There was evidence that Jay Triano would be good for the Phoenix Suns way back before he had drawn up a play or called a timeout.
“Jay Triano!”
The voice was familiar, if faint. Triano, the newly installed interim head coach, didn’t hear it at first.
“Jay Triano!”
It was Oct. 23, 2017, the fourth game of a season that already looked lost. The Suns were 0-3, having given up 124, 132 and 130 points. One loss was by 48 points. Another was by 42. Coach Earl Watson had been fired, replaced by Triano, a longtime assistant and former Toronto head man with extensive Olympic experience as a player and coach.