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Lindsey Hunter

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» Friday, January 25 2013

Both men were interviewed for the job, but Majerle would later claim that the two-day process was a charade. Blanks, however, swears the two-day interview process that led to Hunter's hiring was sincere. "At no time have I or did I talk to Lindsey about being the next coach (before Gentry was gone)," Blanks said. "I just think it was a function of what happened to him last summer with that interview process. We sat there, and we were going down parallel tracks — 'what do we do?' And absolutely it was a process where we go, 'Well we can interview this guy or interview that guy. We can call someone possibly from the outside in.' We went through every possible scenario. "Why would I put myself and the organization and our front office under so much scrutiny if it wasn't a pure decision. Why do that? That's stupid. So at the end of the day, I did what I thought — along with Lon and (director player personnel) John (Treloar) — what we thought was the best decision for the organization. Lindsey Hunter had no idea we were going to interview him until four or five hours before we interviewed him. If you ask me this every day for 20 years, I will tell you the exact same story…because I'm speaking from my heart, so I don't have to make up stuff, or spin it, or anything else. USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lance Blanks, Lindsey Hunter 

When the news broke that Gentry was out in Phoenix, I shared my admiration for Gentry and noted how he seemed to be the fall-guy in what was a complicated and dysfunctional situation. Before long, I was being called "salty" by someone who would turn out to be the father of rookie point guard Kendall Marshall. A back-and-forth ensued, but the eventual revelation was that Kendall Marshall was a big fan of Hunter's and there was some hope that his promotion would improve his situation. Marshall, who was taken 13th overall out of North Carolina, played in just 11 games under Gentry and played more than seven minutes in a game just once. "Lindsey has had confidence in Kendall," Dennis Marshall said via direct message. "He worked him out every day, sometimes twice a day. They seem to get along well." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lance Blanks, Alvin Gentry, Lindsey Hunter, Kendall Marshall, Dennis Marshall 

But third-year Suns general manager Lance Blanks — who found himself dousing more flames this week after he had a heated argument with veteran Jermaine O'Neal — insists there's a plan in place that will pay off so long as there's some patience. "I feel, actually, great (about the big-picture)," Blanks said in a lengthy phone interview with USA TODAY Sports. "In this business, you can't wiggle your nose and manufacture success, or rub rocks together. You've got to roll up your sleeves and do the things that are necessary to be successful." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Jermaine O'Neal, Lance Blanks, Lindsey Hunter 
 

» Thursday, January 24 2013

After missing three practices and a road game, Turner and Suns management agreed to part ways with his full salary paid. “The impression that I got was that it may be tough to find a spot for a 16-year veteran with 15 straight years of winning experience,” Turner said Thursday morning. Turner went to a coaches’ meeting Tuesday morning but was told by interim coach Lindsey Hunter that Suns management wanted to speak to him before he took up the offer to return to the staff. “The whole meeting had a dark cloud hanging over it,” Turner said. “It just gave me the impression that roles may change. Instead of viewing me as an asset, it made it seem like they couldn’t use my experience or they would have to try to work me in. The whole tone was negative.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Elston Turner, Lindsey Hunter 
 

» Tuesday, January 22 2013

When asked how he felt about the coaching change, Gentry gave the impression he wasn't exactly on board with the idea. "Decisions are made that you don't agree with," he said. "They have the right to do that." Gentry said he will use this new-found time off to visit his daughter, visit other teams around the league and visit his friend Larry Brown at Southern Methodist University because, quite simply, he can't stand to just sit around. "I'm going to focus on my next endeavor and the next place that I can possibly be." Arizona's Sports Page

Coaching, Larry Brown, Alvin Gentry, Lindsey Hunter 

But according to Van Gundy, Gentry should not have been forced to shoulder the blame for the team's recent woes. "I thought he did an outstanding job in Phoenix," said Van Gundy. "I think he's a good coach and a great ambassador for any organization. I think he's exactly the type of man you would want your son to play for and to emulate. "I couldn't speak more highly of a person than Alvin Gentry." Arizona's Sports Page

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Larry Brown, Jeff Van Gundy, Alvin Gentry, Lindsey Hunter 

If Turner and the Suns part ways, the team is expected to look within the organization to fill out Hunter's coaching staff. Corey Gaines, who has WNBA coaching experience and has served as a scout and player development coach for the Suns, is a likely addition to the bench, sources said. CBSSports.com

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Igor Kokoskov, Lindsey Hunter 

Tayshaun Prince smiled when asked about Lindsey Hunter. The former Piston was named interim coach of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, and Prince recalled the vital role Hunter played in 2004 when the Pistons won their last NBA title. The move was surprising because Hunter has no coaching experience. He was promoted from the team's player development area. But Prince said Hunter, whom he called a "player-coach" when he played, has what it takes to succeed. "Obviously taking over a team that's been struggling is going to be difficult," Prince said after the Pistons' victory over the Celtics Sunday. "I'm definitely anxious and excited to see it because I know what type of guy Lindsey is, so I want to see how his plan (works)." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Tayshaun Prince, Lindsey Hunter 
 

» Monday, January 21 2013
 

» Sunday, January 20 2013

Ric Bucher: Tough situation in Phoenix for Elston Turner, who the Suns didn't allow out of his contract to join Rick Adelman in Minnesota and now finds himself in limbo with Al Gentry out and Lindsey Hunter taking over. Having been Adelman's righthand man for years at several previous stops, I've long felt Turner could be another Thibodeau -- long-time assistant coach with the IQ to run a team but who never got a crack at a head job because he's all about the work and not the trimmings that can charm an owner. Sulia

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Elston Turner, Lindsey Hunter 

On Sunday morning of his team’s midseason revival interlude, Phoenix Suns general manager Lance Blanks provided the crucial "Amen!" moment. “I think the simple answer is that the organization needed a jolt,” Blanks said. “We needed something that would shock the system.” Fox Sports Arizona

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lance Blanks, Lindsey Hunter 

Hunter, in his first season as the team’s director of player development, played in the league for 17 seasons, retired in 2010 and has never been a bench coach on any level. “Being a basketball junkie has prepared me for this,” Hunter said. “My entire life has been surrounded by this game. It never gets old to me.” Fox Sports Arizona

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lindsey Hunter 

While Hunter spent Sunday morning conducting his first practice (it went swimmingly, by all accounts) on the practice floor at US Airways Center, Turner was in another section of the arena. Majerle wasn’t in the arena, according to reports, and Kokoskov was on the floor working. Blanks said all three were offered the opportunity to remain with the team as assistant coaches, but he left further commenting on the coaching staff to Hunter. “It’s still up in the air,” Hunter said. “I’m not at liberty to speak about it.” Fox Sports Arizona

Phoenix Suns, Coaching, Lindsey Hunter 
 
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