Report: Porter Was Almost Fired Recently

The Diesel · Post #1 » by **The Diesel** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 4:26 am

Hey guys,

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported today that Porter was close to being fired recently until the win against the Hawks probably saved his job.

Here's part of the article followed by the link.

D'Antoni probably got out of Phoenix just in time; the Suns are an aging team with a bunch of grumpy veterans, including Steve Nash. It's just a matter of time before Porter, a good guy who deserves better, takes the fall. I've even heard that he came close to being removed until Phoenix won in Atlanta last week.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2009/02/suns-setting-on-dantonis-forme.html

Jdiddy701 · Post #2 » by **Jdiddy701** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 4:28 am

Well after losing to Bulls on Sat. Why not fire him now?

The Diesel · Post #3 » by **The Diesel** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 4:32 am

If we lose to the Kings, he HAS to be fired. It would be the worst loss of the season.

Mr. Sun · Post #4 » by **Mr. Sun** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 4:36 am

D'Antoni is doing such a great job in NY isn't he?

Phoenix Suns · Post #5 » by **Phoenix Suns** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 4:42 am

Maybe he will be tommorow.

Post #6 » by **rsavaj** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 6:45 am

Mr. Sun wrote:D'Antoni is doing such a great job in NY isn't he?

They're only four games off our pace, and he's doing it w/o a ridiculously stocked roster like ours.

The Diesel · Post #7 » by **The Diesel** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 6:53 am

It's a joke that a team with J-Rich/Nash/Shaq/Amare/Hill/Barbosa/Barnes is struggling THIS much.

Kerr screwed up by hiring Porter and it's time to admit his mistake and fire him.

Replace him with Flip Saunders or make Gentry the head-coach until the end of the season.

mkot · Post #8 » by **mkot** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 7:02 am

I don't believe this and this is coming from Frank Isola? One game, against the Hawks, should not be enough to save Porter the job. We're 7-8 in the month of January (3-7 the last 10 games), and that should be enough to get him canned. We got blown out in Boston, outmatched by NY, and embarrassed by Charlotte, and then all of the sudden we beat the Horford-less Hawks by 5 and Kerr is satisfied?? Not buying it.

If this is true, then Kerr is truly a moron like we all know he is.

JohnVancouver · Post #9 » by **JohnVancouver** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 7:11 am

mkot wrote:I don't believe this and this is coming from Frank Isola? One game, against the Hawks, should not be enough to save Porter the job. We're 7-8 in the month of January (3-7 the last 10 games), and that should be enough to get him canned. We got blown out in Boston, outmatched by NY, and embarrassed by Charlotte, and then all of the sudden we beat the Horford-less Hawks by 5 and Kerr is satisfied?? Not buying it.

If this is true, then Kerr is truly a moron like we all know he is.

--- If it's true, then at most all the win against ATL was was a stay of execution. I still doubt they'll fire Porter, just for $$$$$$$$ reasons. I'd be real happy to be wrong though.

Bring in a defensive coach and let Nash run the offense - I know he can;'t be a coach technically due to CBA rules

The Diesel · Post #10 » by **The Diesel** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 7:16 am

Bring in a defensive coach

Tom Thibodeau. (Who never even got interviewed for some reason)

BurningHeart · Post #11 » by **BurningHeart** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 7:25 am

I wish NBA teams had offensive and defensive coordinators.

The Diesel · Post #12 » by **The Diesel** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 7:41 am

Even Shaq said the time for excuses is over; Porter had game-film to watch from last season after Shaq came to Phoenix, he had a training camp and a pre-season to get this thing to together and he's failed miserably.

When he took the job, he said "This is a Championship contender" yet we are the # 8 seed and would have been the # 9 seed if the Utah Jazz hadn't suffered so many injuries.

I would love for someone to ask Kerr...

1) Can you name just ONE thing that made Porter more qualified for the job than Flip Saunders?

Flip has gone to the Conference Finals four times, coached the All-Star game twice, and knows how to deal with superstars having coached Kevin Garnett.

Flip would have commanded more respect than Porter. He would have been a better fit for this veteran team.

Porter would be a decent coach for a younger team, but not for this current team.

Post #13 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 8:30 am

I think Flip is a decent coach having taken the Pistons to the ECF all those times, but the issue surrounding his firing was communication with the Piston players and I think at the time of the interviewing Kerr wanted to stay clear of Flip mainly because of that.

But yeah I did say it before, Porter would be a nice coach for a young team since he brings a lot of discipline but for a veteran team, his resume just doesn't earn him respect.

tac45 · Post #14 » by **tac45** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 11:09 am

flip would be a relief.. goddamnit, just fire porter!

|||-Abaddon-||| · Post #15 » by **|||-Abaddon-|||** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 2:56 pm

I gotta go with JVG...

From a team defense perspective, there isnt a better coach....

Frank Lee · Post #16 » by **Frank Lee** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 3:25 pm

I have mentioned this before... and it is just my theory, for I have no connections, sources, inside info. But my crystal ballish belief is this head coaching position was not a very attractive one, due to Kerr-veball's armchairing, Sarver's bottomlining, and D'Ant's dismissing.

How does anyone really know if any of these 'other' coaches turned down the interview, knowing full well they did not want to work for a micromanaging, moneyfirst, amature front orfice ?

Who would mention it ?

You think Kerr'veball would publicly say, 'Hey, we wanted Flip, but he didn't return our calls' ?

Out of decency, I could see the declining coaches keeping mum too....

but you have to think, with in the coaching fraternity, who would not call D'Ant before dealing with these saboteurs. Perhaps a phone call to BC as well ? or Ivaroni ?

Wouldn't YOU want to know more about your employer ?

We got Porter because he was controllable. Kerr hand plucked him to join his band of YES men.

TXSun · Post #17 » by **TXSun** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 3:39 pm

It's Monday, is Porter fired already?

Gorilla Warfare · Post #18 » by **Gorilla Warfare** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 6:13 pm

Suns have lost 7 of their last 10 games. If we lose to the Kings tonight then consider someone gone, whether it be player or coach. Someone has to go, there needs to be some shake up in this team. Hopefully my Sixers trade I posted in the Trade Thread happens!!

JohnVancouver · Post #19 » by **JohnVancouver** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 6:31 pm

The Diesel wrote:
Bring in a defensive coach

Tom Thibodeau. (Who never even got interviewed for some reason)

---- I know, I know (pounding head against wall)
Couldn't believe it. If a defensive coach was hired on the understanding that we've assemebled a team that is not great defensively, individually unlikely to ever be, and you jopb is to devise a defensive plan that minimizes deficiencies.
Damn ... and leave the offense alone

JohnVancouver · Post #20 » by **JohnVancouver** » Mon Feb 2, 2009 6:34 pm

Get Nashty wrote:Suns have lost 7 of their last 10 games. If we lose to the Kings tonight then consider someone gone, whether it be player or coach. Someone has to go, there needs to be some shake up in this team. Hopefully my Sixers trade I posted in the Trade Thread happens!!

--- I can't believe I am half-hoping the Suns get creamed tonight, just so we get this over with and something good can happen.
Unlikely as that is ...

What's the worst move Kerr could make right now?

PS - link to a fans crystal ball predicitons:

http://phoenix.fanster.com/2009/02/01/a ... stal-ball/