Alvin Gentry Fired: Twitter Reacts as Phoenix Suns Fire Head Coach

The Phoenix Suns decided to part ways with head coach Alvin Gentry on Friday, according to Jude LaCava of Fox 10 in Arizona. He originally took the job on an interim basis during the 2008-09 season before taking over full time the next season.

"

Alvin Gentry is out as head coach of the Suns

— Jude LaCava (@judefox10) January 18, 2013"

Phoenix currently sits in the Western Conference basement with a 13-28 record, which already puts them well out of the playoff picture. The front office apparently believed Gentry wasn't doing enough to turn the team around and proceeded let him go before the All-Star break.

The move led to an outburst of reactions on social media. Let's take a glance at some of the comments made about the Suns decision and what it could mean moving forward.

Suns forward Channing Frye, who hasn't played this season due to a heart issue, immediately expressed how much Gentry helped him.

"

I have grown so much playing under @alvingentry. I wish him and his family the best. He's a great coach and a better man. #thanksalvin

— Channing Frye (@Channing_Frye) January 18, 2013"

Praise of Gentry as an individual was a common theme. Kyndra de St. Aubin of KTAR 620 AM in Phoenix was among those to wish him luck.

"

Sad to see Alvin Gentry go. Awesome coach and more awesome guy. Good luck to him.

— Kyndra de St. Aubin (@Kyndra620) January 18, 2013"

Amin Elhassan of ESPN isn't a fan of the move by the Suns. He believes Gentry did all that he could with the talent provided to him.

"

Suns let go of Alvin Gentry...a man who happily made lemonade out of the disease infested lemons handed to him. Ridiculous move

— Amin Elhassan (@AminESPN) January 18, 2013"

Bleacher Report's Ethan Strauss holds a similar view of the decision and humorously expressed it on Twitter. It's clear the Suns lack talent, but Phoenix's brass clearly didn't find that to be a good enough reason to keep Gentry.

"

Alvin Gentry's always been what's holding this superstar-stocked Suns Dream Team roster back

— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) January 18, 2013"

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports provides Suns fans with an idea of who they can expect to control the team following Gentry's departure.

"

After firing of Alvin Gentry today, top candidates to become Suns interim coach: assistants Elston Turner and Lindsey Hunter, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 18, 2013"

An interesting tidbit is passed along by Andrew Gruman of Fox Sports Wisconsin. Coaches on the hot seat might want to avoid playing the Milwaukee Bucks.

"

The Bucks have been coach killers. First Avery Johnson, now Alvin Gentry. Both fired a day after losing to Milwaukee.

— Andrew Gruman (@AndrewGruman) January 18, 2013"

Master Tesfatsion, who covers Arizona State sports for the State Press, doesn't think the Suns had winning on their mind when they made the move.

"

To fire Gentry mid-season when he's not the problem gives me the idea that Suns are tanking for a top pick.

— Master Tesfatsion (@MasterTes) January 18, 2013"

Carolina Panthers long snapper and Suns fan JJ Jansen is among the countless number of people who don't blame Gentry for the team's struggles.

"

Really good coach. Terrible situation."@mikesolarte: RT @rick_bonnell: Shelby's Alvin Gentry has been fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns."

— JJ Jansen (@JJJansen44) January 18, 2013"

Finally, Brian Windhorst of ESPN sums up the general consensus among the Twitter universe. Gentry definitely has a lot of supporters on social media.

"

Alvin Gentry fired as Suns coach. Not all his fault. Despite a number of signings over last few years, roster has issues.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) January 18, 2013"

Twitter users don't make decisions for the Suns, but if their feelings about Gentry are echoed by executives around the NBA, he should land another job before too long.