Run-n-Gun Officially Back!!!!!!

Mr. Sun · Post #1 » by **Mr. Sun** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:51 am

The Suns felt like they got their team back Monday afternoon when they practiced for the first time under interim coach Alvin Gentry.

With orders to return to a "breakneck pace," there were non-stop scrimmages with a five-second backcourt rule reinstalled. Talking and walking was gone. Running and gunning was in.

The session marked the return of an unabashed desire to push the tempo, one that remained after the addition of center Shaquille O'Neal last season. In their final 20 games last season, the Suns averaged 112.5 points and were 15-5.

[snip]
"This is a move we had to make in order to give our team the best chance for success," Kerr said.

To that end, the Suns were willing to swallow millions of dollars for Porter's three-year, guaranteed contact and a new head coach's deal despite the franchise's frail finances.

The Suns have lost a major sponsor, expect season-ticket sales to drop and project a $30 million loss for next season.
[snip]

Gentry returned the Suns to the practice style of D'Antoni, which was scrimmage-heavy to establish the conditioning and fast-break structure needed. They played two seven-minute games and a five-minute game.

"If you can survive that, the games never go that long without a break," Suns forward Matt Barnes said. "That first team looked really good. Steve looked great. Amaré looked great. This is what I came to Phoenix for, to be a part of a team that has this style."

Gentry talked to the team as the head coach on "a multi-week contract" and declared that to be the last team meeting he would have following a winter of fix-it gatherings for the unraveling squad.

"I don't know what else we can talk about, unless we start talking about what's going on in Afghanistan," said Gentry, who called his fourth head-coaching appointment "bittersweet."

He was an assistant to D'Antoni for four years but stayed in Phoenix for his family when D'Antoni went to New York to coach the Knicks. Talking to New York reporters Monday, D'Antoni joked that he did not feel vindicated.

"It's interesting, that's for sure," D'Antoni said. "But in this business, I don't think we're shocked at anything. It's tough. They had high expectations (and) didn't live up to them. Usually, something happens, a trade or a firing . . . (Gentry) is a great guy, and he'll step in and try to get them back on line."

Nash said the team has felt like the "weight of the world" has been on it for four months, starting with an awkward training camp under Porter.

For a day at least, the Suns felt freed but must turn around their season with consistency. They have not won more than three games in a row after win streaks of 11 (twice), 15 and 17 the previous two seasons.

"Considering the circumstances and what we've been through, he's probably the perfect person to take over at this time," forward Grant Hill said of Gentry. "We're going to get up and down, similar to what you saw last year. If we're going to go down, we're going to go down doing what we do and being who we are."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/ar ... r0217.html

Gorilla Warfare · Post #2 » by **Gorilla Warfare** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:02 am

Still not excited yet, but am very interested to see the game tomorrow.

baldy_pm · Post #3 » by **baldy_pm** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:05 am

Grant Hill said of Gentry. "We're going to get up and down, similar to what you saw last year. If we're going to go down, we're going to go down doing what we do and being who we are."

Now that is the way I want it to happen. Let Nash run it, and let the chips fall where they may. I would love to see them play like the team they are known for than to play in a system that sucks the life out of them.

Mr. Sun · Post #4 » by **Mr. Sun** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:08 am

Wonder if Alvin has plans to use Lopez?

What will our lineup look like tomorrow nite against clips without Rich?

Gorilla Warfare · Post #5 » by **Gorilla Warfare** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:14 am

Barbs gets the start, Dragic, Tucker, Dudley, and Amundson will play more too. RoLo is having knee issues so I dont think he can run back and forth just yet.

realsunsfan · Post #6 » by **realsunsfan** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:14 am

This is what I've been saying would happen for the last week !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pidi · Post #7 » by **pidi** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:26 am

so for the matter that this team can´t win crap it´s the right solution. you can´t win with a defensive minded coach like t. porter - so let the guys run and lose to san an in the first round.

Pistonsfanbase · Post #8 » by **Pistonsfanbase** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:28 am

LOL, back to run and gun with grant hill , shaq and steve nash?? You guys should call MJ out of retirment as well for this system to work kah kah kah kah kah kah

Mr. Sun · Post #9 » by **Mr. Sun** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:35 am

Pistonsfanbase wrote:LOL, back to run and gun with grant hill , shaq and steve nash?? You guys should call MJ out of retirment as well for this system to work kah kah kah kah kah kah

Eat our dust like you did in the last game with us.

harshey1388 · Post #10 » by **harshey1388** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:35 am

Pistonsfanbase wrote:LOL, back to run and gun with grant hill , shaq and steve nash?? You guys should call MJ out of retirment as well for this system to work kah kah kah kah kah kah

not too sure about the terms but isnt that called trolling?

sonic-ben · Post #11 » by **sonic-ben** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:08 am

so is SUNS going to trade Shaq

cavsfan_osiris · Post #12 » by **cavsfan_osiris** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:12 am

Good to see the Suns get back to what they do best. Nash, Amare and JRich are going to get off. We'll have to see how long it takes to shake the rust of though.

sunsfolife · Post #13 » by **sunsfolife** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:14 am

Im starting to get pumped about this team again!

NashtyNas · Post #14 » by **NashtyNas** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:15 am

Pistonsfanbase wrote:LOL, back to run and gun with grant hill , shaq and steve nash?? You guys should call MJ out of retirment as well for this system to work kah kah kah kah kah kah

I'm pretty sure we're in a much better position than your "team;" So if I were you, I'd shut up. Have fun sending 20million to Allen Iverson for destroying your whole team's chemistry, 14 to Sheed for putting up like 13-8, and nice job extending Hamilton to that RIDICULOUS deal. The only bright things about your franchise have to be Stuckey, Prince, Johnson and Maxiell, and the latter two haven't proved much yet, especially not Johnson, so have fun man

eastsidecrossover · Post #15 » by **eastsidecrossover** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:36 am

this is good news, but how is shaq going to react to this? Last year, he was not much of an option, and this year he was our go to guy for some reason. will he be fine not getting the ball as much? We need to play to our strengths. TP should be coach of this team in 2010-2011 season, not now.

Mr. Sun · Post #16 » by **Mr. Sun** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:47 am

sonic-ben wrote:so is SUNS going to trade Shaq

They could, but Shaq can fit right into a fast paced offense. The West the other nite was very fast paced with Shaq on the floor.

JohnVancouver · Post #17 » by **JohnVancouver** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:44 am

Mr. Sun wrote:
sonic-ben wrote:so is SUNS going to trade Shaq

They could, but Shaq can fit right into a faced paced offense. The West the other nite was very fast paced with Shaq on the floor.

--- I was interested in Matt's quote, "that;'s what I came here for" - I really thought he and Hill and others must have been choked because SSOL was a lot of fun for them.
I love the bit about going down doing what we do best - just let these guys play and do their best. That's all we ask, right?
If Gentry at least can give them a team D identity and plan, that's what we missed

thamadkant · Post #18 » by **thamadkant** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:10 am

In the end...

Kerr made the Marion trade to try to fix rebounding... it worked..

He brought in Porter because he believed D'Antoni cannot fulfil his plan to play defense..

but I think he finally realized that... the Suns doesnt have the type of players to implement that style..

D'Antoni knew it..

Kerr made a bad move... but I think this one... ironically, is not too bad.. its ironic since he is eating his words and admitting he was wrong... he thinks the team is better the way they were..

Also, I really liked Grant Hill's quote... go down the way they are... as opposed to going down the way they aren't... atleast the games are enjoyable... for the players and fans again.

Kerr should realize he cannot create the Spurs here without a Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Bowen and a defensive big who doesnt care about touching the ball in the offensive end... that team play with their heads as opposed with their instincts...

not saying the Suns aren't smart.. they are, but the Spurs are like chess pieces, smarter than they are skilled... the suns are more skilled than they are smarter...

-SDU- · Post #19 » by **-SDU-** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:18 am

i think kerr was right to try the defensive system, but it didnt work and credit to him for not being too stubborn to cut his losses and go back

fact is, our team is an offensive team, lets just embrace it and see how we go

to be honest, this team with matt barnes and Jrich added is more athletic and faster than the start of the season, it could really be a solid R&G team for sure

DaDragicShow · Post #20 » by **DaDragicShow** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:44 pm

Woohoo I'm looking forwards to tonight's game. Can't wait and see how Gentry wil make this team run.