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Phoenix Suns: Pros And Cons Of Making Earl Watson Head Coach

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson looks on in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson looks on in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Feb 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Pro: Signs Of Progress …

That 0-9 start to Watson’s tenure was brutal, but there have been signs of progress lately. They’re 6-9 in their last 15 games, and though all of their wins have come against favorable opponents, that’s still progress for a team that lost to the Sixers twice this season.

Despite the season-ending injuries to Bledsoe and Warren, not to mention nagging ailments for Knight and Chandler, the Suns have been a little more competitive in a few of their losses (though we should note that smackdowns against the Hornets, Heat, Knicks, Nuggets and Jazz were definitely NOT competitive).

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The Phoenix Suns should enquire about "FIBA Kobe" /

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    • “We make no excuses,” Watson said. “We focus on playing the right way, continue to build. We can’t control injuries and being ill, but we can control our attitude, our effort and our purpose. We continue to stay within our path. We understand that in the last 14 (games), we’re 6-8. Who knows what could happen when we get everyone healthy for the rest of the season?”

    He has a point. Bledsoe was having the best season of his career before his meniscus injury, Booker is only going to get better and we haven’t seen what a fully healthy Suns roster can do under the new interim. But for now, Watson has repeatedly emphasized what Tyson Chandler was trying to say all along with his “not wanting a part of a rebuild” comments.

    “We understand that our young guys are good enough to win right now,” Watson said. “The future is now, it’s not tomorrow. What Tyson was basically telling our young guys was there are no excuses. You can’t hide behind your age and lack of experience. You have a chance to play, we grow now, we grow together and we build a foundation for next year today.”

    It’s still early in Watson’s interim tenure, but the locker room feels a lot more positive than it did on Hornacek’s sinking ship, even on nights of defeat. Couple that with the strides made by Devin Booker, Alex Len and even Mirza Teletovic and there’s no question this team has been far more competitive than it was just a few weeks ago.

    Next: Con: At What Cost

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