COACHES love to blame the rules for the godforsaken plunge in scoring over the last decade while the league (and the rest of us) likes to blame the control freaks on the sidelines who don’t seem to care or comprehend that basketball is an instinctive game not a rehearsed ritual.
As Dr. Naismith (or was it Allen Iverson?) once told me, “The game is meant to be played, not coached.”
In the final analysis, coaches wind up institutionalizing the game by copying each other, though a big part of the problem is the incestuous nature of the sport and its hiring process.
That’s why you’ve got to love Mike D’Antoni; I mean, other than his upstanding heritage. No wonder his Suns are engaging in unconventional forays on the FLY, the former Marshall star suited up for 50 games in ’75-76 for the infamous ABA Spirits of St. Louis. He is definitely not a branch of the old boy network.
Following a dozen years as Milan’s backcourt brain, D’Antoni coached for eight years in Italy before returning to the States to work in the Nuggets’ front office in 1997 and briefly as their head coach (14-36) in ’98-99.
With the Suns staggering in early December last season, D’Antoni replaced Frank Johnson and took ’em nowhere (21-40) special. But at least their expeditious and conscientious style was compelling to watch. Team Colangelo and new managing partner Robert Sarver were intrigued and entertained enough to sign him to an extension; time to enlist Quentin Richardson and re-enlist Steve Nash (who says there’s no backdoor draft?) to fuse with the athletically advanced Amare Stoudamire, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson.
For whatever the exhibition season is worth, the Suns trampled the opposition, averaging 106 points, a half dozen more than any other team . . . and continue to run roughshod now that it counts, overpowering the Hawks by 30 in Phoenix and exhausting the 76ers in Philly (up 68-49 at the half) prior to last night’s swamp meet in New Jersey.
“Mike is the perfect coach for these guys,” vouches TNT’s Steve Kerr, who doubles as a recreational consultant for the Suns. “He has fresh ideas, loves to run and hates big stiffs. He’s not afraid to deploy a small lineup and stay with it. This team is going to score a ton, and Nash will make it all work.
“The point is, Mike’s come from Europe without any preconceived notions about how the NBA game should be played, and he loves the beauty of the up-tempo, rhythmic game. He’s good for the league.”
Am I ready to concede a major mistake was made leaving the Suns out of my projected playoff picture? The tottering Kings are no longer clear-cut favorites to win the Pacific Rim, I’ll grant you that.
But it’s not as if D’Antoni’s disciples are faintly flawless. Their shooting is slightly shaky, meaning they must prove they can win when they don’t have the touch.
“I see the Suns as Sacramento or Dallas, but without the knockdown, automatic shooters like Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby or Dirk Nowitzki,” Kerr gauged. “On nights they don’t make shots they’ll struggle.”
Rebounding also is an indubitable defect. Because they’re so athletically hallowed the Suns’ core is more apt to chase down the ball than box out. A third imperfection is defense – they’ve been known to have trouble staying with their man if and when they can locate him.
Still, in a weak division, I see the Suns competing for first place with the Kings and Lakers. Who knows, their success may all depend on Iowa State’s Jackson Vroman, the 31st pick in last June’s draft. Despite not being a threat to score on the post as of yet, he exhibits a great feel for the game and D’Antoni’s system. He’s a good passer, lives to take a charge and has awfully fast feet for someone 6-11.
Though, obviously, the best thing Vroman has going for him is his genes: Here’s a kid who learned at the feet of his father, Brett, and the father learned from the master, UCLA’s John Wooden, playing for his last title team.
No wonder Vroman has such good footwork.