Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin and Gunnin Phoenix Suns

This Suns team basically invented modern basketball and had an embedded reporter for the entire season and what we mostly get is page upon page of Shawn Marion bitching that he doesn't get enough credit and some homeless man's version of John Fienstien's prose. This book is basically a glorified gamer, that day after column your dad used to read from the sports section at breakfast. Here wa What a missed opportunity! Here was an organization, the Phoenix Suns, exploiting the inefficiencies and wrongheaded thinking of basketball executives to remarkable results and all McCallum seems to want to do is pick fights with Charles Barkley.

Jan 15, Anthony rated it it was amazing. Dec 03, Lucas Esandi rated it really liked it. I had a blast reading this book. I particularly liked to get inside the coaches heads and see how they work throughout an NBA season. Both funny and meticulous. Jack McCallum made it worth my time. Recommended I had a blast reading this book.

Feb 03, Colin rated it really liked it. A great read for any basketball fan looking for a glimpse into the locker room of an NBA team. Nov 18, Nat Olson rated it it was amazing. The Suns were the harbinger of modern NBA strategy. The insider look gives you an idea of how a pro basketball team really functions, for better and for worse. Feb 07, Jeff rated it liked it.

It was more like the playoffs, not the season but still interesting. I read about this book on si. The preview posted on si. The coaches spend an inordinate amount of time trying to cater to Marion's ego - compare that to the self-assurance of Steve Nash ah Nash! How I long for the old Dallas Mavericks days with you and Dirk running the pick and pop The most shocking thing I found was the frank honesty exhibited by the coaches about the strengths and limitations of not only their own players, but their opponents as well.

So in that sense, the book is a little misleading - it's not really about the complete season of the Suns, but more of a detailed look at their playoff run. The only purpose of the regular season is to determine the playoff seeding. Now THAT book was a virtual day-by-day recap and insight into the inner workings of an NFL franchise - everything from an ownership change, the draft, weekly roster moves, and the game-by-game grind all the way to the playoffs. Admittedly, it's easier to focus on the NFL regular season since there are fewer games hence, making each one extremely important , but Feinstein had to explore more situations and develop more characters due to the great disparity in roster size 12 vs 53 active.

Now having said that, 7 Seconds or Less is still a very enjoyable if short read and I would highly recommend it to any NBA or basketball fan - whether you root for the Suns or not. Phoenix plays an exciting brand of basketball and their roster and coaching staff is filled with lots of dynamic personalities. This makes for a highly entertaining book to match their on-court style. Oct 19, Steven rated it liked it Shelves: This book chronicles the Phoenix Suns season that also ended in the Western Conference Finals.

Everyone knows that Phoenix is a team that is very likeable. They play basketball in a manner that does not make me want to claw my eyes out like watching most NBA teams does. The book title is an homage to the Suns offensive philosophy of desiring a shot every seven seconds or less — transition basketball at its finest.

Nash, Barbosa, Diaw, Marion, Bell, etc. I use the past tense because it is my humble opinion that the Suns described here are no longer. Obviously, the Suns never accomplished the ultimate goal of winning a NBA Championship, but I think all of us fans that really had no team I guess I kind of unenthusiastically root for the Magic enjoyed pulling for the Suns.

I especially pulled for them against the evil Lakers and Mavericks in the season described in this book. Sadly, it seems that the Suns and the philosophy described here is no longer. Jul 27, Roy rated it it was ok. Do you like basketball? I guess maybe once, but … Are you a big time Pheonix Suns fan? I was looking for a reason to re-kindle my passion for basketball, and maybe if this book could show me the NBA, in the same way that Moneyball breaks down Do you like basketball? I was looking for a reason to re-kindle my passion for basketball, and maybe if this book could show me the NBA, in the same way that Moneyball breaks down MLB, well than I would have a new foot-hold to get back into the game.

These guys are all desperately hard workers, but it is unclear whether what they do actually pays off in the end. What the assistants do helps the team shave off or add that last little percentage that may turn a win into a loss, but not always — not nearly as much as an injury to a key player, a bad call by a referee, or a hot night by an opponent. Apr 03, Tommy rated it really liked it. Jack Mcallum, a reporter, got an all-access pass to everything that the Phoenix Suns did.

This is a non-fiction book. Though they have a high seed in the playoffs, The suns are faced with many conflicts including, toughness, ball distribution, Kobe Bryant, and knowing that if you lose your season is over. This biggest conflict of all is the Suns loses one of its star players in Amare Stoudemire right before: This biggest conflict of all is the Suns loses one of its star players in Amare Stoudemire right before playoffs.

This is a physical conflict. The team is down and on its heels. With heart and determination the team fights back and makes it all the way to the Western Conference finals led by their other star player, starting Point Guard, Steve Nash. To me, it shows heart and courage when one of your star players is injured, and you have been criticized for your toughness, to make it all the way the Western Conference Finals, and lose putting up a courageous fight.

I think this a beautifully written book by Jack Mcallum. He really gets to know all the players and coaches, and also finds out about their individual conflicts. He writes it in a way that makes you want to keep reading. He finds out about how the Suns do everything and how the players interact with each other.

Even though I liked this book, some people may not. This would be pretty boring to somebody who is not really interested in sports, let alone basketball, but if you do like basketball than I recommend this book. View all 4 comments. May 22, Oliver Bateman rated it really liked it. As "year-in-the-life" books go, this one is okay McCallum, as unobtrusive and self-effacing a narrator as one might hope to find, offers up good profiles of Suns coaches Mike D'Antoni not exactly the most cerebral, Xs and Os-oriented coach, it turns out , Alvin Gentry a thoughtful, competent sort , Marc Iavaroni as close to an "intellectual" as one might find in the coaching profession , an As "year-in-the-life" books go, this one is okay McCallum, as unobtrusive and self-effacing a narrator as one might hope to find, offers up good profiles of Suns coaches Mike D'Antoni not exactly the most cerebral, Xs and Os-oriented coach, it turns out , Alvin Gentry a thoughtful, competent sort , Marc Iavaroni as close to an "intellectual" as one might find in the coaching profession , and Dan D'Antoni Mike's brother, a former high school coach, Marshall star, and nepotism beneficiary.

He doesn't really take sides or dig very deeply, and his focus on the coaching side of things prevents him from drawing back and examining issues of team chemistry as in The Jordan Rules, although these Suns aren't nearly as compelling as those Bulls were or roster construction as in Cameron Stauth's The Franchise. This is also a very short book, something that can be finished in a few hours. Nonetheless, I've heard McCallum's book on the ' Celtics Unfinished Business is better, his own claims about having less team access to the contrary, so I'll probably read my bargain copy of that in a few weeks.

Time allowing, I may tackle his new book on the Dream Team later in the year. Oct 23, Sean rated it really liked it Shelves: Based on the title I was a bit worried that McCallum was going to insert himself into too many of the situations and focus more on himself rather than the coaches and players. This happens, but it's rare. The Suns in the mid 's were probably the funnest team to watch as D'Antoni's take on the game was so fresh and original and really made for entertaining basketball. Especially cause my team, the Rockets, was so bad at the time. There seems to be a team every decade that you can't believe di Based on the title I was a bit worried that McCallum was going to insert himself into too many of the situations and focus more on himself rather than the coaches and players.

There seems to be a team every decade that you can't believe didn't win a title looking back. In the 80's it was the Rockets, the 90's the Magic, the Suns in the 00's and it will probably be the Thunder in the '10's can't trade a top 5 player and not face the consequences. The book does a great job profiling every player and naturally you are going to be drawn to some personalities more than others. Eddie House and Amare Stoudemire are both hilarious, one intentional the other it's hard to tell cause he's so dumb. You can also see why Gentry has had a job in the NBA for so long, the guy knows his stuff and seems like a great guy.

Probably a must read if you love basketball but everyone else can skip it. I'd give it 5 stars but it's tough when you already know how it ends. My favorite quote from the book: Jun 21, Allison Hogue rated it it was amazing Shelves: At first, he thinks he is just going to be in Phoenix for a few days just to do interviews and see what life is like as a player, but what he didn't expect was to get invited by the coach to stay with them on the bench for the entire season. From extreme upsets and tough losses to making a huge run into the NBA playoffs, this is a story that would get fans on their fe A Season with the Underdog Jack McCallum, a journalist for Sports Illustrated, decides to write a story for the Phoenix Suns.

From extreme upsets and tough losses to making a huge run into the NBA playoffs, this is a story that would get fans on their feet. Including some amazing talented players such as Steve Nash and Shawn Marion. This is a season that brings the Phoenix Sun to the point as one of the greatest in sports history. This is a story of a team that makes a runnin' and gunnin' to the season shocking everybody that they would make it this far. Reaching greatest moments occur as the teams takes on grueling challenges and learn how to become a better team. McCallum gives an outlook of his experience with the team especially on the character they show.

Including a special character of the head coach Marc Iavorani. Who is not just about winning, but also learning challenges that will make players succeed in life on and off the court and get to a goal they would reach in a lifetime. We volgen het basketbalteam Phoenix Suns tijdens het seizoen , voor en achter de schermen. De Phoenix Suns staan bekend om hun aanvallende speelstijl, en verbazen vriend en vijand met hun uitstekende resultaten.

Sportschrijver Jack McCallum senior basketball writer bij Sports Illustrated kreeg het privilege om dit team gedurende het volledige seizoen van heel dichtbij te volgen, van de eerste training tot de laatste toespraak in de kleedkamer. McCallum is zich In't kort: McCallum is zich ten zeerste bewust van zijn privilege en laat zijn lezers ten volle meegenieten. Het boek begint 'in medias res', bij de start van de playoffs, en we krijgen een gedetailleerd verslag van elke dag tijdens die playoffs: Daartussen komen enkele flash-backs naar het begin van het seizoen.

McCallum zet ook elke belangrijke pion even in de schijnwerpers: Doordat McCallum dit genuanceerd maar gedetailleerd beschrijft, krijg je als lezer een mooi beeld van hoe het er in een professioneel topteam echt aan toe gaat. En da's soms erg verrassend. May 1, Location: Booksale Robinson's Bacolod Price: I'm just not going to do that to you. And if I did, I'm certain I'd be offending both the copyright holders and my hosting service. So, let's do this. Here are my notes, to give you a flavor of the kind of juice that's in these pages.

If there's something in here that you just have to know more about, start a riot in the comments, and I'll happily indulge a topic or two:. Marion doesn't want to switch off Odom when picked--if Odom scores big, Marion gets media blame p63 NO ONE understands the defensive three second rule p66 Nash asks D'Antoni if he believes the referee conspiracy theories Bennett Salvatore always part of that conversation p68 Raja Bell on "double secret probation" p74 scouting report on Eddie House: When he hears that Kwame Brown is being investigated for sexual assault says "was the assault on Boris Diaw?

I mean, just think about what you're doing right now. I can only guess what that means.

07 Seconds or Less - Wikipedia

Raja to Jerry Colangelo after big win: It's fascinating stuff, reading the inner-politics of a team trying to win, as opposed to the more common "reflection by a winning team on what it was like to dig deep and win". Excellent basketball writing; i'd consider it in the same class as Season on the Brink in terms of it's access and the connection you begin to feel with certain members of the team and staff.

A Must read for any above-average basketball person. I'm an SI subscriber, so I've been reading Jack for years in the magazine. I was looking forward to this book ever since I put it on my wishlist, and I wasn't disappointed.

Seven Seconds or Less

They gave him really great access, and the coaches seemed to relax around him and give him good quotes. He has a smooth and engaging writing style, which works great for wriiting about sports. And he did not treat the players like Gods, and that was very key. He made Shawn Marion look like he was, your typical insecure semi-superstar, and allowed Amare Stoudemire to appear as the clueless, under-educated athlete that he is. Reserve guard Eddie House wound up being the star of the book, player category, he's very entertaining without coming off like a jerk.

A couple of quibbles: Jack really does not like Mark Cuban, and takes as many shots at him as he coould. Makes a person wonder if he tried to float this book idea by the Mavericks and was turned down. The other, far bigger gripe, is that the book was too short. It seemed that he rushed it to get it out quickly, and thus the focus so much on the playoffs, with the preseason and regular season not touched on much.

I know that this is paritially a compliment, wanting the book to be much bigger, and I mean it that way. It just seems rushed. All in all a great buy, well worth the money I paid, and I got it right here at Amazon. One person found this helpful. A great, well-written and funny book exploring what goes on behind closed doors on an NBA team. If you're looking for a book that delves into players affinity for clubs, booze and girls, then you'll have to look elsewhere. The Suns are a pretty clean club, and I'm sure they've done some stuff that isn't included in the book.

What is included is an insiders look into the thought processes of coaches and players and discusses how the relationships within a professional organization can affect the win-loss column. I kind of wish the Suns would've won it all in so that this book could've been longer.

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Also, you don't have to be a Suns fan to appreciate this book. I'm a die-hard Pistons fan, and found this read very enjoyable. On thing to point out: Otherwise, there really isn't anything worse than that, though. I'm going to keep this short, because I know I hate when people are too wordy with these reviews.

1. Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns;
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This is probably the best book about the NBA lifestyle that I have ever read. I know this might sound crazy, but that is just how well written the book is. I also have to give a ton of credit to Mike D, the coaching staff, and the players; something tells me that with any other group of guys this wouldn't have gone as well, but since these guys were all so willing to open up and let a journalist become part of their team So basically, if you want to know what went on behind the scenes with the Phoenix Suns during their run to the Western Conf.

Finals and basically just what it feels like to be part of a coaching staff everyday on an NBA powerhous, then buy this book I guarantee you won't put it down until you're done. Even if you're not a fan of the Steve Nash Phoenix Suns or Mike D'Antoni's coaching guilty as charged on the 2nd , this book gives you a good sense of what coaching and game planning look like behind the scenes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The book mainly progresses game to game during their playoff run, with a few regular season games sprinkled in here and there to refresh the viewer. Jack McCallum does a great job at writing in general. Finished the book in 2 days, amazing read, and well written. You laugh at the pranks,and player banter, and you see the daily struggles of life within a bright spotlight.