HoopsHype.com Rumors

Were Gentry in trouble, Suns player development coordinator and former NBA point guard Lindsey Hunter is seen by some as an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks in the vein of Orlando's first-year coach, Jacque Vaughn. But the Suns, as Sarver indicated, are focused elsewhere as they consider how to fix their team. USA Today

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

Things are going badly for the Phoenix Suns, but not badly enough for the team to consider making a coaching change. A day after the Suns lost their seventh straight game to fall to 7-15, team owner Robert Sarver told ESPN.com that head coach Alvin Gentry's job is safe. "We've got confidence in our coaching staff and we're not considering making changes," Sarver said in a telephone interview on Monday. ESPN.com

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

"It's still early in the season," he said. "We're playing worse than our talent, and a lot of that has to do with confidence. It's up to the coaches and players to start playing better and to get that swagger back and turn things around. Things can turn quickly in this league." ESPN.com

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Robert Sarver, Alvin Gentry 

Sometimes, styles and coaching regimes run their course, and rival execs already have begun speculating that if the Suns change directions, Alvin Gentry could be sitting next to D'Antoni on the Lakers' bench next season. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

When the topic of Suns power forward Luis Scola’s move to the bench has come up, Coach Alvin Gentry takes on a look of guilt. Gentry has so much respect for Scola’s career that he emphasizes how Scola did nothing wrong to prompt it. He moved Scola to the bench for the first time since his rookie year to help give the starting lineup more spacing and athleticism and trusted Scola’s professionalism to make it work on his end. Scola has not accepted the role as permanent duty but made it work Tuesday night, changing the game once he entered with the score tied in the third quarter of a 91-78 Suns victory at Cleveland. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Luis Scola, Alvin Gentry 

Center Marcin Gortat recently — to a Polish newspaper — chronicled the struggles he’s felt adapting to the offense, namely pinpointing the lack of ball movement, especially through him, and the difficulty finding chemistry with point guard Goran Dragic. “Nothing’s going to change,” Gentry said in response to the comments. “We try to throw him the ball, and we’ll try to get him the ball as much as we can and ... . We’d love to be able to throw him the ball and have him post up and score for us. That hasn’t been one of his strengths, really.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Goran Dragic, Alvin Gentry 

Coach Alvin Gentry told me that the main post option was Luis Scola. You, on the other hand, are number one on defense. Marcin Gortat: Unfortunately... I've been doing the dirty work all my life, and now I have to come back to that. I will fight for what's mine. I'll try to prove to the coach that I can play an important role in the offence. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm even an option for Gentry. He doesn't even take me into consideration. The situation is critical. We're playing the same thing we've been playing last year, but the truth is we have a completely different set of players. I don't think it really works. I can't get frustrated now though, I have to stay positive. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Luis Scola, Alvin Gentry 

Before the season you were promising a fight for the playoffs, but from the picture painted by the past few games, the Suns don't seem like a top 8 team in the West. MG: Before the season started, I was a huge optimist. I thought we'd play a completely different game. Right now, it doesn't look good. We still have a lot to learn, and a lot to fight for. We need to fix our team defence. We can't give up a hundred points per game. We'll see how it works out. Right now, I'm not losing hope, there's still a shot at the playoffs. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Alvin Gentry 

Did the coach honestly tell you what he expects from you? MG: We've talked before the season started. He said he expects me to play defence, rebound, block shots and quarterback the defence. He also said he wanted me to set up in the paint and wait for my shots. And I'm still waiting... (laughter) What are you expecting in the coming week? MG: After the game against the Miami Heat, we have a longer break and some time to correct some errors in practice. It won't be easy though. Maybe you should have an honest conversation with Coach Gentry? MG: I don't know if it will change anything. But I'll surely have a chat with him. The Gothic Ginobili

Phoenix Suns, Marcin Gortat, Alvin Gentry 

Training camp opened Tuesday, and the mood of Suns fans can be best described as skeptical with a hint of curiosity. They have accepted life without Steve Nash. They understand the team is in rebuilding mode. They want to care but remain mystified by the low-profile, unconventional management figures calling the shots. Showing a commitment to Gentry, who is in the final year of his deal, would be not only the right choice but the right message. "It's not an issue for this season," Suns owner Robert Sarver said Tuesday. "I don't think it's an issue with Alvin, and it's not an issue for us. I've worked with Alvin for the last eight years. I think he's treated the organization fairly, and I think we've treated him fairly." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Alvin Gentry 

The transaction flurry that has defined the Suns this month has not included a contract extension for head coach Alvin Gentry. And that's not a surprise. We were escorted to the acceptance porch of this reality during Lon Babby's preamble-to-summer press conference back in June. "My view is if a person has a three-year contract, you assess it at the end of three years," the Suns' president of basketball operations said when asked about Gentry's status with the final year of his deal approaching. "That's how I'm going to be judged. I've talked to Alvin, and he's perfectly fine with that, and you know, there are a lot of very successful coaches in the league right now coaching in the final year of their contract. "This notion that you always have to be one year ahead, I don't think it's in his best interest, I don't think it's in our best interest ... but it has absolutely nothing to do with an assessment of his coaching ability or his performance. He understands that. He's our coach." Fox Sports Arizona

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lon Babby, Alvin Gentry 

Jason Quick: By the way, Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry gushed about Blazers rookie PG Damian Lillard. "That kid is going to be great,'' Gentry said. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Alvin Gentry, Damian Lillard 

Dragic, 26, had a more lucrative offer from Charlotte and considered Toronto and Houston but settled on Phoenix primarily because of coach Alvin Gentry, who is entering his final contact year. Arizona Republic

Charlotte Bobcats, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Alvin Gentry 

Did you think he was leaning on coming back? Once Steve Nash left, did you think he was gone? Alvin Gentry: “Well, I don’t know. I think there is a lot of thought process that went on and at the end of the day he just thought the Clippers situation was best for him and that’s very understandable. We’re trying to transition and move forward, sign some younger players and see how we can make this thing work. This is a good situation for him, he’s with a team that has a chance to win and win big. I think it was a win win in both situations.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Grant Hill, Alvin Gentry 

Alvin Gentry On Luis Scola and his game: “We’re really excited about him. I think what he said in the teleconference was really important. He said ‘I am who I am and I’m 32 years old and this is where my game is’ and that’s exactly what we expect from him. He’s a really solid player and a really smart player. He has great footwork in the post that gives us a guy that we can give it to in the post as well as can take a step out to the perimeter and shoot the ball. I think he brings a toughness and intensity to practice and the games. I also think he’s a great guy in the locker room. This was something that was really important to us and we are excited about having him.” On expecting fans to gravitate towards Scola much like they did in Houston: “I think he’s a blue collar guy and it’s the same reason all the fans will love him here in Phoenix. He’s a guy that just works so hard. You know how people are, they really appreciate hard work and he’s a guy that’s always going to give you an honest days work for an honest days pay. Fans appreciate that as do coaches.” Sports Radio Interviews

Phoenix Suns, Luis Scola, Alvin Gentry 

"That guy's a heck of a player," Gentry told Yahoo! Sports. "He brings leadership. He's meant a lot to the Argentinean team with the success they've had. It's just a great guy to add to your team. I don't know if there could ever be anything negative that would be out there with him on your team. He's just a solid guy. He really understands how to play. I'm excited about it." Yahoo! Sports

Phoenix Suns, Luis Scola, Alvin Gentry 

The Suns are prepared to use the available space elsewhere with President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby, General Manager Lance Blanks and Coach Alvin Gentry meeting unrestricted free agent Michael Beasley today in Los Angeles and restricted free agent Eric Gordon in Phoenix on Tuesday. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Michael Beasley, Lon Babby, Eric Gordon, Lance Blanks, Alvin Gentry 

Ken Berger: Phoenix contingent, including coach Alvin Gentry, also meeting with UFA Michael Beasley and own RFA Robin Lopez (via @PhoenixSuns). Twitter

Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Robin Lopez, Alvin Gentry 

"I feel good about it," coach Alvin Gentry said about retaining Nash. "We just need a player we can throw the ball to at the end of the game, who can get to the foul line, get us a basket or make the right play". Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Steve Nash, Alvin Gentry 

"I think it's a little unfair for me to ask Steve Nash to do that night in and night out, not just for 66 games, but for 82 games next year. If we're fortunate enough to have Steve back, and we're going to do everything we possibly can to do that, I just think he needs some help." Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Free Agency, Steve Nash, Alvin Gentry