Igor fired - New Coaching Search Discussion

[lilfishi22]

Igor will be the coach next season for a few reasons

1. Consistency at the HC position is desperately needed and unless the players have completely tuned him out, I think he should stay on to at least teach our young guys how to play in an NBA system

2. The roster is filled with soon-to-be's but nothing right now. It's unbalanced, it's full of question marks and no one playing heavy minutes has actually been on a winning team and knows how to play

3. For all of Igor's fault, no matter who's in that coaching position, the Sun's HC will have been set up to fail because of this front office/ownership. At the very least, we should give Igor the leeway to try and coach this team his way and win or lose his way.

4. He's obviously under contract and he's cheap, good for Sarver

[Puff]

Well he may or may not be the second coming but Len played really well last year. Ayton has mostly been carved up on defense. Chandler and Len did far more in that regard. He's still a rookie.

But the main thing is you had a bunch of other western teams tanking the last few years and this year there are really no bad WC teams...they were basically all in the playoff race until maybe Memphis just started to drop out.

I am tired of the excuses. This will be the 9th straight year not in the playoffs. It seems that we are getting further away every year while other teams are showing life.

How in the world did Sacramento get better than us?

What decade will we next make the playoffs?

It is time our $158 Million man and our Cyborg Center start leading this team to some victories. I believe most of us would have been happy with 30 wins this year but less than 20 is unacceptable. I seldom even watch them anymore. I expect I have a lot of company.

Some of this has to be blamed on our coach. I think more than most are giving him credit for.

I actually did not know much about him, when we hired him. You can see why he won in Europe with what Doncic is doing. He needed Doncic. Doncic did not and does not need him.

Doncic wasn't even that great then, though of course for his age he was, being like 17 going against pros and Porzingis, Gasols, etc, but of course. Igor does better with talent.

McD simply hasn't really amassed much talent through years of tanking, taking Len, Bender, Chriss, Jackson in the top 8...and now Ayton #1. Ayton's alright, but certainly a big work in process and a rookie.

He just doesn't have much to work with.

Our best player has league average efficiency on offense and plays no defense. When that is your best player you are not going to do well, especially when half your rotation are rookies or fringe NBA guys.

Do you want to fire the coach every year?

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

[bwgood77]

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

You are wrong. He didn't play for Koko last year. He played for Koko for their national team in 2017 for a few weeks in eurocup with Dragic and they knocked out a bunch of power houses. Dragic was their best player.

D'Antoni is doing well with Houston.

[lilfishi22]

I am tired of the excuses. This will be the 9th straight year not in the playoffs. It seems that we are getting further away every year while other teams are showing life.

How in the world did Sacramento get better than us?

What decade will we next make the playoffs?

It is time our $158 Million man and our Cyborg Center start leading this team to some victories. I believe most of us would have been happy with 30 wins this year but less than 20 is unacceptable. I seldom even watch them anymore. I expect I have a lot of company.

Some of this has to be blamed on our coach. I think more than most are giving him credit for.

I actually did not know much about him, when we hired him. You can see why he won in Europe with what Doncic is doing. He needed Doncic. Doncic did not and does not need him.

Doncic wasn't even that great then, though of course for his age he was, being like 17 going against pros and Porzingis, Gasols, etc, but of course. Igor does better with talent.

McD simply hasn't really amassed much talent through years of tanking, taking Len, Bender, Chriss, Jackson in the top 8...and now Ayton #1. Ayton's alright, but certainly a big work in process and a rookie.

He just doesn't have much to work with.

Our best player has league average efficiency on offense and plays no defense. When that is your best player you are not going to do well, especially when half your rotation are rookies or fringe NBA guys.

Do you want to fire the coach every year?

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

Igor hasn't proven to be some transcendent or transformational coach that I wished he was. But he's been fine given what he's had to work with. The issue is, if you didn't hire him then who do you hire instead and realistically what more could they have done with this roster? How many coaches can legitimately run an offense without a single NBA level PG in the rotation? How many coaches can legitimately create a winning situation with 3 rookies in the starting line up?

I mentioned this before, the Thunder won 23 games with a 2nd year Durant (who was already better than Booker), a productive rookie Westbrook, Jeff Green and a bunch of experienced players. They had 82 years of NBA experienced combined on that roster + 4 rookies. We have a combined 56 years of NBA experienced (for which Crawford accounts for 18 of that and a guy that doesn't play accounts for 10) on our current roster with 5 rookies.

[bwgood77]

Doncic wasn't even that great then, though of course for his age he was, being like 17 going against pros and Porzingis, Gasols, etc, but of course. Igor does better with talent.

McD simply hasn't really amassed much talent through years of tanking, taking Len, Bender, Chriss, Jackson in the top 8...and now Ayton #1. Ayton's alright, but certainly a big work in process and a rookie.

He just doesn't have much to work with.

Our best player has league average efficiency on offense and plays no defense. When that is your best player you are not going to do well, especially when half your rotation are rookies or fringe NBA guys.

Do you want to fire the coach every year?

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

Igor hasn't proven to be some transcendent or transformational coach that I wished he was. But he's been fine given what he's had to work with. The issue is, if you didn't hire him then who do you hire instead and realistically what more could they have done with this roster? How many coaches can legitimately run an offense without a single NBA level PG in the rotation? How many coaches can legitimately create a winning situation with 3 rookies in the starting line up?

I mentioned this before, the Thunder won 23 games with a 2nd year Durant (who was already better than Booker), a productive rookie Westbrook, Jeff Green and a bunch of experienced players. They had 82 years of NBA experienced combined on that roster + 4 rookies. We have a combined 56 years of NBA experienced on our current roster with 5 rookies.

Even D'Antoni when he took over the team went 21-40 and he had Amare, Marion, Joe Johnson, Barbosa and then Marbury/Hardaway for 13 games and McDyess for about 24 games...plus a lot of other vets and young guys.

That's a lot more talent. Sometimes a first time coach might not thrive immediately, like Brett Brown, Scott Brooks, or even Popovich, who went 17-47 his first year with the Spurs. He wasn't relying on rookies either..he had Sean Elliott, Dominique Wilkins, Avery Johnson, Vinny Del Negro, Vernon Maxwell, etc.

[TheLogician]

What coach would come here if Sarver fires Igor (a longtime assistant) in year one? He's not going to hire someone who wants more control and/or money so our options are limited.

[Puff]

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

You are wrong. He didn't play for Koko last year. He played for Koko for their national team in 2017 for a few weeks in eurocup with Dragic and they knocked out a bunch of power houses. Dragic was their best player.

D'Antoni is doing well with Houston.

Remember, he wasn't fired, he wanted out. If Sarver would have fired him he would have had to pay him. He left on his own accord, cough, cough. That is after the Knicks gave him a big contract. Then the moron in New York decided to keep Melo rather than Mike.

Sarver should have hired Mike back when he had a chance to. That was the year that Houston hired him. I expect our record would be a whole lot different and we would have been a whole lot more fun to watch, win or lose. Even with this crap roster.

Coaching is a factor. Mike has always made players better. Even, Kobe's numbers improved with Mike, prior to getting injured.

[WeekapaugGroove]

He's certainly been dealt a bad roster but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a good coach. I don't know. But this is the kind of season that can get a guy run after just one year. I'd guess him and Jones get a year to figure some **** out but who knows with this franchise.

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[darmani]

Hiring this meager idiot was by far the biggest McD's mistake.

[Fo-Real]

Hiring this meager idiot was by far the biggest McD's mistake.

WOAH!!

[BobbieL]

Doncic wasn't even that great then, though of course for his age he was, being like 17 going against pros and Porzingis, Gasols, etc, but of course. Igor does better with talent.

McD simply hasn't really amassed much talent through years of tanking, taking Len, Bender, Chriss, Jackson in the top 8...and now Ayton #1. Ayton's alright, but certainly a big work in process and a rookie.

He just doesn't have much to work with.

Our best player has league average efficiency on offense and plays no defense. When that is your best player you are not going to do well, especially when half your rotation are rookies or fringe NBA guys.

Do you want to fire the coach every year?

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

Igor hasn't proven to be some transcendent or transformational coach that I wished he was. But he's been fine given what he's had to work with. The issue is, if you didn't hire him then who do you hire instead and realistically what more could they have done with this roster? How many coaches can legitimately run an offense without a single NBA level PG in the rotation? How many coaches can legitimately create a winning situation with 3 rookies in the starting line up?

I mentioned this before, the Thunder won 23 games with a 2nd year Durant (who was already better than Booker), a productive rookie Westbrook, Jeff Green and a bunch of experienced players. They had 82 years of NBA experienced combined on that roster + 4 rookies. We have a combined 56 years of NBA experienced (for which Crawford accounts for 18 of that and a guy that doesn't play accounts for 10) on our current roster with 5 rookies.

I think your second paragraph is pretty telling about the roster. I again, blame this on McD. Well Sarver for not firing McD in the first place but McD not getting more experience on the roster. In fact, its much younger than last year and I don't count Anderson and Crawford. I say give Koko another chance but he and James need to really fix this roster.

[lilfishi22]

If we keep hiring coaches with no background in winning and they do not improve the play on the court. Yes, fire them every year.

What has Koko really done to make you think things are going to get better anytime soon? I need to be enlightened. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse. I like coaches we a little fire in their belly.

What coach did we fire that we should have kept?

The problem is not that we fired these guys. The problem is that we hired them in the first place. Which one of the coaches we fired is thriving elsewhere?

Doncic was pretty freaking good last year, while playing for Koko. He was Koko's most important player, or am I wrong.

Igor hasn't proven to be some transcendent or transformational coach that I wished he was. But he's been fine given what he's had to work with. The issue is, if you didn't hire him then who do you hire instead and realistically what more could they have done with this roster? How many coaches can legitimately run an offense without a single NBA level PG in the rotation? How many coaches can legitimately create a winning situation with 3 rookies in the starting line up?

I mentioned this before, the Thunder won 23 games with a 2nd year Durant (who was already better than Booker), a productive rookie Westbrook, Jeff Green and a bunch of experienced players. They had 82 years of NBA experienced combined on that roster + 4 rookies. We have a combined 56 years of NBA experienced (for which Crawford accounts for 18 of that and a guy that doesn't play accounts for 10) on our current roster with 5 rookies.

I think your second paragraph is pretty telling about the roster. I again, blame this on McD. Well Sarver for not firing McD in the first place but McD not getting more experience on the roster. In fact, its much younger than last year and I don't count Anderson and Crawford. I say give Koko another chance but he and James need to really fix this roster.

I completely agree. Igor needs an opportunity to work with a halfway decent roster before he should be judged. Jones has A LOT of work to do to balance out this roster

[lilfishi22]

He's certainly been dealt a bad roster but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a good coach. I don't know. But this is the kind of season that can get a guy run after just one year. I'd guess him and Jones get a year to figure some **** out but who knows with this franchise.

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Doesn't mean he's a bad coach either. I just don't think he's been given a real chance yet to prove one way or the other. If we have a more balanced roster and he still doesn't do much with the roster then sure, he should get fired. But until then, firing him will just continue to vicious cycle of instability and lack of structure while not really addressing the problem of the roster

[mikea7]

Give this team a real PG. Igor was/is known for his acumen in player development. It's hard to showcase that in like 4 months without a PG who can help distribute and everyone playing out of position.

Let's see who, including Igor, makes the leap in progress in their second years. Plenty of time to fire him if we must. He isn't hardly ruining the culture or our players--that's roster construction and FO. At times, with everyone healthy, they've actually been fun to watch.

[WeekapaugGroove]

He's certainly been dealt a bad roster but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a good coach. I don't know. But this is the kind of season that can get a guy run after just one year. I'd guess him and Jones get a year to figure some **** out but who knows with this franchise.

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Doesn't mean he's a bad coach either. I just don't think he's been given a real chance yet to prove one way or the other. If we have a more balanced roster and he still doesn't do much with the roster then sure, he should get fired. But until then, firing him will just continue to vicious cycle of instability and lack of structure while not really addressing the problem of the roster

Oh I absolutely agree. He might be a great coach, it's just really hard to judge given the poop sandwich that mcd served him.

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[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Give this team a real PG. Igor was/is known for his acumen in player development. It's hard to showcase that in like 4 months without a PG who can help distribute and everyone playing out of position.

Let's see who, including Igor, makes the leap in progress in their second years. Plenty of time to fire him if we must. He isn't hardly ruining the culture or our players--that's roster construction and FO. At times, with everyone healthy, they've actually been fun to watch.

That little road stretch where we were active defensively and getting out in the open court was great. Having some success defensively makes me particularly hopeful, because it's easy to be confident that Ayton and Booker will be tough to stop in future years. Mikal, Elie, Melton and even Dragan (fwiw) are developing for sure. TJ and Holmes are having their best seasons. Oubre's thrived since his arrival.

I'm good with Igor.

[Scutt]

My biggest gripe with Koko has been his use of Ayton on the offensive end, or rather lack thereof. He has really been a mixed bag in that the Suns have had some really bad blowouts, but they have also been really competitive against good teams, despite the injuries and lack of starting PG.

I fully expect to see Ayton have a much larger role in the offense next year, or I will unable to support Igor. I don't want to have the development of our #1 pick stifled because the Suns do not want the bad press of making another coaching change. Igor, like most rookies, needs to improve and make some adjustments.

[bwgood77]

My biggest gripe with Koko has been his use of Ayton on the offensive end, or rather lack thereof. He has really been a mixed bag in that the Suns have had some really bad blowouts, but they have also been really competitive against good teams, despite the injuries and lack of starting PG.

I fully expect to see Ayton have a much larger role in the offense next year, or I will unable to support Igor. I don't want to have the development of our #1 pick stifled because the Suns do not want the bad press of making another coaching change. Igor, like most rookies, needs to improve and make some adjustments.

He certainly wants people to get the ball to Ayton...talks about it often in post game...also wants to Ayton to go get it...to get in position, to roll hard. This will come with time. Main thing is we need a PG who can properly run the pick n roll and Ayton needs to be able to roll hard to the rim...and better at establishing post position. It will improve. He is already averaging far more points than any other rookie big at 16.4 ppg.

[lilfishi22]

My biggest gripe with Koko has been his use of Ayton on the offensive end, or rather lack thereof. He has really been a mixed bag in that the Suns have had some really bad blowouts, but they have also been really competitive against good teams, despite the injuries and lack of starting PG.

I fully expect to see Ayton have a much larger role in the offense next year, or I will unable to support Igor. I don't want to have the development of our #1 pick stifled because the Suns do not want the bad press of making another coaching change. Igor, like most rookies, needs to improve and make some adjustments.

Igor mentioned this was part of the plan. Basically to keep things as simple as possible on the offense while working him on D. Igor believes in Ayton's offensive development so Igor's not focused on that in Ayton's rookie season. I think this offseason is when he'll start to really work on Ayton's offensive abilities

[nerazzurri10]

I think firing Igor at this stage or at the end of the season would be utterly stupid.

Igor is the only guy in the Suns management who has had any success in his past managerial career at basketball. I'm not talking about James Jones who has had success in his career as a player because it has nothing to do with him being a good GM.

2 years minimum for Igor, I'd say even 3 years.

With this franchise's poor management for the last 8 years, sucking another coach would not do any good for us.