Phoenix probe lands on Mars

According to CNN "Diesel-powered" Phoenix probe landed on Mars a few hours ago.

According to other unconfirmed sources, should any form of life be found on the planet, Steve Kerr will likely interview it for the head coach position with the Suns.

Suns.com reported earlier in the week that the Suns have begun an extensive search for the new head coach as more than a dozen candidate could be interviewed for the job.

Good luck, Captain Steve

Go Suns !

It looks so 80's

Update on the Suns coaching carousel. So far GM Steve Kerr has interviewed or planning to do so very soon:

Mark Jackson, Terry Porter, Elston Turner, Tyrone Corbin (looking good in a the Suns photo) and Paul Silas

Is Steve Kerr trying to put on an 80’s all star game?

With Del Negro and Kerr himself we could field a pretty good team.

Go Suns !

Searching for the Perfect New Suns Coach

Amid all the talks about possible candidates for the Suns head coach position (see the great short list compiled by Greg Esposito on AZ Sports Hub) I find it difficult to find a candidate I really like to coach the Suns next season.

The key is understanding what’s inside Steve Kerr mind:

Whether `tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of REBUILDING NOW or to take arms against a sea of troubles and GIVE THIS TEAM ONE MORE SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

In the former case the Suns need a teacher, a coach who can evaluate and develop talent, trade away all the big salaries and start rebuilding around Stoudemire; in the latter Suns need a manager and a leader one that can ask a bunch of aging offensive minded players to play defense and deal with the huge pressure of having to win it now. Avery Johnson would be a good fit I think.

I think it would make sense to start a rebuilding process now but I am not sure I’d enjoy it. It’ll mean at least two, maybe three, years of losing basketball and that IF you do a good job. As it happened in the past it’s possible that you choose a coach to start the process, grow talent and after a couple of losing season his successor will be the one getting the fame and the glory. Teachers often fail in this crazy NBA.

Ideally the Suns could follow the Blazers route to glory and avoid a Bulls like collapse of the post MJ era. Paul Silas could make it work.

I don’t know.

Go Suns !

Ciao Mike. D'Antoni signs with the Knicks

Mike D'Antoni (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic) is officially the former coach of the Phoenix Suns after signing a 4-year 24 million deal with the New York Knicks.

I think it was the right decision for him, personally, and for the Suns. It was clear D'Antoni and the Suns front office could not work together anymore.

Thanks Mike, whatever it was four great years (253-136 .650 winning pct.), at least 3 were really great, and we saw the best basketball on the planet.

It's clear Steve Kerr wants someone who can actually coach defense but it's better not to forget the Suns players, more or less, simply can't play defense.

Now it's time to move on. List the candidates for the position, evaluate the situation, prepare for the draft, make some moves.

Grazie Mike e Buona Fortuna!

Go Suns !

D'Antoni won't coach the Suns next season

Clues are now adding up. Solid evidence is growing that Mike D'Antoni will not coach the Suns next season.

Clue no. 1
Suns denied reports of D'Antoni departure. In pro sport it generally means he's already gone.

Clue no. 2
The initial meeting between D'Antoni, Kerr and the Owner couldn't reach a decision. You don't need to postpone a decision another 10 days if you plan to retain the Coach.

Clue no. 3
ESPN.com is reporting D'Antoni will be allowed to talk to other teams with New York and Chicago the most likely destinations.

The Suns need a change. That's step 1.

Go Suns!

The 2007-08 Suns. The Season

After each game during the season I posted a recap at AZ Sports Hub. I have decided to post all the headlines from each game: 1 to 82 and then 1 to 5 in the Playoffs. I think it will help go through the last few months of Suns basketball as understanding the past is the best way to build for the future.

Suns shake off rust in 2nd half, Beat Sonics in opener
Lakers win 119-98. Suns booed by home crowd!
Suns come back to beat Cavs 103-92
Suns (3-1) dominate Bobcats to begin Southeast trip
The Hawks are good! Suns lose in Atlanta 105-96
Nash takes over in the 4th. Suns beat Heat in Miami
It’s Barbosa doing magic as Suns beat Orlando 106-96.
Suns beat “shorthanded” Knicks, improve to 6-2
Running with the Bulls, Suns win 112-102
You can’t reach the Sun with a Rocket! Phoenix beat Houston 115-105
Suns hold on for 100-98 win in Sacramento.
Suns score 80 in the first half, beat Kings 127-111
Suns beat Clippers 113-94 for 8th straight win
Yao leads Rockets past Suns 100-94
Raja leads the way as Suns beat Magic, 110-106
Hill’s 28 lead Suns past Knicks in NYC
STAT’s 42 lead Suns past Pacers 121-117
Suns score 136 to beat Raptors in Toronto
Suns “just incredible”, Beat the Wiz 122-107
Suns get cold in second half, lose to Minnesota 100-93
The Heat is on! Suns lose to Miami 117-113
Suns beat Jazz 103-98 as Nash leads the ensemble…and chipped a tooth in the making
Hornets beat Suns 101-98 as Paul edges Nash in the Big Easy
Hill leads Suns past Duncan and the Spurs 100-95
“WunderDirk” leads Dallas past the Suns 108-105
Suns win eighth straight vs Raptors 122-103. Now it’s Christmas with Kobe
Santa is a Laker! LA beat Phoenix 122-115
Amaré plays big as Suns walk over Clippers 108-88
Suns score under 100 and WIN! 94 enough to beat the Clippers
Suns end year with win no. 22 in Sacramento
Suns come back from 20 down to beat Sonics 104-96
Paul and the Hornets come back to beat the Suns 118-112
Suns drop 20 3-pointers on the Nuggets in a 137-115 win
Suns come back to beat Pacers in OT without Nash and Hill
Jazz hold shorthanded Suns to just 86 points in Utah
Nash’s season-high 35 points lead Suns past Bucks (for the 20th straight time at home)
Clippers beat Suns in LA giving Division lead to the Lakers
Suns finally beat Lakers, regain Division lead
Suns dominate Wolves 115-95 as D’Antoni looks for defense
Suns (29-12) dominate Nets at home 116-92
Nash’s season high 37 points lead Suns past Bucks.
Suns first to lose twice to Timberwolves in the season
Marion’s floater (with 1.1 seconds left) gives Suns 110-108 win in Cleveland
Suns gain “gritty win” in Chicago, 88-77
Suns run over Hawks 125-92. Now ready for Spurs
Spurs come back in the fourth to beat Suns, 84-81
Suns’ 16 triples beat Bobcats, 118-104
Suns lose again to Hornets in 2OT, on the night Shaq became a Sun
Waiting for Shaq, Suns beat Sonics with a little help from Wally
STAT scores 31 as Suns beat Wizards 108-107
Baron and “the Man” lead Warriors past Suns 120-118
Suns beat Mavs 109-97 in final game before break
Kobe ruins Shaq’s Suns debut. LA wins 130-124
Suns get first win of the Shaq era, beat KG and the Celtics 85-77
Pistons run over Phoenix 116-86 as Suns play worst game of the year
Suns back at full speed, beat Grizzlies 127-113
Hornets sweep season series vs Suns with win in New Orleans
Suns lose at home to Sixers. Is it time to worry?
Suns hold on for 97-92 win in Portland
Melo and A.I. lead Nuggets past tired Suns, 126-113
Jazz send Suns to third straight home loss, 126-118
Suns beat Spurs 94-87 as Shaq shows the way
Suns roll over Grizzlies for second straight win, 132-111
STAT lead Suns past Warriors 123-115
Suns run over Kings for 4th straight win
STAT and Shaq lead Suns past Blazers for 5th straight win
Suns make it six in a row with win in Seattle
Perfect STAT leads Suns past Rockets 122-113
Pistons end Suns’ seven game win streak in OT
KG leads Boston past STAT and the Suns
Amare and Raja lead Suns to easy win in Philly
Amare (again) leads Suns past Nets and back on top of Pac5
STAT and Nash lead Suns past Denver in biggest comeback of the year
In the end the Suns can’t shine in Denver
Suns do “their job” against Timberwolves, win 117-88
Suns collapse in the fourth, Dallas wins 105-98
Suns clinch playoffs spot with win in Memphis, 127-113
Nash, Shaq and STAT lead Suns past Spurs 96-79
Rockets “out-hustle” Suns 101-90. Phoenix now 6th in the West
Suns blow lead then come back to beat Warriors 122-116
Suns beat Blazers 100-91 to end season at 55-27. Spurs Next !

and then came the Spurs, once again.

Suns vs Spurs: Focus, Paint, Refs and “our” Frenchman
Suns fans’ worst fears materialized as Spurs take game 1 of the series in 2OT
Spurs’ Big Three beat Suns in game 2. Phoenix in 0-2 series hole
Suns quickly setting in Phoenix. Spurs dominate game 3
Suns still alive as Diaw and Bell lead Phoenix past Spurs in game 4
It’s Over. Spurs eliminate Suns 4-1

Go Suns !