NBA: Phoenix Suns Could Have Been The Golden State Warriors, Says Mike D’Antoni

Mike D’Antoni’s unorthodox coaching has made him one of the most exciting coaches to ever grace the sport. He is currently leading the Houston Rockets with the unconventional approach of playing small ball. His starting lineup is the smallest in the league with his tallest player standing at six foot seven.

This extreme pace isn’t new for D’Antoni as he was the mastermind of the seven seconds or less Phoenix Suns team that saw prominence in the mid-2000s. It was the era of Steve Nash and how he facilitated the fast-paced offense.

Nash won two MVPs under D’Antoni’s system as the team flourished with the untraditional setup. In their playbook, it was the three-pointer that was coveted as the best shot instead of mid-range jumpers. Each possession was a race to the quickest field goal attempt possible with shooters ready to fire one up from downtown.

In an interview Nash conducted with his former coach, D’Antoni said that his regret with the Phoenix Suns was he didn’t push harder. He said the team listened to those who questioned the system and didn’t go all out in his innovative offense. “We kinda listened to some doubters. We should have put the pedal down harder,” D’Antoni said. “So we went back to the more traditional, where if we had gone more untraditional we would have been Golden State before Golden State.”

The Phoenix Suns’ offense was revolutionary back then as they were in a league dominated by big men. It was something not seen before and teams were still trying to adjust to their style.

This draws a comparison to the dominance of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors saw success with the Splash Brothers leading their way as they defeated teams with a barrage of three-pointers. The Bay Area experienced what the seven seconds or less’ potential could have reached.

D’Antoni now finds himself in a similar situation as he’s faced with criticism regarding his starting lineup. His Houston Rockets team already traded their reliable starting big man Clint Capela, solidifying his team as one of the smallest in recent times. This shows that he is not going to replicate his regret with the Phoenix Suns as he is now fully committed to the small-ball lineup.