Yesterday, the Suns announced that they have decided to part ways with coach Alvin Gentry. Phoenix owns the worst record in the Western Conference at 13-28 and team president Lon Babby says that he expected considerably more out of the club in 2012/13. "I think we gave him a team that was better than the way they were playing," Babby said. "But I don't put that all on him. I don't even put the lion's share on him. That's not what this is about. It's not about winning enough games."
While Babby exonerated Gentry from much of the finger pointing, he says point blank that he believes that his team is capable of achieving more as assembled. That's an interesting take, considering that many NBA scribes predicted that the Suns would finish the year in the league cellar. The Suns made a splash over the summer when they signed unrestricted free agent Goran Dragic, but their second-biggest signing in the post-Steve Nash era was troubled forward Michael Beasley. So far, that three-year, $18MM pact has yielded them 9.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and a 10.08 PER, good for 50th amongst small forwards. Gentry might not have been the right man for the job, but it's important to remember that he's wasn't the man in charge of filling out the roster. The next time the ax swings in Phoenix, it won't land on the bench.
If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature next week, then send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..
- Bleed Green examines the Celtics' bench.
- True Sports Blog previews the February trade deadline.
- The Basketball Post sees the Bucks at a crossroads.
- The NBA Geek presents the all-unsung team.
- Rufus On Fire is skeptical of the Bobcats' rise in attendance.
- Blog A Bull isn't thrilled with Tom Thibodeau's playcalling in the fourth quarter.
- Hardwood Paroxysm talks Gentry.
- Hoops Addict looks at the rebuilding era in Orlando.
- SLC Dunk is pleased with the passing in the Jazz frontcourt.
- Truth About It caught up with Bradley Beal.
- Utah Sports Net sat down with C.J. Miles.
- Bright Side Of The Sun says that change was necessary in Phoenix.
- Celtics Life plays 5-on-5.
- The Brooklyn Game remembers Anthony Morrow's time with the Nets.
- Red94 tries to quantify effort in the NBA.
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