The fix is in: Franz’s suggestions for Suns

Three games in three days. Not a recipe for success for
any team. A nightmare if your team has to sit their two
best players.

The Suns look like they ran out of gas in their last 3
games. We all believe the Suns have run out of gas in the
last two seasons. So, how do the Suns get back to where
they were? Obviously, we want to go higher than where
they were since recent history shows that “where they
were” is just a close competitor to win the west but never
an actual Western Conference champion.

This will not be easy. Every member of the organization
must take on the mantra that a season without a
championship is a failed season and expect greatness.

ROBERT SARVER: Go overboard spending money.
In no way does this mean over-spend on the next Marcus
Banks. Please don’t go after 5 small forwards when you
don’t have a GM. Spend money on the draft. Fly scouts
everywhere. Be the most prepared team there is without
ever having a hurdle to climb. Draft picks are gold
because you control the player. You educate the player in
your system.

Spend money on towels. When Mark Cuban took over the Mavs
he talked to the players and found out they hated the
showers and the towels. He spent money on luxury hotel
towels. He didn’t do it just for the Mavs. He did it for
the road team. He wanted every team that came to Dallas
to think that the Mavs were a first-rate team, knowing
every second a player is in Dallas is a recruiting chance.

Your entire perception and reputation must change. You
cannot fight the perception the players in the league have
of you with words. You must do it with actions.

It doesn’t matter whether your reputation is deserved or
not. Whether or not you think it’s fair or factual is
irrelevant. In this case, perception is reality.

David Stern said you were not the antagonistic hawk during
the labor feud. The players aren’t going to take Stern’s
word for it. Either you were a major hurdle to labor
peace hoping to squash the union or you were an easy
target for the union to blame.

Let’s say it’s untrue and the media mischaracterized you
during the lockout. Where did they get their info? It
was either other owners who made up that you’re the bad
guy or union leaders that knew their membership would
believe you’re the problem. The media doesn’t have it out
for you. Either what was leaked was true, or out of 30
owners they chose you to be the subject of lies which says
something.

NBA free agents don’t believe you’re committed to winning
a championship. Phoenix is no longer on the short list of
teams players want. Let’s change that.

Learn the story of Tom Coughlin and Kurt Warner. Find out
how willing Coughlin was to change due to a player he
respected explaining what wasn’t working from a player’s
perspective. The human being that is Grant Hill is a
blessing to the planet, not just the Suns. Take him to
lunch. Ask him to rip you. Ask him why the Suns aren’t
close to a championship. Ask him what is expected from
you.

LON BABBY: Be very visible. Don’t be shy. Players
trust you since you were an agent. Get the word out about
the things Robert Sarver does that go unnoticed.

Give your former client, Grant Hill, the chance to change
anything about the Suns he wants. It’s a power no player
should ever be given, but since Grant is so different than
any other player in terms of discipline, intelligence and
desire, he won’t take it for granted. That power will be
seen by other players around the league making Phoenix
more attractive.

I know you hate the idea of promoting yourself, but get on
twitter. Spend an hour each week answering the questions
of fans. As one of the more brilliant lawyers in America,
it’s not like someone’s going to trap you in a bad
conversation. Become the face of management.

LANCE BLANKS: Get out of the shadows. Talk to
every player on the team all the time. Let your coaches
know how much confidence you have in them. Before you
arrived, the staff of Gentry, Majerle and Cartwright got
the Suns to the Western Conference Finals. They’re very
good. Let them know you have their back. New GMs always
make coaches from the past regime nervous. Sign them to
extentions.

It’s a great idea to allow Lon Babby to be out front
during the lean years so you can emerge from the shadows
as the savior when the good times return. I get that, but
talk to the media on occasion. Talk to the players you
didn’t draft or sign. Be seen at the office every now and
then. Even if you’re brilliant, while you’re behind the
curtain, no one knows if they can trust or believe in you.

ALVIN GENTRY: Get tossed. You’ve already proven
you can coach but an emotional explosion would serve you
well. This week’s Denver game was a prime example. The
comeback to tie it up 62-62 was great but it went away
fast. The officiating was horrible. The players were
running out of gas and weren’t going to win after Denver
turned it on late in the third. The players don’t
question your passion but remind them anyway.

STEVE NASH: You’re one of the greatest of all time
and you’re playing like it this year, so critiquing you is
obviously difficult. The fourth quarter turnovers are
becoming a problem. Get everyone involved throughout the
game as you’ve always done. It’s time for the fourth
quarter to be “Nash time.” Look for your shot. You are
the best scoring option.

FANS: No one wants to hear this, but patience is
key. The vacuum between the “firing” of Steve Kerr and
the hiring of Lon Babby killed the organization. Josh,
Hedo and Hack are not the fault of Babby/Blanks but those
contracts are a noose around the team’s neck. It’s easy
to say “trade them,” but in the NBA you’re only going to
get someone else’s bad contract in return for a trade.

It will take about a year and a half to fix what’s been
done. Trust the process to cleanse. Begin judging the
team from the time that Babby/Blanks took over with the
roster they were handed after years of D’Antoni not
developing rookies and Sarver selling draft picks. It
will get worse before it gets better.

Don’t bail on the team. Who knows how much longer you’re
going to get to see Nash and Hill? Get to as many games
as you can. Don’t go to the games to be seen like it’s a
Scottsdale night club. Be loud. Bring back the Madhouse.

Follow @Vincemarotta