Good News For Those Wishing to See Nash-Amare Return to Glory in the West

Supposedly, it’s not cool to throw a coach under the bus. It’s like snitching, or paying your taxes. But after witnessing the dramatic transformation of the Suns since Steve Kerr took over, many (former) fans of that team are still searching for answers. So when Amare Stoudemire decided to, in his inimitable fashion, weigh in on former coach Terry Porter and interim Alvin Gentry, a lot of things we suspected were suddenly thrown into sharp relief.↵
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↵From the East Valley Tribune:↵↵⇥Stoudemire said he was frustrated that Porter didn’t allow him to show off the things he had worked on last summer, primarily his ball-handling skills. He also said Porter was a “my way or the highway” coach who “wasn’t really accepting of what we (the players) thought would work.”↵↵That certainly explains Amare’s decreased production -- not just the numbers, but his overall effectiveness on the court and growth as a player. And, for anyone familiar with D’Antoni’s Suns, the coaching philosophy Stoudemire describes is the polar opposite of what once made that team so potent. That, as much as his problems adjusting to O’Neal’s presence, might also explain some of Steve Nash’s ups and downs.↵
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But wait, there’s more. Amare on godhead D’Antoni: “He sometimes wouldn’t talk to certain players, which sometimes can be a little frustrating because you want to build that relationship with a coach and be his friend.” That seems less professional, more personal. You also wonder if Stoudemire’s expressing frustrations over his own dealings with D’Antoni, or a sense that this approach was rubbing some less important teammates the wrong way.↵
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↵And so, we come to Gentry, a former head coach who joined D’Antoni’s staff, stuck around for Porter, and then took over the reins. Maybe it’s just the honeymoon period, or knowing that things might be fun again. It’s also worth noting that Amare was out with injury when Gentry got the team winning consistently, if a little too late. But Amare sure is optimistic about playing for him, which bodes well for his future with the team:↵↵⇥“You want a coach you can hug and hold and high-five and really have fun with,” Stoudemire said. “That makes it fun to play.”↵↵If you’re still hoping for a Nash/Stoudemire team to return to contention in the West, those words are music to your ears. Imagine, Nash on a mission to prove that young bucks like Paul, Williams, and Rose have a thing or two yet to learn, and Amare was allowed to remind us what a complete player he’s become since his injury. Yeah, that sounds like a way to make people care again.↵