Question marks, coaching changes, and trades: Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors deserve to miss playoffs

April 06 09

They had no business thinking playoffs.

Fans in Phoenix and Toronto will be disappointed because their squads were officially eliminated from the post-season with losses Sunday afternoon. Their feelings are understandable, but not rationale when considering the recent madness that has occurred with these two organizations.

Their years began with questions. From day one, the Suns lacked an identity; the players favoured their old run-and-gun scheme, while new coach Terry Porter tried to implement a more defensive approach. They ended with something ugly in-between. Up north, Chris Bosh’s 2010 free agency has hung over the Raptors like an Ontario smog cloud.

Not surprisingly, both teams struggled, so they fired their coaches mid-season. Phoenix GM Steve Kerr pink-slipped Porter a half-season after handpicking him to succeed Mike D’Antoni. And Toronto executive Bryan Colangelo dismissed Sam Mitchell 16 months after he won the Coach of the Year award.

Interim sideline bosses Alvin Gentry and Jay Triano had their moments and will likely be retained next season. However, Gentry and Triano aren’t miracle workers and struggled under impossible circumstances.

Of course, there were blockbuster trades, too. Desert fixtures Raja Bell and Boris Diaw were shipped to Charlotte for swingman Jason Richardson. Bell and Diaw have stabilized a young Bobcat side, while J-Rich has made headlines for the wrong reasons. The Raptors dealt the underachieving Jermaine O’Neal to the Heat in return for the underachieving Shawn Marion.

Both moves were made to cut costs. Phoenix owner Robert Sarver has been hit especially hard by the recession. Toronto’s Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment wanted the flexibility of Marion’s expiring contract to rebuild either this summer or next.

The Suns and Raptors may point to their recent play as a positive. This is a smoke screen. Nothing more. Both clubs should remember playoff calibre teams have a clear identity, pick and then stick with the right coach, and avoid major trades mid-season.

If Phoenix and Toronto follow this formula next year and still miss the playoffs, then their fans will have every right to be disappointed.

All things considered, did the Suns and Raptors deserve to make the post-season? How should their fans feel? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA coverage. Photo courtesy of ajvlasman.

12 Comments: Question marks, coaching changes, and trades: Phoenix Suns and (...)

Posted by
vgmedina
on 04.16.2009

Well First of all lets face it ever since the Colangelos left the Phoenix Suns and Jerry being its ambassador things have gone down hill. He would of never let Dan Dantoni leave never. And there would not be a Steve Kerr there making some dumb decisons either. Kerr palyed ok basketball and had his moments but come on now lead a FRANCHISE and turn it around? He did do that but the wrong direction. How do want to a defensive TEAM but let go of Raja Bell who was one our better defenders? And yet get J Rich who is offensive minded. We bring Shaq in he had a GREAT season, Lost season as far as I am concerned. Kerr is blaming everyone but himself. My 2009 2110 predection, KERR FIRED.. if not fans will turn on Sarver. Keep an eye out. .

Posted by
ryan
on 04.7.2009

I love how everyone says the suns are a bad team. the suns would be 5th in the Eastern conference right now. We are just in a tougher conference. Every year the west has a good team not make the playoffs. Every year the East has 2 teams that shouldn’t make the playoffs.... .

Posted by
Ush
on 04.7.2009

Um sorry guys, you guys really don’t know what you’re taking about. Raptors had expectations coming into the season, they could’ve made some noise in the playoffs. Sometimes, things just don’t happen the way you want it to. That’s what happened here, They had good players; at least enough players to make the first round of the playoffs. It’s the way they handled the situation. It’s those little things in the locker room they were missing. That energy guy, something like what POPS MENSAH-BONSU is right now. We’ll see what happens next season; Just Don’t Sleep On Them. Die hard raptor fan here. .

Posted by

on 04.6.2009

Here, Here Dr Hoops ...Well said! .

Posted by
Dr. Hoops
on 04.6.2009

Teams make the playoffs because of what they accomplish during the regular season. When teams like Phoenix and Toronto don’t make the playoffs; it is simply because they didn’t do what needed to be done. Sure injuries, player and coaching changes coud be factored in, it is not the sole reason. Toronto simply does not have the players around Chris Bosh (with or without Calderon) to be legitimate contenders and Phoenix inspite of injuries and coaching changes simply underachieved. Underachievers or teams that lack a solid core should not be in the playoffs. .

Posted by

on 04.6.2009

You forgot to leave out the fact that both teams were hit with major injuries.............Guys like Amare and Calderon make their teams......... I know, I know, ’every team has injuries’, but these guys are the leaders and 2nd/3rd options on their teams. Who did Toronto have to back up Calderon? Will Soloman and Rocko Ukic....... erm....... major drop off much? I think your overlooking that just for the sake of your argument. .

Posted by
granny
on 04.6.2009

I hope Robert Sarver and Steve Kerr are proud with what they BOTH have done to the Phoenix Suns! .

Posted by
TXHARDHITTER
on 04.6.2009

get off melos nuts this aint even bout denver .

Posted by
j bean
on 04.6.2009

Bosh, if you check his stats against the top teams it shows a different picture. Soft defense and below his average offensive numbers against tough teams. As a Raptor’s fan I hope we move him. .

Posted by
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
on 04.6.2009

big c dog carmelo anthony is the top dog .

Posted by
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
on 04.6.2009

carmelo anthony for MVP .

Posted by
J.K
on 04.6.2009

Suns actually don’t deserved to be eliminated from the playoffs. Yes, the defensive approach just killed Sun’s solar power, but Gentry had revived the dry desert. The sunrise was about to begin in the Phoenix and boom! Amare, the best player in the team is out for the entire season. Shaq is doing terrific but he is way too old to replace the scoring/athletism of the STAT. The trade brought the 3pt/athletism that Suns needed. It was all perfect. However, Suns just got unlucky. (Mark my words, next year, they will be going for 3 4 spots in the playoff if they remain healthy and all the players stay the same) Now the case for Toronto, Bryan Colangelo made the wrong choice. Toronto don’t have good enough players to surround Chris Bosh. This not the coach’s fault. I would be surprise if he actually led the team into playoffs. Chris Bosh is the lonesome man in the team scoring, rebounding, and doing all the extra stuff. Simply, the surrounding core is not good enough, its not the coach. If Mitchell was coaching Boston and didn’t make it to playoffs, that would be a different story. BUT which team are we talking about... Give me a break.... .

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	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Question marks, coaching changes, and trades: Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors deserve to miss playoffs

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