Earl Watson named interim head coach

[lilfishi22]

I don't want to jump on the bandwagon quite yet.

What are your concerns?

I don't have concerns im just not ready to anoint him Head Coach of the Future right this moment.

+1

A lot of this sounds like the same narrative as when Hornacek first got the role. So I'm sceptical

[saintEscaton]

Watson isn't much of a an Xs and Os down to the nitty gritty basketball mind. He sounds like a church pastor during his pressers, he's doing an admirable job raising the spirits but he seems to be a friendlier Lidnsey Hunter. Has no pedigree or credentials to be a serious candidate, but its not like we are gunna be flooded with applicants t fill this vacancy. Wouldn't mind having him stay aboard in some capacity he connects with the players

[DRK]

Watson isn't much of a an Xs and Os down to the nitty gritty basketball mind. He sounds like a church pastor during his pressers, he's doing an admirable job raising the spirits but he seems to be a friendlier Lidnsey Hunter. Has no pedigree or credentials to be a serious candidate, but its not like we are gunna be flooded with applicant o fill this vacancy. Wouldn't mind having him stay aboard i nsome capacity he connects with the players

Disagree. The offence certainly has changed since Watson came here. He preaches ball movement, and most of his sets have a big man at the top of the key facilitating parts of the play, (Which is something Ive wanted us to implement in the team for years.) His sets get alot of high-low action going, which is reminiscent of the 2011 Grizzlies.

I like Watson. Hes had a hard job with this revolving door of players on this team, but I would not be against him having a full year here to show what he can do

[EJlover]

Just a quick note as I've only just found out that my favorite player is the head coach for the Suns. I've followed Earl since he was a freshman at UCLA and have always admired his tenacity, his passion, and his toughness. I've also seen how he's grown from that homesick kid who wasn't ever supposed to get off the bench (yet he was the first ever to start every game in a 4-year career at UCLA), to a guy who became a coach on the floor during his last few years in the league, and now to getting a chance to serve as head coach for an NBA team.

When watching him in Utah it literally seemed like the game slowed down a bit as he would direct the younger guys on the second unit into position, point out where they needed to be, and helped them excel. Not that he slowed down the game to waste time, but he was able to help the young guys develop in the games while he was playing the point. He's been a true student of the game most of his life, has fostered relationships with some of the greatest minds in the game, and has known many of the players in the league for years and years. He understands the game, he understands egos, and he understands that it's about the team, becoming solid men and citizens, not just basketball stars.

For those of you wondering why he would have been given the opportunity to coach at this point, this is the background, and there are a large number of people within the pro-basketball community that have felt for years that he would become a head coach in the future. If not a head coach I know he wanted to become Mayor of his hometown - maybe that will happen for him down the road after a nice long coaching career.

[MathiasPW]

Thank you for the Intel. We have mostly been well impressed with Watson, but partially because expectations were so low.
I am one who is willing to see what he can accomplish with a full roster and season.

[bwgood77]

Just a quick note as I've only just found out that my favorite player is the head coach for the Suns. I've followed Earl since he was a freshman at UCLA and have always admired his tenacity, his passion, and his toughness. I've also seen how he's grown from that homesick kid who wasn't ever supposed to get off the bench (yet he was the first ever to start every game in a 4-year career at UCLA), to a guy who became a coach on the floor during his last few years in the league, and now to getting a chance to serve as head coach for an NBA team.

When watching him in Utah it literally seemed like the game slowed down a bit as he would direct the younger guys on the second unit into position, point out where they needed to be, and helped them excel. Not that he slowed down the game to waste time, but he was able to help the young guys develop in the games while he was playing the point. He's been a true student of the game most of his life, has fostered relationships with some of the greatest minds in the game, and has known many of the players in the league for years and years. He understands the game, he understands egos, and he understands that it's about the team, becoming solid men and citizens, not just basketball stars.

For those of you wondering why he would have been given the opportunity to coach at this point, this is the background, and there are a large number of people within the pro-basketball community that have felt for years that he would become a head coach in the future. If not a head coach I know he wanted to become Mayor of his hometown - maybe that will happen for him down the road after a nice long coaching career.

Great post. I really wonder what our management's thoughts are on whether or not they will hire him as permanent head coach this summer. You almost sold me right there just with that post.

[King4Day]

I'd be surprised if Watson isn't made head coach permanently. I'm totally fine with it too

[carey]

I'd be surprised if Watson isn't made head coach permanently. I'm totally fine with it too

I'd be underwhelmed. I haven't seen anything to suggest that he can be an elite head coach. He is a good motivator & he does seem to instill confidence in some of the young guys but that is where his NBA level coaching skills seem to end. I'll say that it is possible he is doing as directed by management but there is no system/identity on offense & our crappy defense somehow got worse. The radio guys sure do love listening to him talk though. Doug & Wolf fawn over the guy.

[JayBenzy]

Jay Wright is "top choice" for Suns HC Job?

[gaspar]

Sigh. Sporting News and their "NBA sources".