It hasn’t been the Phoenix Suns’ year. They were tied for 13th in the Western Conference with just an 18-38 record heading into Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, and had suffered the two worst losses in franchise history (both by 48 points). And, partway through Monday’s game, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr decided to turn the coaching clipboard over to his players. First, he gave it to Andre Iguodala:
Steve Kerr's letting the players coach tonight 💯 pic.twitter.com/GJ5DVpES5d
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 13, 2018
Then Draymond Green:
It's Draymond Green's turn with the coaching clipboard during this timeout pic.twitter.com/64JbEWwCuE
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 13, 2018
And then David West:
This may be the sternest huddle of the night: David West is in charge pic.twitter.com/6QmA5swWuz
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 13, 2018
Here’s a clip of NBC Sports Bay Area’s Greg Papa, Garry St. Jean and Kelenna Azubuike discussing the move at halftime:
This seems to have worked out pretty decently for the Warriors. After only leading 25-24 after the first quarter, they expanded that lead to 62-45 by the half, and were up by as many as 23 points in the third.
Update: The Suns eventually lost by 46, adding to their season of misery.
The Suns 46-point loss to the Warriors is their 4th 40-point loss this season. The rest of the NBA has four 40-point losses combined.
Phoenix's 4 losses by 40+ points this season also match its total number of 40-point losses in its first 49 seasons as a franchise. pic.twitter.com/J0Z3yzpS7v
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 13, 2018
Maybe these players have coaching futures ahead of them. Or maybe the Suns just aren’t very good. It’s notable that San Antonio Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich did something similar against Phoenix in the middle of one of those Suns’ team-record losses, turning the coaching over to assistant James Borrego in the fourth quarter:
San Antonio assistant James Borrego is coaching the Spurs in the 4th qtr vs Suns. Pop can do that cause they're up 10,000 pts, but still cool to see. Borrego is calling timeouts, making subs, etc. Pop sitting w/ arms crossed on bench letting him rock. #Mentorship pic.twitter.com/Zz5KZMxJ5w
— Zach Bye (@byesline) February 8, 2018
Maybe playing the Suns is going to become a NBA coach’s night off.
