Whoa.  Wow.  Jeez.  Oh man.  Holy sh*t.  That’s what I found myself saying when reading John Hollinger’s Phoenix Suns season preview.  

Hollinger loves Nash and Amare (how can one not?) but isn’t a big fan of the changes Steve Kerr made in the offseason.

Okay, okay.  He hates, despises, loathes, the changes Steve Kerr made to the team in the offseason.

“Somehow, a narrative developed that D’Antoni’s stuff doesn’t work in the postseason — never mind the injuries and suspensions and whatnot — and that Phoenix couldn’t win unless it became more like the other guys.

What a shame.”

Body blow.

“With Shaq struggling in Miami and having two years and $40 million remaining on his contract after the 2007-08 season, it seemed inconceivable that the Suns would offer an All-Star forward and not require any additional considerations in the form of draft picks or prospects.

But that’s just what they did, in a swap that seemed more an act of faith than a rational approach to improving the team. It was one of several disturbing episodes involving Kerr in his new position, dating back to a preseason trade that sent Kurt Thomas and two unprotected draft picks to Seattle — an awfully heavy price just to get the team under the luxury tax.”

Left hook, right hook.

“New coach Terry Porter will be asked to focus on defense, play more station-to-station basketball, and generally make more mediocre what had been one of the most amazing things to happen in basketball in the past three decades.”

Uppercut.

“But because that system didn’t fit the preconceived notion of what good teams do, and because it didn’t produce a championship (which somehow becomes the standard of success for this type of thing, as though winning 60 every season is chopped liver), the Suns trashed it anyway.

Instead, they’ll win fewer games with a more ordinary style. But at least they won’t get criticized.”

And there’s the knockout punch.

“I’m upset about what they’ve done.”

Gee, John, you think?

I can’t exactly disagree with what Hollinger is arguing.  Coach D’s system was a thing of beauty and it was loved by many.  You could bring it home to mom and even she’d be happy, because while it was unconventional, its head was on straight and it just plain worked.  Alas, that ship has sailed, and we’re left with a team covered with Steve Kerr’s fingerprints.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, and as has been discussed ad nauseum, we don’t really know what is in store for the Suns this year.  Behind all the disappointment, Hollinger still sees them as a playoff team with dangerous offensive weapons and a load in the middle.  A little bit of defense can’t hurt all that much.

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