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Coach Alvin Gentry and point guard Steve Nash talk strategy in the fourth quarter of a 119-115 victory over Philadelphia on Monday. Nash had 21 points and 20 assists. (Howard Smith / US Presswire / November 10, 2009) |
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The cellphone rang and on the other end was an excited voice.
His team had just hung the first loss of the season on the Celtics and in Boston, no less. His team had also just dropped 110 points on the Celtics, who hadn't given up more than 90 points in a game all season.
And here was Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry trying to hide his excitement, trying to be cool.
"Yeah, that was a big win for us," Gentry said last Saturday, a day after his Suns defeated the Celtics. "But let me tell you something. Boston is a very good team. We're not in their class. We're not in the same class as the Lakers or San Antonio."
Whatever, Alvin.
He laughed hard, with that infectious laugh.
Gentry has the Suns back playing that fun, exciting, up-tempo offense again. His Suns are tied with the Celtics for the best record in the NBA at 7-1.
His Suns lead the NBA in scoring (110.87), field-goal percentage (50.2.1%) and three-point shooting (47.1).
"We're back to basically doing what we did," said Gentry, referring to the seven seconds or less offense the Suns ran under former Phoenix Coach Mike D'Antoni. "We put in a couple of spins that I thought would help our team personally. But for the most part, we're doing what we did."
Gentry still allows his players to take quick but good shots. He has given point guard Steve Nash complete autonomy to run the offense, and Gentry simplified everything on offense and defense.
Gentry has been the head coach in Miami, Detroit and for the Clippers. He was named interim coach with the Suns in February after Terry Porter was fired. Gentry was given a two-year, $3.7 million contract by the Suns, who hold the option for the third year.
Along the way, Gentry has learned a lot from mentors such as Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly.
"Chuck Daly told me a long time ago. He said, 'Alvin, ask these guys how they want to do certain things,' " Gentry said. "If it's all your ideas and it doesn't work, then they'll say, 'I don't know why we're doing this.' But he said if they say, 'Yeah, let's take that play this way,' they've got to do it. It's their idea. So I've never kind of forgotten that. So now they have to be accountable."
He's also gotten Amare Stoudemire to buy into what the Suns want to do. The acquisition of Channing Frye at center has helped because he steps out and shoots three-pointers, thereby opening up the middle.
And Nash, 35, has been great. He leads the NBA in assists (12.9) and is shooting 52.5% from the field, 48.6% from three-point range. "They can say whatever they want about him losing a step, and he probably has," Gentry said. "But that little [guy] is a big-time competitor. He's made every big shot that we've asked him to make."
The Suns visit the Lakers on Thursday at Staples Center. It'll be a nice little early-season showdown.
"We've got much bigger fish to fry than the Lakers," Gentry said. "We're trying to get back in the playoffs. They're trying to win a championship. We're trying to establish who we were."
Scott in trouble?
Is this end of the road for Coach Byron Scott in New Orleans? If it is, he's not too worried about it.
Scott's in the final year of a contract that pays him $5.5 million, and the Hornets haven't talked about giving him an extension.
His team had just hung the first loss of the season on the Celtics and in Boston, no less. His team had also just dropped 110 points on the Celtics, who hadn't given up more than 90 points in a game all season.
And here was Phoenix Suns Coach Alvin Gentry trying to hide his excitement, trying to be cool.
"Yeah, that was a big win for us," Gentry said last Saturday, a day after his Suns defeated the Celtics. "But let me tell you something. Boston is a very good team. We're not in their class. We're not in the same class as the Lakers or San Antonio."
Whatever, Alvin.
He laughed hard, with that infectious laugh.
Gentry has the Suns back playing that fun, exciting, up-tempo offense again. His Suns are tied with the Celtics for the best record in the NBA at 7-1.
His Suns lead the NBA in scoring (110.87), field-goal percentage (50.2.1%) and three-point shooting (47.1).
"We're back to basically doing what we did," said Gentry, referring to the seven seconds or less offense the Suns ran under former Phoenix Coach Mike D'Antoni. "We put in a couple of spins that I thought would help our team personally. But for the most part, we're doing what we did."
Gentry still allows his players to take quick but good shots. He has given point guard Steve Nash complete autonomy to run the offense, and Gentry simplified everything on offense and defense.
Gentry has been the head coach in Miami, Detroit and for the Clippers. He was named interim coach with the Suns in February after Terry Porter was fired. Gentry was given a two-year, $3.7 million contract by the Suns, who hold the option for the third year.
Along the way, Gentry has learned a lot from mentors such as Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly.
"Chuck Daly told me a long time ago. He said, 'Alvin, ask these guys how they want to do certain things,' " Gentry said. "If it's all your ideas and it doesn't work, then they'll say, 'I don't know why we're doing this.' But he said if they say, 'Yeah, let's take that play this way,' they've got to do it. It's their idea. So I've never kind of forgotten that. So now they have to be accountable."
He's also gotten Amare Stoudemire to buy into what the Suns want to do. The acquisition of Channing Frye at center has helped because he steps out and shoots three-pointers, thereby opening up the middle.
And Nash, 35, has been great. He leads the NBA in assists (12.9) and is shooting 52.5% from the field, 48.6% from three-point range. "They can say whatever they want about him losing a step, and he probably has," Gentry said. "But that little [guy] is a big-time competitor. He's made every big shot that we've asked him to make."
The Suns visit the Lakers on Thursday at Staples Center. It'll be a nice little early-season showdown.
"We've got much bigger fish to fry than the Lakers," Gentry said. "We're trying to get back in the playoffs. They're trying to win a championship. We're trying to establish who we were."
Scott in trouble?
Is this end of the road for Coach Byron Scott in New Orleans? If it is, he's not too worried about it.
Scott's in the final year of a contract that pays him $5.5 million, and the Hornets haven't talked about giving him an extension.
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