Mike D’Antoni, I’ve come to praise you - before the Mavericks bury you.
Although I’m sure that if that does happen it will not come without one hell of a fight.
You sir, are the best coach in the NBA this year.
I know, Mike D. won it last year after improving his team from 29 wins to 62, and this year he has "only" 54 wins. Yes, Avery Johnson has done a fantastic job demanding – and getting – an enhanced defensive commitment from his team. Johnson has pushed Dirk Nowitzki to become a more complete player. These changes have the Mavs on the brink of their first trip to the NBA Finals. That and his rather colorful-sounding interviews could have made Avery the subject of this column.
But for me, Avery is The Man Sitting Next To The Man.
This season, Mike D’Antoni is The Man, no matter what happens to the Suns from this point on. You won’t read much here about the amazing Steve Nash, because first, much has already been written about him, and two, this is a true team led by an amazing coach. Read on, and understand why.
The Revolutionary and The Purists
It can’t be easy to stick to your guns in a league that has demanded conformity:
“Only physical teams win in the playoffs.”
“You can’t win running…”
(I guess those people missed the Showtime Lakers)
“Steve Nash makes this team”
(Those same people often say in the next breath, “Nash is a product of the system." And last year, Nash was only MVP because of Amare Stoudemire. Would someone make up their minds?)
Yet, every night, the Suns come out and run. They run off of made shots. They run off of misses. They run whenever they damn well please. And if the primary fast break isn’t there, no problem. Their secondary break (with the power forward and/or center flying down court after the initial break is stopped, generating a quick shot before the defense can fully get set) is by far the most lethal in basketball. If that thrust is blunted, then their half court sets begin, with a relentless stream of screen and rolls initiated by back-to-back MVP Steve Nash.
In 2004-05, this strategy was derided as a gimmick, at least until Nash and All-NBA forward Amare Stoudemire led the team to the Western Conference Finals before falling to eventual champion San Antonio. Amare averaged 37 points a game in the series, with a 45 point, 12 rebound exclamation point on Tim Duncan in Game 5.
This season, pundits and so-called purists assured us that the league would catch up to the Suns. Mix in the loss of Stoudemire to microfracture surgery and disaster loomed. Surely the Suns, Nash, and that harebrained “system” of theirs would be exposed.
The results? The Suns win 54 games, the Pacific Division title, and were first in the league in scoring at 108.36, field goal percentage (.479), 3-point percentage (.399), and assists.
Transition and Adjustment
All of this with eight new players. Three new starters. Quinton Richardson (traded for Kurt Thomas) gone. Joe Johnson? Gone. Amare gone for all but three games. Thomas, their best post defender, missing 28 games (and most of the playoffs) due to a broken foot. Tough sixth man Jim Jackson let go. And the Suns rolled on.
Give a huge assist to departed GM Brian Colangelo, who in a sign and trade for Johnson, snagged draft picks and a seldom used “bust” named Boris Diaw, a 20 year old native of France who got the dreaded “soft” label. (Hmm, wouldn’t being described as French AND soft be just a tad bit of overkill?)
Imagine Dallas without Dirk AND Stackhouse or Josh Howard all season. (I know what you’re thinking; going without Eric Dampier may be an improvement. Avery Johnson agrees with you at times.) Try Miami without Shaq or Wade. We're talking a FEMA-style disaster. The Suns lost their best player and their fourth best player, work in three new starters, and are still part of the NBA Final Four. That's good talent and great coaching.
Play Your Best Five
Besides the revolutionary style, the D’Antoni showed a striking trait that really stands out amongst his coaching brethren: He plays his best five players.
Let me say that again, with a bit of elaboration: He plays his best five players without regard to height and convention.
Common wisdom says “You can’t teach height.” D’Antoni believes, “A great small(er) man will beat an average or mediocre bigger man.” In 2005, the 6-9 Stoudemire spent most of the year at center against his wishes with 6-8 small forward Shawn Marion at power forward. After losing Thomas to a stress fracture, the D’Antoni started the 6-8 220 pound Diaw as a point center next to Marion. And it has worked.
To be sure, every Suns opponent has tried to exploit this so-called weakness. Problem is, in a league where the NBA is forced to put power forwards at center for All-Star games anyway, the Suns simply decided to ignore the temptation of acquiring and playing a large stiff at center.
Instead of going big for its own sake, as many of his colleagues have, D’Antoni decided he rather have some talent out on the court, regardless of size. What a novel concept.
Something about The System
As was mentioned earlier, Boris Diaw couldn’t get run on a 16-win team last year. Recently acquired Tim Thomas has spent a good part of his career on the NBA All-Living Heart Donor team. Third year guard Leandro Barbosa was erratic.
So 3D goes out and wins Most Improved Player. Playing point-center unseen since Magic Johnson; he often initiates the half-court offense when Nash can’t. In the playoffs, Diaw has shown an inside game that features moves that so-called ‘legitimate’ big men do not possess, Exhibit A being his game-winning basket in Game 1 of the conference finals. D’Antoni has coaxed Barbosa to elevating his game, becoming more confident with his drives to the hoop and dishes to the open man. While standing just 6-3, his amazing 7-0 wingspan allows him to finish over taller players with regularity. Tim Thomas, signed late in the season after Chicago inexplicably found him useless, uses his 6-10 frame inside to provide some low post defense and scoring, while also stepping outside to nail clutch jumpers, as the Lakers can attest to in Game Six of their series.
And Raja Bell, the Suns big free agent signing? Bell was typecast as a solid perimeter defender with inconsistent offense. Phoenix signed him to a 25 million dollar free agent contract, and it proved to be a bargain. Besides his defense and toughness, Bell had a career season on offense, ranking third in the NBA in 3-pointers made (197), and fourth in 3-point percentage (.442). He came back from his Kobe takedown to average 19 points and shot 51% against the Clippers in the conference semi-finals.
A Throwback Team/Hip Hop Game
Despite appearances, true Old School fans should love the Suns. The same fans and experts who pine for the NBA Golden Age of the 80’s forget that teams routinely averaged 100 points per game, just like Phoenix. The Suns always make the extra pass just the way purists want it. Watch a Suns game and note how many times Nash will drive and kick to an open man for a three, with that player making yet another pass to an even more open teammate for the three?
Or try this scenario: Nash or Diaw pass to a three point shooter. Defender closes on the shooter, who calmly fakes the defender, steps inside the close-out to nail the midrange jumper. How many times have we heard that the midrange game was dead?
Diaw and Marion showing crazy textbook low post skills against bigger players. I think the word is called fundamentals. And the Suns led the NBA in free throw percentage at .806
In other words, they don’t miss open opportunities.
Finally, even the loudest detractor must acknowledge the grit of this team. This isn’t a team of pretty boys who fold under pressure. To get this far with the injuries they have endured. Run 48 minutes a night, every night, deep into the playoffs with aseven man rotation, speaks to the immense heart of this team. To make adjustments and win two seven game series and fight Dallas every night while being at a distinct size disadvantage? Sheer grit. It starts at the top.
If this was Cleveland, San Antonio, or Miami doing this, the so-called experts would point to their blue-collar approach to the game. Phoenix is just as worthy.
It’s past time this TEAM gets the credit due them, and it starts with the man on the bench.
So what do you think about his stubborn unwillingness to make any adjustments? What about his philosophy that his team can win by just outshooting the other team? Why don't you wait to declare him the best coach in the NBA when he actually wins a championship with his running style. Then, there might be some credibility to your arguments.
Dr. - Very well done. Regardless of if folks agree on your assesment, your work here in this post and for this assignment should not be overlooked. You brought it all to the table with passion. Thumbs Up!
So if he hasn't made any adjustments, why are the Suns where they are now?
Losing Amare and Kurt after 58 games required adjustments by it's very nature.
Adjustments have been made:
When the Suns fell behind 3-1 to the Lakers, you think they didn't make adjustments? Think they didn't make any against the Mavs and the Clippers? Or is your idea of "adjustment" is to walk the ball up the court and dump it into Shaq?
Oh, that's right - he don't play for the Suns (bad English intentional)...
I knew people would say "Let 'em win a title." I see 28 teams at home, I think that is a hell of a validation.
Last edited by DrMidnight on June 2nd at 10:15 AM.
Dr.Midnight I know little about your proclaimed "Best Damn Coach in the NBA", but after reading our post, I can see what type of coach he is.
And that's the whole point of your entry.
I've always been one for the obscure player or coach who is solid and not one to jump on the band-wagon of those players who have been blessed with heighth or professional team-family genes.
So, as evidence that D'Antoni made adjustments to his scheme, you're going to cite evidence that the Suns played well despite losing Amare and Kurt? Isn't that circular reasoning? (i.e., because the Suns won, D'Antoni must have made adjustments). How about u point me to some in-game adjustments that he makes to validate your proclamation that he's the best coach in the NBA? Maybe the scheme is just perfectly suited to Steve Nash, and with that scheme and Nash, D'Antoni is guaranteed 50 wins as long as the role players are good shooters. But, again, let's see him win a championship with the scheme before declaring him the best coach in the NBA. Or, you could point out some genius coaching adjustments that he's made. As is, I don't think u make a very good case.
DrMidnight, I enjoyed the post, but it read more like a regular newsprint article than a post on Mike D'Antoni's being "THE BEST DAMN COACH" (nice title by the way).
You consistently went in and out of voice (person), and from the middle of the piece down, you talked more about the Suns players, i.e., Diaw, Nash, etc., than D'Antoni.
I would have made this a "blaze of glory" piece set against the backdrop of the evolution of D'Antoni's style by tracing it back to his glory day's as the best player in Italian basketball history.
I'll tell you what, Doc. I actually enjoyed your retort to Chrispi even more than your article. Someone should pick his face up off the floor cause you just owned his face off, lol.
hey i was just going to say that, that was a good coloum and by the way i also want to praise you becouse i am a vikings fan also and you should do a coloum on them since they have a lot to talk about........
Crispy, when I read your posts and those of like-minded people, I understand what it must have been like to be a T-formation advocate back when the NFL was running the single wing. But I ain't mad atcha. :-)
Check any of Charlie Rosen's articles for starters. As much as he hates what the Suns (or any team that doesn't pound and grind as much as he likes) stands for, he give credit where it is due. The Suns will make tweaks (such as starting the screen/roll on a given side of the court as opposed to the center) that a savvy fan like you should easily see.
Other changes were starting Tim Thomas against the Clippers, and freeing Marion from guarding Elton Brand. There are others, but I'll bet that a smart guy like you without an agenda can pick up on them.
Look, I'm a *Lakers* fan. But I can appreicate what Phoenix has done the last couple of years - you can't. When that offense is clicking, it is beautiful to watch. It took guts to put it in and stick with it. And for it to thrive without a legit 25/10 guy like Amare should give you pause.
How good can this team be NINE deep instead of 7?
Oh, and as for Stevie Franchise - he's damned good, but if Chris Paul, J-Kidd, Cassell, Livingston, Arenas, Billups, or Kirk Hinrich was in this offense, they'd kick some tail too.
D'Antoni played in Italy. The European game places more value on multi-skilled players, such as bigs with shooting range and general perimeter skills. More offense is initated in the high post. In this country, we want a 6-10 or taller guy in the box, and to stay in the post. Certainly coaches reflect that.
I wanted not to make my post too long, else I would have added that link. Barbosa, Nash, and Diaw all are from outside the US, and no doubt Mike D's links to international ball have rubbed off.
I'm a fan of people who are willing to break a paradigm. The Suns and Mavs are trying that. I wish them well, because the NBA needs it.
Thanks for the feedback. Would Ralph W. have liked this a little better?
I admire Mike D's philospohy, but I'm not quite ready to put him in the "great" category. He's developed players who were underutilized in previous franchises, he's made Phoenix a desirable location for any free-agent, and he's definitely a player's coach.
However, anyway you look at it, this current team owes much of its success to Nash. Just like a fast horse needs a great jockey, without Nash, this team would not win more than 30 games. Second, this team is too up-and-down for my liking. Come on, they should have beaten the Fakers in 5. And it took an unbelievably dumb Dunleavy mistake(substituting Ewing on Bell) and a super-clutch shot from Bell for them to barely move past the Clippers.
This is an entertaining and gritty team. Not a great team. I would say the same for D'Antoni.
Hear, hear! Last year, I thought maybe D'Antoni won the award simply because of the best record, although going from 29 wins to 62 is also quite a feat, indeed. But this year, I thought doing what he did without over half the roster from last year would definitely get him the award. Nice job, Dr. (My comment to Chrispi's senseless drivel he posted about last night's game might amuse you. It sure did me). Re: Your earlier comments "savvy fan like you" and "smart fan without an agenda"; priceless.
Good points and article, however I have two main problems with the Suns (and I like them a lot, I would like to see them in the finals in the future)
1) A 7 man rotation does not give enough rest. 8, 9, and 10 should at least get some garbage 4-6 minutes per game. Fourth quarters are different when the starters and 6th men (two, let's say) have more energy, ESPECIALLY if they are running!
2) They shot well at the line but didn't go to the line enough.
It's strange that the running game is an oddity. It was the standard mode of attack back as late as the early 80's. I wonder why that changed? The Bird Celtics and their half court offense?
Dr. Mid, you scribbled some great stuff here, made some compelling comparisons and delivered the goods on the coach and why you like him. Why should you have to defend a personally stated preference at all? People should offer their alternative preference and why rather than just attack you for yours.
When I saw the title I said to myself "oh Gawd, another Riley or Jackson kiss-#### piece. I was very relieved to see it wasn't them. I think he was the best coach in the NBA too. They lost to Dallas tonight and fell short again, but this guy will have them back again next year with a healthy Amare.
Great post Dr. Although my initial reaction when I started reading your post was "no way this guy's the best coach," I found myself unable to find a way to argue against most of your contentions. Great piece and best of luck with the judging tomorrow.
Dr. Midnight, U pointed out some matchup adjustments that D'Antoni has made, and it's true that he tweaks the pick-and-roll to keep other teams off balance. But the problem with his scheme was on full display on Saturday night. Running can get u a big lead when the shots are falling, but the style ignores the importance of defensive stops. And when a running team concentrates on defense, it gets out of synch offensively because the players aren't used to a slowed-down game. A truly great coach can utilize multiple schemes and adjust to the nuances of the opposition. Avery did that three times in the playoffs against the Grizzlies, Spurs, and Suns. And the lineup that finished off the Suns hadn't been used in the playoffs until then, which caused matchup fits for D'Antoni.
I like Nate McMillan, but I think we'll soon find out how great Avery Johnson will be, over the next few years. I'm picking the Heat to win the title though.
I don't think you're being fair Chrispi. Avery has his full roster at his disposal, so he's able to switch styles, which is to his credit.
His big adjustment was Josh Howard on Nash - Howard missed 10 games in mid-season, and the Mavs struggled.
If the Suns had Kurt Thomas and Amare, they can feed the low post once in a while. They can play better and more consistent half-court. What you avoid is, how in the heck would the Suns play slowdown with the guys they had?
Oh, and last year with a healthy Amare, they dusted the Mavs in 6. Considering how close they came without Thomas, Amare, and a hobbled Bell, I wouldn't bet against them next year. I would expect that the Suns will go out and look for a decent low-post defender, and possibly a point guard who can give Nash a real rest (unless Barbosa continues to improve).
This may be the Western Finals matchup again in '07
Great to see you through to the next round, Dr. I'm ready for that next assignment already! Get some rest tonight, if you're like me, you won't get much the rest of the week. Congratulations!
G.H. Brooks (aka "Dr. Midnight" to his loyal fan base) is a 2-time Next Great Sportswriter (NGS) Finalist. One would think that bringing game like that would net me *something* - a cool icon to mark my site, some love from Fox Sports, cash, but noooo... :-)
I'm broadcasting live from New York City after a hiatus from the blogging scene, takes on life, sports, and whatever passing thoughts are shooting through my head. The good and bad ..passionate, logical, and on point.
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