:10 AM
Posted by Cosmic:

Would anyone be surprised if the Raptors fired Mitchell and hired DAntoni?

********************

As to any potential NY fit (for I know it's being thought about by some so here's a pre-emptive reply lol) just forget about it.

If DAntoni's system couldn't get Phoenix over the hump, a team that does play more defense than the current Knick roster (yeah, hard to imagine /sarcasm) and whose shooters are far superior to our scorers (which is the backbone to having that system work: high percentage shooters) then it would be an epic disaster here in New York.

So I just hope we don't even consider it. Besides, does a team that's destined to have at least 2 more bad seasons really need to hire a big name coach who will want 5yrs and 25M? No thanks....

Toronto is cheap, I can't see them paying Coach Mitchell and DAntoni at the same time unless mitchell accepts a buyout and has a job lined up elsewhere.

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sebstar
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4/30/2008  10:22 AM
WOW. So Kerr did sacrifice D'Antoni, to cover for his failed move.
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djsunyc
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4/30/2008  10:33 AM
Posted by playa2:

Toronto is cheap, I can't see them paying Coach Mitchell and DAntoni at the same time unless mitchell accepts a buyout and has a job lined up elsewhere.

yup. but i think smitch can get a job elsewhere...
TrueBlue
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4/30/2008  10:39 AM
D'Antoni had more than enough time to implement a respectable defense. He had about 5yrs to get one going, he never addressed because he thought his offense trumped defense when as the saying goes DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Although his offense is innovative it was comical watching the Suns call/run more post up plays for Diaw 3 games straight while watching Amare shoot jumpers and get spooned fed pick and roll passes from Nash and see Shaq utilized improperly.

He should be fired looking at things objectively.

Anyone who's objective clearly saw
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jazz74
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4/30/2008  11:16 AM
i can see him getting interviewed here but i don't think he would be a good fit. i like avery johnson better. we need someone to really grind this team and install discipline. not to say that dantonio wouldn't do that but avery is more of a no nonsense coach who is not afraid to say whatever to whoever.
sebstar
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4/30/2008  11:23 AM
Posted by TrueBlue:

D'Antoni had more than enough time to implement a respectable defense. He had about 5yrs to get one going, he never addressed because he thought his offense trumped defense when as the saying goes DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Although his offense is innovative it was comical watching the Suns call/run more post up plays for Diaw 3 games straight while watching Amare shoot jumpers and get spooned fed pick and roll passes from Nash and see Shaq utilized improperly.

He should be fired looking at things objectively.

Anyone who's objective clearly saw

U bi-polar? You just said in the thread about the Celtics, that the Suns were straight robbed last year. So if the Suns grab the chip last year, or at least get to the finals, you still fire him?

Irrespective of the hypotheticals, D'Antoni was handed a 350-pound, aging albatross that completely shifted the foundation of the team and in no way fit the system they've had in place for years. Not only that, but he had to completely change his team in mid-season and on the fly...Didnt even get a whole year. Again, the media better not let Kerr slide on sacrificing D'Antoni to cover for his short-sighted, panic move.
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TrueBlue
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4/30/2008  11:40 AM
Posted by sebstar:
Posted by TrueBlue:

D'Antoni had more than enough time to implement a respectable defense. He had about 5yrs to get one going, he never addressed because he thought his offense trumped defense when as the saying goes DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Although his offense is innovative it was comical watching the Suns call/run more post up plays for Diaw 3 games straight while watching Amare shoot jumpers and get spooned fed pick and roll passes from Nash and see Shaq utilized improperly.

He should be fired looking at things objectively.

Anyone who's objective clearly saw

U bi-polar? You just said in the thread about the Celtics, that the Suns were straight robbed last year. So if the Suns grab the chip last year, or at least get to the finals, you still fire him?

Irrespective of the hypotheticals, D'Antoni was handed a 350-pound, aging albatross that completely shifted the foundation of the team and in no way fit the system they've had in place for years. Not only that, but he had to completely change his team in mid-season and on the fly...Didnt even get a whole year. Again, the media better not let Kerr slide on sacrificing D'Antoni to cover for his short-sighted, panic move.


I said the Suns were robbed of a shot at a Chip and they didn't play a healthy Spurs team last yr BTW. They still had to play Utah in the WCF so who knows if they would have won the WCF and the Finals against Cleveland. I don't like to see teams cheated that was my main point. The Suns main problem has been defense, D'Antoni has yet to address it.

[Edited by - TrueBlue on 04-30-2008 2:11 PM]
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islesfan
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4/30/2008  11:54 AM
D'Antoni wouldn't be a good fit here in NY. He's perfect for Toronto though.
If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
metra
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4/30/2008  12:04 PM
What the hell is wrong with you guys?

D'Antoni doesn't fit? We're trying to turn this team around. To throw away the crap we have. To start over. To finally rebuild.

If you want someone who fits in our system right now, I'll give you a name. Isiah Thomas.
nyk4ever
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4/30/2008  12:11 PM
I do not want D'Antoni. I don't want any coach that has no interest in his team playing defense, the side of the ball that wins championships.

I agree with others though, he'd make a good fit in Toronto, where they already have that style and he can go back to working with Colangelo.
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nyk4ever
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4/30/2008  12:20 PM
Let me just add to what I posted. I feel with D'Antoni, if he did come here, he'd bring his style of play and we'd immediately win more games, I don't doubt that. Eventually after a few years, we would win 50 games led by D'Antoni, but I don't think we'd ever play enough defense to win a championship, which is my ultimate goal. I want a team that is built to win, not built to lose in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
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Ira
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4/30/2008  3:06 PM
If D'Antoni came to the Knicks, I'd hope Donnie would insist he hired a good defensive assistant. You don't need a coach to be a top expert in all aspects of the game. But he does have to be honest with himself about what he does and does not know and be willing to hire assistants that compliment his strengths.

Red Holzman was one of the great defensive minds in nba history, but players said that DeBuschere helped him with offense.
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4/30/2008  8:33 PM
Posted by jazz74:

i can see him getting interviewed here but i don't think he would be a good fit. i like avery johnson better. we need someone to really grind this team and install discipline. not to say that dantonio wouldn't do that but avery is more of a no nonsense coach who is not afraid to say whatever to whoever.

Disapline with this team is comical. They ran out coaches for the last 4 years now and so far Disaplinarians have come and gone. What this team needs is D'Antoni type of coach who would run up and down and inflate the statistic that these losers that the knicks currently have and dump them.
TMS
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4/30/2008  9:45 PM
Posted by nyk4ever:

I do not want D'Antoni. I don't want any coach that has no interest in his team playing defense, the side of the ball that wins championships.

I agree with others though, he'd make a good fit in Toronto, where they already have that style and he can go back to working with Colangelo.

that's valid, but when u look at the big picture we don't have many guys who like to play any defense anyway... he's a run & gun type coach & we have guys who can excel in that type of system... obviously Zach & Curry are a bad fit but if u can shift the focus of the offense to whoever we draft in the lottery & surround him w/guys who run the floor like D Lee, Balk, Nate, Chandler, Jamal, Jefferies & even Q Rich in short spurts, i think we would be drastically improved from the past couple seasons... this team lacks any type of identity at all... as soon as we establish one the sooner we'll start rebuilding the team to fit that identity & the sooner we'll start seeing some tangible results in the W-L column.
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TMS
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4/30/2008  9:46 PM
Posted by nyk4ever:

Let me just add to what I posted. I feel with D'Antoni, if he did come here, he'd bring his style of play and we'd immediately win more games, I don't doubt that. Eventually after a few years, we would win 50 games led by D'Antoni, but I don't think we'd ever play enough defense to win a championship, which is my ultimate goal. I want a team that is built to win, not built to lose in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

i feel u on that tho... in the end our ultimate goal is to win a championship & maybe the better direction would be to establish a defense first mentality & build the team that way.
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Uptown
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4/30/2008  10:05 PM
Posted by metra:

What the hell is wrong with you guys?

D'Antoni doesn't fit? We're trying to turn this team around. To throw away the crap we have. To start over. To finally rebuild.

If you want someone who fits in our system right now, I'll give you a name. Isiah Thomas.


Thankyou. I've sai this much in two other threads. We whouldn't be looking for a coach to fit this current team. We should be looking for a coach as the first piece as we move these other pieces out.
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