Chris Sheridan: Porter On The Hot Seat?

[The Diesel]

Hey guys,

Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com wrote a column today after Wittman's firing naming some of the coaches who might be in trouble and Porter's name came-up.

Are Terry Porter and Michael Curry, who moved into the big chairs in Phoenix and Detroit, respectively, after serving as Pistons assistant coaches last season, in trouble already?

OK, maybe it's a reach to include either of these first-year guys in a hot-seat list column, but the Suns and Pistons are accustomed to winning a lot more than we've seen lately from these two teams.

The changeover in Phoenix from Mike D'Antoni's offensively-oriented system to Porter's defensive-minded schemes is running into resistance from certain corners of the Suns locker room, something that has been well documented at ESPN.com (click here and here). One plugged-in, rival assistant coach described the Suns as "a bad mix and not on the same page."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=HotSeat-081208

Seems that Porter isn't in trouble just yet, but could be VERY soon.

Let's face it, it's a joke that a team with this much talent (Hill, Barnes, Shaq, Amare, Nash, Diaw, Barbosa) wouldn't make the playoffs if the season ended today.

The blame must go on the coaching staff.

[rsavaj]

He's done a terrible job so far, especially since his main focus was supposed to be defense, an area in which we've gotten much, much worse.

He let us do our thing on offense last game, but our defense almost cost us the win.

[MaryvalesFinest]

If Porter is let go I wonder who the Suns will hire?

[rsavaj]

If Porter is let go I wonder who the Suns will hire?

They should just hire a defensive specialist type of coach(Tom T for Boston) and let Nash orchestrate the offense.

If he's let go, they'll either A)promote Gentry, B)hire someone from the outside(Iavaroni when he's let go, Jordan, Mitchell, Van Gundy, Hubie, etc.), or C)Kerr will man up and coach his own mess.

[The Diesel]

If Porter is fired, I think Gentry gets the job. He has Head-Coaching experience, was D'Antoni's lead assistant, and is well-liked by the players.

I was really surprised that he never got an interview for the job after Mike D left.

I feel bad for him because he stayed thinking the team was still a contender and declined an opportunity to join D'Antoni because of that.

This team might not even make the playoffs the way they are playing under Porter so far.

[rsavaj]

If Porter is fired, I think Gentry gets the job. He has Head-Coaching experience, was D'Antoni's lead assistant, and is well-liked by the players.

I was really surprised that he never got an interview for the job after Mike D left.

I feel bad for him because he stayed thinking the team was still a contender and declined an opportunity to join D'Antoni because of that.

This team might not even make the playoffs the way they are playing under Porter so far.

I talked to Gentry this summer. He sounded a little wistful that Mike was gone, but repeatedly told me that he "didn't like the weather" in New York, lol

[pidi]

C)Kerr will man up and coach his own mess.
no, not kerr... everyone but not kerr.

i think that we givr porter this season and wait what happens... hope some good things happen, harhar

[Frank Lee]

What makes anyone think that coaching the Suns is an attractive job ?

I think we have Porter for the duration...and it will be the grumblers that are gone. And as long as the focus remains on Terry, the heat is removed from Kerr...

[Purple Palace]

Like it matters if we fire Porter or not. We're not going to win it all if we have an interim coach, and beyond this season, this team is screwed.

[toucansma]

What about Marc Iavaroni if/when he is fired? Would it be different with a club with talent?

[eastsidecrossover]

I actually hope he is let go. I do not think he can lead this team to the playoffs. his D sucks and he is finialy relizing how to use our players on O, well kind of.

[rsavaj]

What about Marc Iavaroni if/when he is fired? Would it be different with a club with talent?

I always thought Iavaroni would be great, but he's been turrible in Memphis. Maybe his "Spurs on Skateboards" philosophy can work here though.....

[NashtyNas]

I'd love Iavaroni as an option here, but what I find more intriguing is the option to have Eddie Jordan. He's a no nonsense guy, and his princeton offense is very valuable. I like him as a HC for the Suns.

[Togo]

Bring me Rudy T, as Coach.....and GM.

[lilfishi22]

Not a big fan of the coach/GM role. I think it's better for the coach to just concentrate on coaching and asking the GM for a player in a certain position rather than going out himself to look for one. Players signed by coach/GM's tend to be players who make an impact on a very short term ie Banks, entire NYK, whereas GM normally hires with the future in mind.

The way things are going, I think Kerr will let Porter ride it out even if we don't make playoffs (sigh*) because it's unlikely we'd get into the playoffs with an interim coach or a brand new coach when we're already so many games into the season.

It's a sad situation for us right now.

[Mr. Sun]

I told ya so! We needed Micheal Cooper, not a golf buddy of Kerr.

[tsherkin]

Eddie Jordan = bad choice.

His offense is pointless, the Suns know how to score, and he's about as tits-useless on D as it gets. He is also extraordinarily fond of playing small ball, forcing Haywood and Blatche to the bench when playing them more minutes was the sensible choice (especially since Haywood is the only significant defender on that team aside from Caron Butler).

Eddie Jordan is a fantastic assistant but not a good head coach.

I wouldn't sign a defensive specialist either, not unless you consider an off-season more towards Budenholzer a "defensive specialist."

Realistically, I agree with the Gentry sentiment and MAN am I getting miffed at Porter...

[mkot]

Fire Porter ASAP PLEASE

It takes him 20 games (+ the whole pre-season and full training camp) to realize that we need to run. And that's just one game where Shaq was in foul trouble and he was FORCED to throw out a faster and smaller lineup so I can't give him full credit. How would he fair in a playoff series where making adjustments is key? He STILL hasn't figure out how to make a sub during quarters!! He will get out-coached by Jackson, Popivich, Bryon Scott and so on. He isn't creative with his coaching, and is too slow to react to anything. I'm afraid we will get swept if we get there.

This guy gives me no hope.

And I have no faith in Kerr right now. I think Kerr will keep his buddy/puppet here.

[The Diesel]

Fire Porter ASAP PLEASE

It takes him 20 games (+ the whole pre-season and full training camp) to realize that we need to run. And that's just one game where Shaq was in foul trouble and he was FORCED to throw out a faster and smaller lineup so I can't give him full credit. How would he fair in a playoff series where making adjustments is key? He STILL hasn't figure out how to make a sub during quarters!! He will get out-coached by Jackson, Popivich, Bryon Scott and so on. He isn't creative with his coaching, and is too slow to react to anything. I'm afraid we will get swept if we get there.

This guy gives me no hope.

And I have no faith in Kerr right now. I think Kerr will keep his buddy/puppet here.

Great post. I agree with everything you said.

I also think this is why they should trade Shaq; he hurts this team when he's out there because the game slows down too much and this team - as many of the players have said - should run as much as possible.

Porter would get himself fired if they traded Shaq and STILL didn't let the team play an up-tempo style.

As bad as he's been so far, I can't imagine him being THAT dumb if he wouldn't let the team play up-tempo if Shaq is traded.

It's time to trade Shaq and get rid of his horrible contract.

He doesn't fit in with this team.

[nevetsov]

Hell, give Ced Ceballos a shot. If he coaches the way he played, then we'd be scoring 200 points a night.

He never played an ounce of D, which is fine because neither do we