reflections
May 12th, 2008 Kerr to Balance Suns’ Plan of Attack

Steve Kerr
By: Dustin Chapman

Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic reports that Suns General Manager Steve Kerr will not completely change the style of the Phoenix Suns this summer.

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.

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