Igor fired - New Coaching Search Discussion

Puff · Post #1 » by **Puff** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:13 am

Quite frankly, I hope not.

I have seen no improvement since the beginning of the season. Certainly there are roster issues but I think there is some pretty good talent on this team. I see no reason why this team keeps getting hammered night in night out.

I have no idea who would be a good replacement but unfortunately I do not think Igor is the answer. That is a shame because he appears to be a quality guy.

grumpysaddle · Post #2 » by **grumpysaddle** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:32 am

One shot from tonight's game of Koko was the epitome of "Oh no, what have I gotten myself into? I've made a huge mistake"

RaisingArizona · Post #3 » by **RaisingArizona** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:35 am

He won't be if we're serious about winning.

grumpysaddle · Post #4 » by **grumpysaddle** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:37 am

RaisingArizona wrote:He won't be if we're serious about winning.

So... he will be.

RaisingArizona · Post #5 » by **RaisingArizona** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:39 am

grumpysaddle wrote:
RaisingArizona wrote:He won't be if we're serious about winning.

So... he will be.

You're probably right.

TheLogician · Post #6 » by **TheLogician** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 6:13 am

Not sure anyone can win here until there's a culture change. If Sarver's not leaving he should at least give full control to a GM.

Mr Puddles · Post #7 » by **Mr Puddles** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:09 am

He better be our coach next year, we need some consistency in the coaching seat and Koko is good enough to move forward with. We've had 6 coaches in 8 years now - are we just incredibly unlucky with our hires or could the problem be that our front office hasn't been able to put together a team that's very good?

This team is playing a lot harder than last year, despite multiple injuries and playing 3 rookies in the starting line-up. We need a good veteran PG and a defensive minded PF. Today's loss in a large part because the Suns can't grab a rebound to safe their lives without Ayton out there.

Get Koko some quality players before throwing him under the bus.

Post #8 » by **bwgood77** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 8:00 am

Puff wrote:Quite frankly, I hope not.

I have seen no improvement since the beginning of the season. Certainly there are roster issues but I think there is some pretty good talent on this team. I see no reason why this team keeps getting hammered night in night out.

I have no idea who would be a good replacement but unfortunately I do not think Igor is the answer. That is a shame because he appears to be a quality guy.

What's up with your sig then that you made before we suffered a slew of injuries?

Things are finally looking up for our team.

It is fun to watch Suns basketball, 12 22 18.

Of course we are going to get our asses handed to us on the 2nd night of a b2b against a top team in the west without our 3 most efficient players and 2 centers. Our roster was poorly constructed to begin with without a starting level PG or PF, and now we are missing one of our 2 PGs, both centers and our 2nd leading scorer.

We were playing competitive in at least every other game until we lost our 2 centers. Beat Denver, nearly beat Toronto and Minnesota on the road if not for a couple of great last second shots and some Booker turnovers.

I won't be surprised if we hire a new coach because...Sarver...but if we do there will probably be more threads like this next year about that guy.

Saberestar · Post #9 » by **Saberestar** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:42 am

I think he will be because he is under contract for the next two seasons.

He is cheap and he does not create problems, so I think that Sarver loves him.

Personally I would be OK firing him IF Sarver/James Jones are serious about winning and they want to spend for real in a good experienced coach who can be available (like Budenholzer was last year).

Saberestar · Post #10 » by **Saberestar** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:56 am

BTW, I do not know why Jay Triano was not considered as a solid coach who was here making a decent job. He deserved another contract over a rookie coach IMO.

Triano has international experience as a National HC for Canada, was a HC before in the league and has been a Lead Assistant on multiple teams.

All the NBA talks good things about him and he is respected.

We ran a lot of good sets in the half court with him, specific plays for Booker and Warren, and he talked a lot with Jackson and changed his way of playing during his rookie season.

Our roster last year was EVEN WORSE than this season. And our record was better. Players played hard, but we were not good enough.

He was a better option than Kokoskov IMO and I do not know why we did not give him an extension, that would have created some stability.

I think people confuses sometimes Watson with Triano, and they are really different as a coachs. Not fair for Triano.

Archx · Post #11 » by **Archx** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 12:15 pm

I would first give him a proper roster to work with. He is starting 3 rookies, when was the last time that happened? Also this team basically has no bench aside from Oubre and Holmes. I don't understand what kind of miracles are you guys expecting?
Ayton is still developing, Booker is also still very young. I mean unless Jones gives him 2 superstars next season along with Booker&Ayton and they still fail to win at least 40 games, then yea you could think about replacing him. But it would have been insanely unfair to fire him after this season and will only show how unreliable this franchise is when it comes to stability and building up a culture.

sunsbg · Post #12 » by **sunsbg** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 1:49 pm

https://eu.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/01/23/kokoskov-suns-learning-each-other-growing-first-year-together/2652887002/

BobbieL · Post #13 » by **BobbieL** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 2:44 pm

Archx wrote:I would first give him a proper roster to work with. He is starting 3 rookies, when was the last time that happened? Also this team basically has no bench aside from Oubre and Holmes. I don't understand what kind of miracles are you guys expecting?
Ayton is still developing, Booker is also still very young. I mean unless Jones gives him 2 superstars next season along with Booker&Ayton and they still fail to win at least 40 games, then yea you could think about replacing him. But it would have been insanely unfair to fire him after this season and will only show how unreliable this franchise is when it comes to stability and building up a culture.

I use the Brett Brown comparison when talking about Kokoskov. First, I think they need to quit the Browns coaching carousel. Second, Igor needs better players. And Jones shouldn't wait until the summer. If he can find the right longer term fits - he should use the deadline and the Bucks pick, the 2nd rounder, maybe the 2019 1st with protections.

The team needs a PG - has needed one for a long time. Also needs a true 4. Ayton, Booker, Bridges - keepers. Everybody else, open for business.

sunsbg · Post #14 » by **sunsbg** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 2:45 pm

Archx wrote:I would first give him a proper roster to work with. He is starting 3 rookies, when was the last time that happened? Also this team basically has no bench aside from Oubre and Holmes. I don't understand what kind of miracles are you guys expecting?
Ayton is still developing, Booker is also still very young. I mean unless Jones gives him 2 superstars next season along with Booker&Ayton and they still fail to win at least 40 games, then yea you could think about replacing him. But it would have been insanely unfair to fire him after this season and will only show how unreliable this franchise is when it comes to stability and building up a culture.

I look at the Nuggets roster last night and can't find 4 superstars on it. At some point getting blown out by 37(20+ regularly) points should be on the coach too.

Also reading the quotes by Ayton in above article and based on what I have seen so far I doubt he knows how to use such offensively talented big man properly, which will be the key for his future as a coach on this team.

Big NBA Fan · Post #15 » by **Big NBA Fan** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:20 pm

Why would they make the mistake of passing on Budenholzer for a second time after they made a mistake passing on him (And Gentry) the first time in 2008 when they chose Terry Porter, only to fire him after 3 months when he alienated most of the locker-room.

Igor was one of the main assistants under Porter and Hunter; two of the worst coaches in Suns history.

Should have hired Budenholzer instead; a guy who makes adjustments to the players he has and coached under Popovich for several years.

Igor might still be good in the future, but I think Bud should have been the guy instead.

Archx · Post #16 » by **Archx** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:44 pm

sunsbg wrote:
Archx wrote:I would first give him a proper roster to work with. He is starting 3 rookies, when was the last time that happened? Also this team basically has no bench aside from Oubre and Holmes. I don't understand what kind of miracles are you guys expecting?
Ayton is still developing, Booker is also still very young. I mean unless Jones gives him 2 superstars next season along with Booker&Ayton and they still fail to win at least 40 games, then yea you could think about replacing him. But it would have been insanely unfair to fire him after this season and will only show how unreliable this franchise is when it comes to stability and building up a culture.

I look at the Nuggets roster last night and can't find 4 superstars on it. At some point getting blown out by 37(20+ regularly) points should be on the coach too.

Also reading the quotes by Ayton in above article and based on what I have seen so far I doubt he knows how to use such offensively talented big man properly, which will be the key for his future as a coach on this team.

But it's a pretty well rounded team with talented veterans and young players. Their bench is rock solid as well. They are this good for a reason. I'm not sure that it's fair comparing Suns and Nuggets

They remind me of LAC, no superstar and yet they have a well rounded roster so they are able to compete with anyone.

When it comes to Ayton, yea sure it is debatable if he is used properly. But before he got injured i felt like he was given more touches and freedom on offense. But i noticed that it's not easy to play with Booker either. Often he will go completely rogue and just do his thing. When it works it's awesome to watch but often it doesn't and then they come up short.

So i would still wait and see what Igor can do with an improved roster and a solid bench. I am pretty sure his rotations would look a lot better then.

Revived · Post #17 » by **Revived** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 4:05 pm

Big NBA Fan wrote:Why would they make the mistake of passing on Budenholzer for a second time after they made a mistake passing on him (And Gentry) the first time in 2008 when they chose Terry Porter, only to fire him after 3 months when he alienated most of the locker-room.

Igor was one of the main assistants under Porter and Hunter; two of the worst coaches in Suns history.

Should have hired Budenholzer instead; a guy who makes adjustments to the players he has and coached under Popovich for several years.

Igor might still be good in the future, but I think Bud should have been the guy instead.

I think most of us knew Budenholzer was a pipe dream because he would cost too much and Sarver has repeatedly shown that he does not believe in paying high compensation for coaches and front office staff.

The Suns of course leaked to the media that the reason they didn’t hire Budenholzer was because he wanted too much control which was a good narrative since he did have that in Atlanta so it would be somewhat believable.

RaisingArizona · Post #18 » by **RaisingArizona** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 4:07 pm

Consistency is nice but if he's the wrong guy, we need to move on sooner than later. Don't compound the mistake. Get someone with real head coaching experience in the NBA.

Saberestar · Post #19 » by **Saberestar** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 4:58 pm

Big NBA Fan wrote:Why would they make the mistake of passing on Budenholzer for a second time after they made a mistake passing on him (And Gentry) the first time in 2008 when they chose Terry Porter, only to fire him after 3 months when he alienated most of the locker-room.

Igor was one of the main assistants under Porter and Hunter; two of the worst coaches in Suns history.

Should have hired Budenholzer instead; a guy who makes adjustments to the players he has and coached under Popovich for several years.

Igor might still be good in the future, but I think Bud should have been the guy instead.

Budenholzer probably wanted power to make decisions and a way bigger salary than Kokoskov.

But well, at the end of the day it is all about salary.

bigfoot · Post #20 » by **bigfoot** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 6:01 pm

Of course he should our coach. It's absolutely stupid to get rid of him after one season when McD brought in 4 rookies and no veteran PG. Should Kenny Atkinson have been fired after only 20 wins in his first year??? Should he have been fired after 28 wins in his second year?

The real question is should James Jones continue on as the GM with his inability to find a PG? He has one week to figure it out or I imagine he is done.