By: Dustin Chapman

The names under consideration to replace Mike D’Antoni will be familiar because they will be people with NBA experience (coaching or playing) who fit Phoenix’s uptempo style.

But the crop of candidates also will surprise people, according to Kerr.

“I don’t think anybody has a clue,” he said. “I have my list.”

He first has to discover who is interested and available. Some are unaffiliated, but most of the candidates he is considering are under contracts. That includes some who are with playoff teams, which also could delay the process.

“There are definitely some assistant coaches out there who are still in the playoffs that are interesting,” Kerr said.

He is not naming names, so identifying assistants on his list is pure conjecture. The assistants generating the most buzz are Boston’s Tom Thibodeau and Detroit’s Michael Curry, but both are defensive-minded coaches, and Kerr is not looking for a drastic change in the Suns’ style.

There are three former Suns players who are assistants on Western Conference playoff teams - the Lakers’ Kurt Rambis, Utah’s Tyrone Corbin and New Orleans’ Kenny Gattison.

Former Suns players and coaches Paul Silas, Paul Westphal, Vinny Del Negro, Eddie Johnson and Lionel Hollins also have surfaced in speculation.

“I don’t want to do a 180 and all of a sudden try to turn us into something we’re not,” Kerr said. “I still want us to maintain our identity as an uptempo team. I’d like to expand that and be more balanced and add some defensive emphasis, but not at the expense of who we are.

“I want someone who’s good with the media and communicates well with players and fans. Someone with a strong presence.”

This is the exact approach Kerr needs to take. Trying to completely re-organize Phoenix’s style would put extra unnecessary pressure on the team and put them completely out of whack. They need to do exactly what Kerr eluded to in the quotes above: work on balancing their system and put more of a defensive emphasis on their attack. It’ll be interesting to what coach/players they bring in, because this group doesn’t have much time left before their opportunity to win falls apart. Time is ticking.

By: Dustin Chapman

Mike D’Antoni deserves a great deal of credit for coaching the highest-powered offense the NBA has seen in the past four years. His .650 winning percentage as the Phoenix Suns’ head coach is admirable, especially in the tough battlefield otherwise known as the Western Conference.

The postseason, however, is where teams are defined. It’s where weaknesses are exposed, mismatches are attacked, and where coaching is best evaluated in pressure situations. Phoenix’s flaws, mainly on the defensive end, have been exploited year after year in the playoffs, which is why D’Antoni has never managed to lead the Suns to the NBA Finals.

It is apparent that D’Antoni is a one-dimensional coach who is only successful when running a full-throttle system that predicates its gameplan on running and trying to outscore the opposition. Clearly, outscoring the opponent the name of the game. Obviously, whichever team has scored the most points at the end of the game will come out as winners. The problem with Mike D’Antoni’s philosophies is that his teams have annually been unable to stop the opposing team from scoring. This weakness has become more glaring during postseason play, due to the tempo of playoff games being more even-keeled and slowed down.

That brings me to my next point - D’Antoni does a poor job of making adjustments. Phoenix has had more than enough talent for D’Antoni to instruct halfcourt execution, especially considering the fact that his point guard Steve Nash will go down as one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history.
It is profoundly visible that D’Antoni is a one-dimensional head coach. He may be better suited as an offensive assistant or even the mastermind behind an Italian powerhouse, but a head coach that can lead a team to the promised land? That’s tough to see.

Recent reports suggest that Mike D’Antoni is on his way out of town, and has been given permission by the Phoenix Suns to discuss alternative options with other NBA franchises. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, specifically, have been talked about has possible destinations.

Assuming all of that transpires and Mike D’Antoni’s days in Phoenix have come to a close, it is certain that Phoenix needs to retool their situation. First and foremost, Steve Kerr needs to replace D’Antoni with an established defensive mind that can help the Suns take a big step in the right direction before it’s too late. Tom Thibodeau could be an interesting alternative, as he has coached a top ten defense in 12 of his 15 years in the NBA.

In addition, Phoenix needs to improve their bench and make sure they enter the 2009 NBA playoffs with more depth to count on. In doing so, the players that are brought in need to make a steady impact on the defensive side of the ball. Phoenix has more than enough offensive firepower, but not nearly enough to count on defensively.

It’s time to bring in a no-nonsense defensive mind, fill out the roster, create a brand new identity, and make one last run at the ultimate goal - a championship.