Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Five lingering Suns questions that need answers post trade deadline

By Dallin Funk

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 06: Interim head coach Jay Triano of the Phoenix Suns looks on from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 6, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nets defeated the Suns 98-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 06: Interim head coach Jay Triano of the Phoenix Suns looks on from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 6, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nets defeated the Suns 98-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Should Jay Triano continue to coach the Phoenix Suns?

DENVER, CO – JANUARY 19: Head coach Jay Triano of the Phoenix Suns shouts instructions to his team while they play the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 19, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 19: Head coach Jay Triano of the Phoenix Suns shouts instructions to his team while they play the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 19, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Jay Triano took over as the interim head coach of the Phoenix Suns after Earl Watson, quite amazingly, managed to lose 2 of his first 3 games of the 2017-2018 season by +40 points. So, I’m not exactly going out on a limb here by saying Coach Triano did not walk into the ideal situation.

I don’t think any of us expected the new coach to lead the Suns to a playoff berth or anything of the sort. However, there was a fair expectation from both fans of the team and the front office to see if Coach Triano could make the Suns competitive and develop the young talent on the team.

In the 56 games under the interim coach the Suns have gone 18-38, rank 30th in defensive rating, and 19th in offensive rating. Not exactly numbers to be proud of. Still, we knew this was a terrible situation for any to coach to inherit. Not to mention the injuries to key players like Devin Booker and Isaiah Cannon that have plagued the season. So, instead, I’ll judge him on the improvements from players on the young core.

Dragan Bender has been one player that has certainly improved in his second year under Coach Triano. Over the month of February, the Dragon has been averaging 15.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 51.9 percent from 3. In 123-113 loss to Denver, I actually thought Bender looked like the best player on the court for stretches of the game. He finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and a team-high +10 point differential. Although Bender has only averaged 6.2 points per game and 3.8 rebounds, it is clear that he has made strides under Coach Triano.

The other player to greatly benefit under the direction of Jay Triano is Phoenix Suns rookie, Josh Jackson. Jackson had been one of the worst players, not just rookies, in the NBA before Triano decided to bench him against the Atlanta Hawks. The decision clearly lit a fire under Jackson who is averaging 17.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks over his last 10 games. Jackson mentioned in an interview with azcentral.com that he and Coach Triano regularly watch film together, saying that “now we kind of have a schedule where, every week, I’ll come in and we’ll watch film or just talk about things that happened in the previous games and practices just for me to get better.”

While Jay Triano has had an impact on some of the younger players, I just don’t believe he can lead the Suns back to the playoffs. He is certainly an upgrade over Earl Watson but that’s not saying much. Triano does not have a great track record as a head coach in the NBA. He sported an abysmal 87-142 record in three seasons with the Toronto Raptors, so, while I do think Triano has made strides with the talent around him, the Suns need a new voice in the locker room and do all they can to distance themselves from the Earl Watson regime.

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