PHOENIX SUNS

Lon Babby: Gentry has Suns ‘playing very hard’

Dec 6, 2012, 3:10 AM | Updated: 3:20 am

It wasn’t quite an on-air vote of confidence and there’s probably not much to read into, but despite the Phoenix Suns’ underwhelming 7-12 record, President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby was rather complimentary of head coach Alvin Gentry Wednesday.

“Alvin has us playing really hard,” Babby told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf. “And that’s what he should be doing.”

A lot was made entering the 2012-13 season about Gentry’s long-term future with the organization, after the Suns front office declined the opportunity to extend the 58-year-old coach in the offseason.

With his contract set to expire at season’s end, it appears at the very least like Gentry may be playing the part of a lame-duck coach. But despite perception and the team’s recent road struggles, Babby seems encouraged about the job Gentry has done through 19 games.

“I think Alvin has pushed the guys and gotten them to play hard,” said Babby. “He has an upbeat personality and that’s helpful when you’re on the road for 11 days playing these teams.”

While Babby admitted the team should probably have won against the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies, he said their effort level in the final game of the road trip was encouraging to say the least.

“The most dangerous game on our road trip was the last one on our schedule,” said Babby referring to Tuesday night’s contest in Memphis. “We were up 16 and should have won the game. We played a very, very good team very,very competitively which is reassuring on some level. But, it’s better to win.”

Now in his fourth full season Phoenix, Gentry has accumulated a record of 152-128 and most notably took the franchise to the Western Conference Finals back in 2009-10.

Phoenix Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

9 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

13 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

16 hours ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: How the Suns lost to the Spurs before they stepped on the court

Burns & Gambo react to the Phoenix Suns stunning loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and try to figure out why it happened.

2 days ago

Lon Babby: Gentry has Suns ‘playing very hard’