SBNation.com User Blog: da suns

Robert Sarver is the boss.

da suns — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:43:06 -0000

The Buck starts and stops with him

He hires hundreds of employees in his various enterprises. I assume that he has also learned how to reward or remove under performing employees.

Do the top executives of the club deserve raises or new contracts based on their performance of the last two years? Isn't the tandem of Kerr and Griffin responsible for the original Shaq trade and for hiring Terry Porter? Are these the same executives who simply gave Shaq away while the team was forced to eat expiring contracts to the tune of over 11 million dollars? Does that type of management deserve a raise? Get real. If you or I performed so poorly we would count ourselves lucky to keep our job. You wouldn't find me asking for a raise. I would feel that I owed a debt to the employer.

Kerr apparently did not feel that he should accept a new contract with no increase. He apparently has other options and can rejoin TNT and do game commentary. He may be the next Mike Fratello; jumping between television and management/coaching from time to time without distinguishing himself in either field.

Kerr was a rookie GM when Sarver hired him. Sarver overpaid Kerr for his initial contract probably because Kerr could make that amount or more continuing to work as a TV commentator. I do not have special knowledge.

We all observed and commented upon the rookie mistakes Steve Kerr heaped upon us. His draft choices have been mediocre at best. We have suffered through the Steve Kerr learning curve and now he has chosen to take his act elsewhere. May he enjoy his next gig with TNT.

The Phoenix Suns Inc. are simply a business that needs to be run efficiently. This year's version was a very exciting collection of overachievers both young and old. The team had a GREAT season and a chance to make the Finals. They fell a few points short. Only one team wins the last game of the Season. It wasn't our Suns.

I do not think that the Team will be overly affected by the loss of Kerr and Griffin. Alvin Gentry has proven himself to be a very calming influence on his younger players and the veterans know their job and they know that it is a business that is based on performance.

Mr. Saver will fill the open positions with capable people. The Suns will be better run in the very near future. No one or two employees are irreplacable. There are many executives around the league who will be inquiring about these job openings.

As fans we appreciate the status quo when the team is doing well. The fact remains that the Suns team of recent years has not made the Finals. The team has been minus one or two key ingredients each and every year. Give a great deal of credit to the coaches and players of this year. They overachieved, they were a real TEAM and they entertained us all year.

Fourth Seed Is Possible But At What Price

da suns — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:49:45 -0000

With 16 games left on their schedule and with 5 days of rest under their belts The Suns are about to embark on their final push for the highest possible seed. A realistic look tells us that a fourth seed is about the best the team could hope to achieve.

The top six teams are all winning at well above a 60% rate. Barring any sort of collapse by the Utah Jazz and assuming they maintain their present winning percentage, The Jazz will win 54 or 55 games. To have a chance at a fourth seed, the Suns will have to win at least 15 of their final 16 and probably will have to win out because the Jazz have the tie break.

Could the Jazz stumble? Sure, it could happen. Is it likely? I think not. The Jazz are playing really well and they are relatively healthy. They appear to have a fair chance to catch Denver and finish as the third seed.

What would it cost the Suns in terms of energy and physical breakdown to try and win their last 16 games? Is this even any sort of realistic goal? Is there any team in any sport that could actually function under that load of pressure?

We all do our best when we play or work 'in the moment'. So called 'clutch players or teams' are simply those who perform to their usual standard in pressure situations. (Bill Ellias has proven this in baseball).

I hope that the Suns will simply approach each of their last 16 games just like they have approached every game since the All Star break. There is no "must win 16 in a row" pressure on this team. If Denver or Utah suddenly shift into reverse and come back below the Suns, we'll take it.

Hopefully, The Suns can enter the playoffs in a relaxed and healthy state. So often in the past, the team has gone into the post season physically spent and injured.

Unique Opportunity for the Suns

da suns — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:38:48 -0000

At this point in the season there is a rare opportunity to pick up a former MVP and league scoring champ. It is a risky proposition but Allen Iverson is sitting at home waiting for a call. Could an organization like the Suns handle AI well enough so that he would not be a distraction? Is AI now willing to be the back up point, 6TH man, instant offense guy that the Suns need? Surely he and his agent have gotten the message that he will have to adjust his expectations if he would like to catch on with an NBA team. This man is very much in need of a friend and an organization like the Suns.

I think the Suns organization is strong enough and Alvin Gentry is patient enough to handle Allen and turn him into a wonderful asset for the team. He can probably be added for about a million dollar salary.