Earl Watson named interim head coach

[bwgood77]

Watson: "I'm going to nurture and embrace Markieff Morris." And said he'd leave his kids with Tyson.


hahaha
Good luck, coach.

The last thing Markieff needs is more babying.

I'm actually glad Watson is the coach for the rest of the season. He is going to fail miserably. Which Brings us closer to the #1 pick. Watson is not prepared for this.

His whole presser and what he talked about is exactly opposite of what this team needs. He talked to much about being buddy-buddy with the players. Players don't need that....they need a LEADER.

He keeps quoting all these coaches and GMs that are successfully. He actually quoted RC Buford....come on now, the dude has had Duncan his whole GM career.

Sorry, I'm not impressed. But again let the lottery balls keep adding up. So Watson just helps that goal.

Why not bring back former Suns' assistant (and player) Paul Silas, who has been a head coach in various places? Silas is seventy-two now, but he is still tough. Four years ago, he famously tore into Tyrus Thomas in the locker room.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--paul-silas--tyrus-thomas-have-altercation-in-bobcats--locker-room.html

While the Suns' lead assistant coach twenty years ago, Silas once challenged Charles Barkley to a fight in the team's locker room. On another occasion, when Silas saw Barkley adopt an unusually intense (by Sir Charles' standards) workout regimen after being named to Dream Team III late in the season, Silas told Barkley that he was full of it for having failed to work out that way all along. Imagine what Silas might do with Markieff Morris ...

Wasn't he well respected by LeBron too? Whatever that's worth.

[Puff]

It seems to me that when Watson told McDonough that we would coddle Markieff Morris the job was his.

[Sunsdeuce]

It seems to me that when Watson told McDonough that we would coddle Markieff Morris the job was his.

Yup!! That's exactly why he got picked to finish out the season. Makes you realize how lost this organization is.

Ryan better swing for the fences (as far as coaching) this off season. Watson is just a nicer version of Lindsey Hunter.

[Jdiddy701]

Damn Earl Watson can't even get a game in before you guys start sweatin the guy. All I'm looking forward to is minutes and effort from the team. Would have loved to see Warren under him.




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[Saberestar]

Watson has set a new locker room rule for players to not make fun of one another. “We’re not putting each other down in a joking matter, even if it’s all playful and fun,” Watson said.

“It’s only uplifiting words so we’re uplifting each other to another level. For us to move forward, it has nothing to do with basketball. We have to change the mindset. Once we change the mindset — the mind always goes before the physical – everything else will follow.”

[bigfoot]

I kind of like that Watson has said Kief is the first option. Not that he picked Kief ... but that he told us there is a player who is going to be the first option. I don't think that was ever very clear under the Horny system. Whether Kief can truly be a first option is debatable. If he could return to form then it might be a good thing. At a minimum it should increase his trade value. I've always felt superstars are top scorers in the league. Scorers get preferential treatment by both the refs and media. If a player is going to be allowed to take 18+ shots per game they will score in the mid-to-high 20's. Suns haven't had a player average 18 shots or more for a long time.

[saintEscaton]

I kind of like that Watson has said Kief is the first option. Not that he picked Kief ... but that he told us there is a player who is going to be the first option. I don't think that was ever very clear under the Horny system. Whether Kief can truly be a first option is debatable. If he could return to form then it might be a good thing. At a minimum it should increase his trade value. I've always felt superstars are top scorers in the league. Scorers get preferential treatment by both the refs and media. If a player is going to be allowed to take 18+ shots per game they will score in the mid-to-high 20's. Suns haven't had a player average 18 shots or more for a long time.

Because we've had no one of that caliber to attempt such a volume. Maybe Booker will be in a few years but I hope he continues to methodically pick his spots and know when its time to turn it on rather than become another chucker

[Blackification]

Am i the only one surprisingly impressed with Watson so far? when he first got promoted I felt he was just a placeholder that was saying whatever they told him to. Now after he got Markieff to up his value enough for us to get a good pick and he is utilizing Booker like he should be i'm impressed. We might see how he manages a full roster if he isn't replaced by next year, but he has done a pretty good job. I would have loved to seen him put Warren to use

[blacksun]

Am i the only one surprisingly impressed with Watson so far? when he first got promoted I felt he was just a placeholder that was saying whatever they told him to. Now after he got Markieff to up his value enough for us to get a good pick and he is utilizing Booker like he should be i'm impressed. We might see how he manages a full roster if he isn't replaced by next year, but he has done a pretty good job. I would have loved to seen him put Warren to use

I was waiting for this post. Earl Watson is playing young guys, and unfortunately, losing a lot. Yet he has earned the respect of this team. Everybody likes him, and im buying into what he’s trying to accomplish. I hope he gets a two year extension or something similar to be the permanent coach of this young team.

First, most interim coaches forget the young guys and play whoever it takes to get the win. After all, they want that permanent gig. Yet he gives Devin 35 mpg, Len 30 mpg, consistently no matter how theyre playing.

His mantra that this isnt about wins, its about the process for developing a culture and accountability. I know its a lot of fluff, but you cant deny that the body language of this team changed a lot since he took over.

Last and most exciting is that he is grooming Booker to be a superstar. That last play for the Wolves game was supposed to be a Book ISO at the elbow and let him create. Mirza just wasnt having it. Watson then compared Book to Kobe, and Roy and how they were the ones their teams relied on in clutch situations. Im convinced that he is the perfect coach for this young team, similar to Mark Jackson, or Scott Brooks. Sign him up.

[Saberestar]

I am really pleased with Watson like a head coach. He understands his players and he is connected to them.

[letsgosuns]

I am in favor of keeping Watson. I like how he has handled all the young guys and they seem to be flourishing under him. All the players seem to really like him. I also do not see any available coaches I would rather have over him anyway. Unless Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich want to coach the Suns next season (yeah right), who is a better candidate? No point in replacing Watson when it seems like he might be the right guy.

Another thing is that I believe he has a great reputation around the league, especially with his former teammates. A big reason why the Suns were close to landing LaMarcus Aldridge is because of Watson. And you know another player who played with Watson for two seasons? Kevin Durant. Maybe having Watson take over the head coaching job so he can entice some of his former teammates to sign with the Suns was the team's plans all along. Who knows.

[Qwigglez]

Get Phil Jackson over here now. He loves multi-dimensional SG's. He's coached the greatest.... MJ.... Kobe.... now it's Book.

[Saberestar]

“We wanted to simplify the offense and give him the ball at the elbow,” the coach said. “That’s the evolution of Devin Booker: finishing games at the elbow.

“LeBron (James), Kobe Bryant, old-school Brandon Roy — give him the ball at the elbow and let him just create it. He came back strong and hit an and-one.”

http://arizonasports.com/story/590736/suns-coach-evolution-of-devin-booker-continues/

Watson is giving big confidence to Booker and Len and he can put them on another level next season. I think he is gonna make the same with Warren too.

[Jarlaxle0204]

I like Watson and would like to see him get a two year contract to see what he could do with a full, healthy team. I'm sure he'll make some mistakes because he's a rookie coach but I like what I've seen from him so far and the team seems to have responded well to him.

[bwgood77]

I like Watson and would like to see him get a two year contract to see what he could do with a full, healthy team. I'm sure he'll make some mistakes because he's a rookie coach but I like what I've seen from him so far and the team seems to have responded well to him.

I'm starting to think he may actually get the job. We'll have to see who else interviews though.

[bigfoot]

I don't think an old school coach is gonna get it done unless they have championship pedigree. Thibs hasn't won anything. Karl is struggling in Sac-town. Horny couldn't reach these young kids. Gentry is not making a difference in New Orleans.

Watson actually makes sense, young black coach who is fresh out of the NBA. He's obviously connecting with the players even though they are winning only an occasional game. Sounds like the players want him back next year. Besides ... Sarver can get him on the cheap. Makes perfect sense now.

[DirtyDez]

I don't want to jump on the bandwagon quite yet.

[Blackification]

I don't think an old school coach is gonna get it done unless they have championship pedigree. Thibs hasn't won anything. Karl is struggling in Sac-town. Horny couldn't reach these young kids. Gentry is not making a difference in New Orleans.

Watson actually makes sense, young black coach who is fresh out of the NBA. He's obviously connecting with the players even though they are winning only an occasional game. Sounds like the players want him back next year. Besides ... Sarver can get him on the cheap. Makes perfect sense now.

Yup he definitely makes sense for a rebuilding young team. He has shown he knows the development of the young players is important

[blacksun]

I don't want to jump on the bandwagon quite yet.

What are your concerns?

[DirtyDez]

I don't want to jump on the bandwagon quite yet.

What are your concerns?

I don't have concerns im just not ready to anoint him Head Coach of the Future right this moment.