Amare Rips Porter!

[The Diesel]

Hey guys,

Amare talked to the media today and had some harsh words towards Terry Porter.

Here's what he said:

It wasn't easy to play this year," Stoudemire said. "I worked on so many aspects [of my game] this last summer, until when I came back this year and Terry Porter wouldn't allow me to do it."

Stoudemire plans to continue working on different areas in his game and hopes interim-coach Alvin Gentry or the new coach will allow him to implement that into his game.

The Suns have had three coaches in the past 12 months and Stoudemire compared them all, giving Gentry the highest praise.

"Mike [D'Antoni] was a quiet guy and then you bring in Terry Porter a guy who was ... a little more bold as far as his way or the highway, wasn't really accepting what we thought would work or try to implement what we thought would work, and then you bring in Alvin who is a guy who was definitely a player coach," Stoudemire said.

http://www.ktar.com/sports/?nid=21&sid=1122922

Your thoughts?

I don't blame Amare for being angry towards Porter...Porter turned him into a role player!

[MaryvalesFinest]

I'm probally going to be the only guy defending Porter but he got the short end of the stick. Nothing is wrong with his coaching ability, he had the right idea it was just the wrong group of players. When you have guys like Nash, Barbosa, Amundson, Amare, Richardson, etc that can never be a lockdown defensive team.

The players were complaining about fun, the fans were complaining about fun. The problem is fun doesn't cut it in the playoffs, look at those late 90's Heat and Knicks team. Some people consider them the most boring to watch because they would grind it out and end in 70 point games but that's how the game of basketball is supposed to be played. As long as the Suns have Nash I'm not expecting anything until they get serious about playing defense...

[Vernon Maxwell]

he isn't really ripping on him. he's just saying he isn't really a player's coach and does things his own way.

[The Diesel]

I would say blaming him for his lack of production is definitely ripping him.

Let's agree to disagree about whether he was ripping him or not, but he definitely took some shots at him.

[VanWest82]

I'm probally going to be the only guy defending Porter but he got the short end of the stick. Nothing is wrong with his coaching ability, he had the right idea it was just the wrong group of players. When you have guys like Nash, Barbosa, Amundson, Amare, Richardson, etc that can never be a lockdown defensive team.

The players were complaining about fun, the fans were complaining about fun. The problem is fun doesn't cut it in the playoffs, look at those late 90's Heat and Knicks team. Some people consider them the most boring to watch because they would grind it out and end in 70 point games but that's how the game of basketball is supposed to be played. As long as the Suns have Nash I'm not expecting anything until they get serious about playing defense...

History has proven that you can win in the playoffs with a starting point guard who plays below average D. First, Nash has reached the conference finals twice. Do you really think he was that much better of a defender three years ago?

I don't believe Derek Fisher to be any better of a defender than Nash, nor do I believe this years' version of the Lakers to be an exceptional defensive team on par with the Knicks or the heat of the late 90's. Does that mean they're doomed in the playoffs?

Surround Nash with better, more versatile defenders at the 2 and 3, and Phoenix is back to being a playoff team and even potential contender.

BTW, Porter wasn't a very good coach. Any coach who puts his own ideals ahead of the best interests of his team deserves to be fired. We all know Nash is a subpar defender. So why did Porter routinely have Nash guard the other teams' best ball handler on a night to night basis (with exception of Lebron, Kobe, Wade who are undeniably their respective teams' best ball handlers)???

[VanWest82]

Amare references working on certain aspects of his game that Porter wouldn't let him use in game situations. He's a PF. Does anyone really think he added another post move, or worked on PnR D, or his rebounding, or added a dribble drive pull up, and Porter wouldn't let him use it?

I submit he worked all summer on adding three point range. How clueless is this guy? I wouldn't let him shoot one either! It's as though everyone but Amare can see the weaknesses in his game but him.

Maybe he worked on running the point for when Nash rests...

[Inconspicuous]

Amare references working on certain aspects of his game that Porter wouldn't let him use in game situations. He's a PF. Does anyone really think he added another post move, or worked on PnR D, or his rebounding, or added a dribble drive pull up, and Porter wouldn't let him use it?

I submit he worked all summer on adding three point range. How clueless is this guy? I wouldn't let him shoot one either! It's as though everyone but Amare can see the weaknesses in his game but him.

Maybe he worked on running the point for when Nash rests...

exactly. amare still doesn't get that the only way for him to reach that lebron/kobe/wade level is to play great on BOTH ends of the court. if i was alvin gentry i'd let him shoot as many 3s as he wants if he were to improve his defense and rebounding. this guy doesn't get it

[garrick]

I would actually let him shoot a couple three's a game because he definitely has the ability to make them.
Also on the fast break he is a decent passer when he handles the ball so maybe that is one aspect of his game he was working on, now if he could work on some back to the basket moves that would be terrific.

[The Diesel]

He also said had Gentry been coach from the beginning and he didn't get injured, the team would have made the playoffs.

[rsavaj]

So Amare wants the coach to be his best friend. Got it.

[TXSun]

we can agree and disagree on many things here, but the one thing where many of us could agree is that if Alvin was the coach the whole entire season, the PHX Suns would have made the playoffs, no doubt.

[SunsFever]

I would actually let him shoot a couple three's a game because he definitely has the ability to make them.
Also on the fast break he is a decent passer when he handles the ball so maybe that is one aspect of his game he was working on, now if he could work on some back to the basket moves that would be terrific.

who cares about threes! listen... the guy is a PF, this isn't what hw should be focusing on. i totally agree with the guys who say that amare is too "old" to change his ways. he had so much success playing no defense, that he is not gonna change. also he's just one of the spoiled athletes. if he had JUST one fair look at himself he would try and change that(playing hard on the defense, getting after rebounds ect).

he isn't really ripping on him. he's just saying he isn't really a player's coach and does things his own way.

I would say blaming him for his lack of production is definitely ripping him.

Let's agree to disagree about whether he was ripping him or not, but he definitely took some shots at him.

he's ripping him.

coach is there to coach and players are there to play and be coached. thats it. now i would agree that his approach probably wasnt the right one, but still.. i think all players revolted on him... sign of times i guess

[garrick]

Porter just isn't a good coach, if Kerr were smart he probably would have taken into consideration the fact that Porter wasn't given the head coaching job in Detroit.
I don't blame the players for not supporting Porter because quite frankly the man isn't meant to be a head coach.

[eastsidecrossover]

You know, mary made somewhat of a good point. This was the wrong team to bring in a guy that is head strong and more controlling and requires practice and playing D. It was the wrong time to try something like this and that is on Kerr.

Amare is still one of the best PF in the game. However, no one is lock down defenders in the nba anymore. Amare still shows glimpse of some bball IQ on the defensive side, but is really inconsistence and comes once a month if we are lucky. What I would like for him to do is shut up and show it on the court.

Porter did limit this team and you know what, they were a worst defensive team then they were under MD. I remember last year everyone bagging on MD and this team saying we need a defensive type of coach in here. Well, we got it and it failed miserable. Porter did not coach to his players abilities (amare and nash) and did not do that well of a job. He got the short end of the stick, but he was the wrong hire.

Now to the fact that Amare can’t change is just dumb. Kobe was a horrible leader, especially after shaq left, but he has got better and is now a true floor and team leader. I don’t think Amare can do that, but I think he can mature and maybe someone who he respects needs to put him in his place to realize his weaknesses and what he is doing. I don’t know who that is, but the dude needed a father, a real coach such as “college” to teach him aspects of the game and being responsible and a man.

[WTFsunsFTW]

All I remember about Porter is:

Trying Hack-a-Bowen and it failing miserably.
Playing zone against 3pt shooting teams (warriors, orlando) and it failing miserably.
Claiming Kelena Akiubuke(sp) wasn't a 3 point threat when he had the highest % in the league at the time.
Removing the run-n-gun offense and it failing miserably.
Leading the league in turnovers.
Off court and in-game drama with the players.
Defaulting to throwing it into shaq instead of it being a plan B.
Incomprehensible public speaking.
Having to trade long time suns players due to irreconcilable differences.
Forcing a new offense on the number 1 offense in the league (and in history)
Demanding a complete role reversal from a group of people he didn't bother gaining the respect of first.


But yeah, MVF had some good points....

Those are facts that have nothing to do with a bad situation - those are simply bad tactics. He didnt get the short end of the stick, he couldnt even grab the stick because he was so incompetent.

Kerr hired a bad coach. Yes, Kerr is at fault, but a bad coach is still a bad coach.

[junot111]

Amare references working on certain aspects of his game that Porter wouldn't let him use in game situations. He's a PF. Does anyone really think he added another post move, or worked on PnR D, or his rebounding, or added a dribble drive pull up, and Porter wouldn't let him use it?

I submit he worked all summer on adding three point range. How clueless is this guy? I wouldn't let him shoot one either! It's as though everyone but Amare can see the weaknesses in his game but him.

Maybe he worked on running the point for when Nash rests...

That's exactly what I was thinking. I knew in the summer he was working on his 3pter, and I'm not sure but I think I remember it being mentioned in the olympics, due to the shorter range in the international 3. This is likely what he was trying to do, and being brought in to make this a defensive team I'm sure Porter said nay, maybe even scolded Amare a little bit, telling him to work on his defense instead.

[TXSun]

I think 90% of the team ripped Porter at one point or another. he must of really sucked in the lockerroom. never heard of these many players not liking their coach, it's usually 1or 2 players but c'mon, this was the majority of the team complaining about Porter. How could Kerr not see this. Porter is out, now we need Kerr out.

[The Diesel]

Kerr was on the radio recently and said he was disappointed in Amare's comments about Porter saying it was unfair to blame Porter for everything.

Kerr also admitted "I've made mistakes," and that everybody deserves some of the blame for this season.

I wonder what mistakes he was referring to...(He didn't specifically mention any moves)

[Miklo]

Kerr also admitted "I've made mistakes,"

HE SPEAKETH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


By the way, what's everyone's favorite Porter moment?

Mine's definitely when he said (was it Azubuike??) doesn't shoot 3's

[The Diesel]

By the way, what's everyone's favorite Porter moment?

Mine's definitely when he said (was it Azubuike??) doesn't shoot 3's

I always laugh when I remember that.

Porter was just a bad fit for this team.

He did a decent job in Milwaukee and would be a good coach for a young team that would fit his system, but Kerr was an absolute idiot to think that Porter's system would be a good fit for this team.

Who knows, maybe Porter becomes a head coach again and does a great job, but this was just the wrong fit for his system.