PHOENIX SUNS

Suns GM: With Watson in charge, goal is to see improved energy and effort

Feb 3, 2016, 4:16 PM

Phoenix Suns' interim head coach Earl Watson calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketbal...

Phoenix Suns' interim head coach Earl Watson calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

LISTEN: Ryan McDonough, Suns' General Manager

As an NBA head coach, Earl Watson’s record stands at 0-1.

Of course, it would mightily unfair to judge his performance on just one game, and no doubt the Suns are going to view how he fares over the rest of the season when determining if the 36-year-old is a viable option to be the team’s head coach going forward.

But with the team in the midst of a free fall and injuries starting to pile up, it would seem like the odds of success for Watson over what could be a 33-game stint as the lead man are very slim. So, how will general manager Ryan McDonough judge Watson, in terms of his effectiveness as the head coach?

“I think what we’re looking for is improved energy and effort,” McDonough told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday. “We’re undermanned right now — I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team with so many injuries, especially at the same positions. They’ve really come in waves, particularly at the point guard slot where we’re down all three of our point guards with (Eric) Bledsoe, (Brandon) Knight and (Ronnie) Price being out, and the power forward spot, as you guys know, a couple weeks ago against San Antonio, on a 15-man roster, we finished the game with eight healthy players. All that’s been extremely frustrating for us.

“But what we’re looking for over the next 32 games is for guys to play hard and play the right way and establish a foundation that allows us to be successful going forward as we try to build a culture and build some good habits, especially with our young players.”

The third-year GM pointed out that if there is a silver lining to the injuries it is how some of the team’s younger players have had to play more, which in turn should help expedite their learning process.

“I think over the last couple weeks and months you’ve seen some good progress in guys like Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker, and that will only help us and help the team as we progress not only through the rest of this year, but in the future as well.”

If Tuesday night’s game is any indication of the kind of impact Watson will have, though the Suns lost 104-97, things may be looking up as embattled forward Markieff Morris had his best game of the season, scoring 30 points to go along with 11 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal in 41 minutes.

“I think Earl was very clear about the players with their roles,” McDonough said. “He brings a unique approach. A few of the things he’s done that are a little different, in front of the team he went down the line and told, I think all 14 guys on the roster, how he views their roles and what he expects of them and what we’re going to look for them to do over the remainder of the season.

“He also let them know when they would be playing. Obviously we start five and then you have to be a little bit flexible due to foul trouble or injuries or what have you with the substitutions, but he gave the guys some idea of when they may go into the game and when they may come out of the game so they can mentally prepare for that.”

The other thing McDonough pointed to was how big into visualization Watson is, as the coach believes it will help the team if players know what is expected of them every night in terms of their role and when they will be asked to play.

“And I think, by and large, it did last night.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic...

Damon Allred

Jusuf Nurkic questionable for Suns’ matchup with Thunder; Bradley Beal no longer listed

The Phoenix Suns are listing center Jusuf Nurkic questionable for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

17 hours ago

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.

1 day 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.

2 days 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.

2 days 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.

3 days 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.

3 days ago

Suns GM: With Watson in charge, goal is to see improved energy and effort