Don't get me wrong, I love Steve Kerr as a broadcaster. He speaks his mind as well as anyone in the industry and his eloquent, lucid, and fluent diction make him very relatable for the basketball audience. He knows how to call a game and certainly understands the game of basketball from an outsider's point of view. I stress the word "outsider" because I believe his strengths belong in the broadcaster's booth alongside Marv Albert, NOT on the sideline.
Unlike Mark Jackson, who had no prior experience working with a team outside of his playing days, Kerr spent multiple years as a General Manager for the Phoenix Suns from 2007-2010. Preceding his official hire, Kerr stepped into one of the most enviable positions in the NBA. The Suns had one of the most marketable and explosive teams in the league led by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. They led the league in scoring for three straight years (averaged nearly 110 points per game) and had one of the most unorthodox teams ever created.
Their style of play was PERFECT for Mike D'Antoni's system. Explosive, quick, durable guards such as Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa; terrific shooters like James Jones, Eddie House; one of the best two-way forwards in the league in Shawn Marion; and arguably the most explosive big man in the game in Amare Stoudemire. They mixed in some great defenders in Raja Bell and versatile big men Kurt Thomas and Boris Diaw. Everything lined up brilliantly for that team, especially during the regular season.
Unfortunately, they ran into some TERRIBLE luck in the two postseasons prior to Kerr's arrival. In 2006, they advanced to the Western Conference Finals DESPITE losing Amare Stoudemire to a gruesome microfracture knee injury, which caused him to miss most of the season. They still put up a valiant fight and lost to Dallas in six games. In 2006-2007, the Suns coasted to 61 wins and had two different 15+ game winning streaks during the season. They matched up with arch-rival San Antonio in the second round with home-court advantage. That series ended up changing the complexion of the franchise, as Phoenix dealt with some of the worst luck ever.
In Game 1, MVP Steve Nash needed to leave the game because of a bloody nose after banging heads with Tony Parker. The bleeding never stopped until the game ended, and the Suns ended up losing by five points with Nash having to sit out the majority of the final quarter. After handily winning Game 2, the Suns lost Game 3, which was later known as the "Tim Donaghy Game". San Antonio shot 36 free throws and three key Suns starters were in heavy foul trouble throughout the game, largely due to "ticky-tac fouls". Phoenix lost the game and Donaghy later admitted that he rigged the game and he is now sitting in jail. Late in Game 4, which the Suns won with a furious fourth quarter, Robert Horry committed an unnecessary flagrant foul by the Phoenix bench, which caused Diaw and Stoudemire to take two steps onto the court. Even though they did NOT enter the confrontation, they broke the rules by stepping onto the court and were suspended for a pivotal Game 5. The Suns lost Games 5 and 6 to lose the series. Horrible luck.
They proved, though, that their style of play worked and if it weren't for an injury to their superstar forward and facing some excruciating circumstances, they could have at least won one championship. Phoenix had an identity and most importantly, players who perfectly fit their up-tempo style of play. Then, Kerr became stubborn and had to break it all up so he could get players that fit "his system".
Here are some of the players Kerr dumped during his stay in Phoenix:
- Shawn Marion (traded to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal)
- Boris Diaw and Raja Bell (traded to Charlotte for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley)
- Shaquille O'Neal (for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic)
- did NOT re-sign Tim Thomas
Suddenly, the Suns lost their identity and gradually compromised the strengths of Nash and Stoudemire, who represented the core of the team. Stoudemire became increasingly restless and eventually left the team. D'Antoni could not bear to withstand the difference in philosophies between his coaching style and management, and he left following the 2008 playoffs. The ensuing years marked the beginning of the demise of the Suns. They got ousted in five games in the first round in 2008. They did NOT make the playoffs in 2009. With one final push and a veteran-laden supporting cast, the Suns somehow made it to the Conference Finals in 2010, Kerr's final year with the team.
Kerr left the team in shambles by the time he left, and Phoenix has not reached the playoffs since that 2010 season. He completely dismantled a great and marketable product, even though the team he inherited was repeatedly on the precipice of winning a ring. It is exceptionally difficult to win a championship in this league and it often takes an inordinate amount of luck. As the Stockton/Malone Jazz, Gary Payton's Sonics, or the current Oklahoma City Thunder. Teams consistently great but just falling short and losing to other great teams in the playoffs. Some great teams win, others do not. Heck, the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki's only championship, was not as stacked as some of the other teams he had been on earlier in that decade.
The current Golden State Warriors group has extremely similar qualities to the Suns team that Kerr obtained in 2007: a dynamic point guard in Steph Curry, an elite defender in Andre Iguodala, a great shooter in Klay Thompson, emerging forwards in Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green, and an assortment of frontcourt players. Curry, like Nash, is at his best in the open court and in a free-flowing offense. Golden State had one of the WORST half-court offenses in the league, which was Mark Jackson's Achilles Heel as a coach and a reason for his departure. Judging by Kerr's past in evaluating players, is he REALLY any different than Jackson?
Sure, like Jackson, he will likely do a great job of relating to the players on the team. He has a modern day mindset and can probably get the team to shoot better than they did under Jackson. However, questions remain about his ability to lead a team, and if he can maximize the strengths of his players. If he acts stubborn like he did in Phoenix, the Warriors will go back to becoming a laughing-stock of the league. What a damn shame that would be, since Golden State has been an extremely watchable and marketable team over these last couple of years. I certainly hope Kerr proves me wrong.
Unlike Mark Jackson, who had no prior experience working with a team outside of his playing days, Kerr spent multiple years as a General Manager for the Phoenix Suns from 2007-2010. Preceding his official hire, Kerr stepped into one of the most enviable positions in the NBA. The Suns had one of the most marketable and explosive teams in the league led by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. They led the league in scoring for three straight years (averaged nearly 110 points per game) and had one of the most unorthodox teams ever created.
Their style of play was PERFECT for Mike D'Antoni's system. Explosive, quick, durable guards such as Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa; terrific shooters like James Jones, Eddie House; one of the best two-way forwards in the league in Shawn Marion; and arguably the most explosive big man in the game in Amare Stoudemire. They mixed in some great defenders in Raja Bell and versatile big men Kurt Thomas and Boris Diaw. Everything lined up brilliantly for that team, especially during the regular season.
Unfortunately, they ran into some TERRIBLE luck in the two postseasons prior to Kerr's arrival. In 2006, they advanced to the Western Conference Finals DESPITE losing Amare Stoudemire to a gruesome microfracture knee injury, which caused him to miss most of the season. They still put up a valiant fight and lost to Dallas in six games. In 2006-2007, the Suns coasted to 61 wins and had two different 15+ game winning streaks during the season. They matched up with arch-rival San Antonio in the second round with home-court advantage. That series ended up changing the complexion of the franchise, as Phoenix dealt with some of the worst luck ever.
In Game 1, MVP Steve Nash needed to leave the game because of a bloody nose after banging heads with Tony Parker. The bleeding never stopped until the game ended, and the Suns ended up losing by five points with Nash having to sit out the majority of the final quarter. After handily winning Game 2, the Suns lost Game 3, which was later known as the "Tim Donaghy Game". San Antonio shot 36 free throws and three key Suns starters were in heavy foul trouble throughout the game, largely due to "ticky-tac fouls". Phoenix lost the game and Donaghy later admitted that he rigged the game and he is now sitting in jail. Late in Game 4, which the Suns won with a furious fourth quarter, Robert Horry committed an unnecessary flagrant foul by the Phoenix bench, which caused Diaw and Stoudemire to take two steps onto the court. Even though they did NOT enter the confrontation, they broke the rules by stepping onto the court and were suspended for a pivotal Game 5. The Suns lost Games 5 and 6 to lose the series. Horrible luck.
They proved, though, that their style of play worked and if it weren't for an injury to their superstar forward and facing some excruciating circumstances, they could have at least won one championship. Phoenix had an identity and most importantly, players who perfectly fit their up-tempo style of play. Then, Kerr became stubborn and had to break it all up so he could get players that fit "his system".
Here are some of the players Kerr dumped during his stay in Phoenix:
- Shawn Marion (traded to Miami for Shaquille O'Neal)
- Boris Diaw and Raja Bell (traded to Charlotte for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley)
- Shaquille O'Neal (for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic)
- did NOT re-sign Tim Thomas
Suddenly, the Suns lost their identity and gradually compromised the strengths of Nash and Stoudemire, who represented the core of the team. Stoudemire became increasingly restless and eventually left the team. D'Antoni could not bear to withstand the difference in philosophies between his coaching style and management, and he left following the 2008 playoffs. The ensuing years marked the beginning of the demise of the Suns. They got ousted in five games in the first round in 2008. They did NOT make the playoffs in 2009. With one final push and a veteran-laden supporting cast, the Suns somehow made it to the Conference Finals in 2010, Kerr's final year with the team.
Kerr left the team in shambles by the time he left, and Phoenix has not reached the playoffs since that 2010 season. He completely dismantled a great and marketable product, even though the team he inherited was repeatedly on the precipice of winning a ring. It is exceptionally difficult to win a championship in this league and it often takes an inordinate amount of luck. As the Stockton/Malone Jazz, Gary Payton's Sonics, or the current Oklahoma City Thunder. Teams consistently great but just falling short and losing to other great teams in the playoffs. Some great teams win, others do not. Heck, the 2011 Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki's only championship, was not as stacked as some of the other teams he had been on earlier in that decade.
The current Golden State Warriors group has extremely similar qualities to the Suns team that Kerr obtained in 2007: a dynamic point guard in Steph Curry, an elite defender in Andre Iguodala, a great shooter in Klay Thompson, emerging forwards in Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green, and an assortment of frontcourt players. Curry, like Nash, is at his best in the open court and in a free-flowing offense. Golden State had one of the WORST half-court offenses in the league, which was Mark Jackson's Achilles Heel as a coach and a reason for his departure. Judging by Kerr's past in evaluating players, is he REALLY any different than Jackson?
Sure, like Jackson, he will likely do a great job of relating to the players on the team. He has a modern day mindset and can probably get the team to shoot better than they did under Jackson. However, questions remain about his ability to lead a team, and if he can maximize the strengths of his players. If he acts stubborn like he did in Phoenix, the Warriors will go back to becoming a laughing-stock of the league. What a damn shame that would be, since Golden State has been an extremely watchable and marketable team over these last couple of years. I certainly hope Kerr proves me wrong.
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