Accordingly, unfilled expectations made it almost impossible for management, the coaches and the players to enjoy anything.

D'Antoni also openly admits tomorrow night's return to Phoenix, his home for six seasons, is a "big deal" to him. "There's a lot of emotion involved. They were good years. Too bad it ended on a bad note," he said. "We set out to win a championship and didn't do it [note: first you must win a conference title]. But I still feel real close to the fans and the players."

I'll be particularly interested to see Amare Stoudemire's salutation; will he sincerely welcome back D'Antoni, give him a perfunctory hug, or outright snub him?

Shortly after the Suns were snuffed, Stoudemire voiced some uncomplimentary sentiments about his out-going coach's alleged lack of defensive preparation. At the same time, D'Antoni has let it be known, no matter how well he prepped or implored Stoudemire, he couldn't get him to understand his orders regarding help defense.

"I'm fine with Amare," D'Antoni claims. "I thought we accomplished a lot together. He became All-NBA First Team during that time and we won a lot of games. He may not have always done what I asked, but I can't deny he did a lot of good things. I do not take his criticism personal. We had just lost a series and we all were feeling pain and frustration. I understand players. I've always tried to hear their gripes and then try to work it out. Had I stayed, that's what Amare and I would've done. And I'm not being Pollyanna."

News » Trade will be beginning of good things for Phoenix
Trade will be beginning of good things for Phoenix
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - You know you're old when you can remember when, once a player was traded, he packed his valise without offering a Sermon on the Mount. By now you've all gotten at least a whiff of Boris Diaw's departing denunciation of Suns coach Terry Porter, so there's no use wasting additional space on such recycled waste. Think Porter's job is easy? Six weeks into the season, the Suns continue to search for their identity as GM Steve Kerr, who hired the former Bucks head coach and Pistons assistant to replace Mike D'Antoni, gently prods Porter to give the horse its head and let the hands follow as opposed to hanging on the reins. NBA roundup Joba loves Yankees' moves Kernan: Mets' Wright eager to go Giants to rely on depth More from The New York Post