HC Hornacek: Too many Suns players are trying to be "the guy"

[sunsfan88]

On not having one or two go-to guys, but rather five or six guys who can all score at about the same proficiency in a one-on-one setting, I asked the coach about tough it is for the guys not to have a hierarchy.

"Yes, but I think they're all trying to do that," he said of trying to be 'the man'. "That's the case where you've got to let it come naturally. We're searching for a guy and trying to throw in different guys and sometimes they try too hard to be the guy."

Then Hornacek went down a road he hadn't gone down before: that his point guards are too focused on scoring when they drive to the hoop, that they need to spend more effort setting up teammates for kickouts.

"I thought we had a couple of those late that," he explained. "If we just take it in there with a purpose of ‘I'm not trying to score, I'm trying to give one of my teammates an easy shot.' I don't think we have enough of that on this team. These guys are all very good offensive players, and they think they can take their guys at all times, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. They should be good enough offensively where they can create something for a teammate, and it's on the teammates to cut and move to open spots and give them a passing lane. That's just playing."

There's no doubt in my mind that we all know which PG he's mainly referring to in those comments.

Other selfish players who never pass and only try to get their own are Green and Marcus.

What I found most interesting was the comment about "I don't think we have enough" unselfish players on the team.

Its funny that he says that and YET, he has a pass first PG in Tyler Ennis and a scorer who doesn't need to dominate the ball in TJ Warren both glued to the bench.

I honestly don't think Hornacek or anyone on the Suns staff knows what the heck their doing.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think Hornacek is in a bind being a young coach without having long term job security. Does he have to worry about winning now or can he play the players that he thinks best serves the team long term? This is where the GM and owner need to give him support and guidance.

 

[SirStefan32]

There's no doubt in my mind that we all know which PG he's mainly referring to in those comments.

Other selfish players who never pass and only try to get their own are Green and Marcus.

What I found most interesting was the comment about "I don't think we have enough" unselfish players on the team.

Its funny that he says that and YET, he has a pass first PG in Tyler Ennis and a scorer who doesn't need to dominate the ball in TJ Warren both glued to the bench.

I honestly don't think Hornacek or anyone on the Suns staff knows what the heck their doing.

Just where the hell is he supposed to find minutes for them? The Suns' three best players are point guards. The only competent two-way player on the rest of the roster is Tucker who is a SF, and the best shooter on the team is Marcus Morris who is also a SF. Because of too many PGs, Green has to get some minutes as a SF as well.

I think Hornacek could do better, but to put most or all blame on his is just silly.

 

[95pro]

I think Green and Bledsoe grew into that role of being the guy. Green being the hot hand most times. Bledsoe being the highest paid player. IT, well he's a ball stopper much like melo. It's obvious the way cousin's felt and it shows with our team.

It seems like the players know they're on short term low-dollar contracts. Maybe everyone, except Bledsoe (because he already got his), is looking for a bigger payday.

our FO has just made too many lateral moves: Marcus, Tolliver, Zoran. Kind of reminds me when amare left, and we tried to fill the team with Childress and Warrick.

I'll say it again, but we missed out on a glue and team guy like Luol Deng instead of the junk we have at sf right now. Even tucker seems to being going one on one too many times.

Coach is part of the problem as well. Roles and rotations need to be defined by this point of the season.

 

[BC867]

Just where the hell is he supposed to find minutes for them? The Suns' three best players are point guards. The only competent two-way player on the rest of the roster is Tucker who is a SF, and the best shooter on the team is Marcus Morris who is also a SF. Because of too many PGs, Green has to get some minutes as a SF as well.

I think Hornacek could do better, but to put most or all blame on his is just silly.

That is true. In his second season as Head Coach, he is working with a very unbalanced roster, as we all know.

I am sure he didn't expect that when he accepted the job.

But he is not totally helpless. He could decide on a rotation and give it a chance to gel.

I honestly don't think Hornacek or anyone on the Suns staff knows what the heck their doing.

I think Horny knows what he is doing. He's set an approach of . . . when it comes to playing time each game, it is up for grabs. Guys, go compete!

So they are. I fault Jeff for not anticipating that it would destroy teamwork.

 

[sunsfan88]

Just where the hell is he supposed to find minutes for them? The Suns' three best players are point guards. The only competent two-way player on the rest of the roster is Tucker who is a SF, and the best shooter on the team is Marcus Morris who is also a SF. Because of too many PGs, Green has to get some minutes as a SF as well.

I think Hornacek could do better, but to put most or all blame on his is just silly.

Marcus Morris is one of the most selfish players on the team. As is Green.

Warren should be getting minutes over both of them so that those idiots can learn about teamwork instead of being ball hogs.

 

[Chaplin]

Marcus Morris is one of the most selfish players on the team. As is Green.

Warren should be getting minutes over both of them so that those idiots can learn about teamwork instead of being ball hogs.

Gerald Green was never known as a playmaker and never will. Even point-a-minute guys like Green have very important roles on any team.

TJ Warren's reputation is exactly the same, so I'm not sure why you think playing him more will magically solve our problems.

 

[sunsfan88]

Gerald Green was never known as a playmaker and never will. Even point-a-minute guys like Green have very important roles on any team.

TJ Warren's reputation is exactly the same, so I'm not sure why you think playing him more will magically solve our problems.

Their not gonna magically solve our problems now, however we need to develop guys like Warren and Ennis so they perhaps they could solve our problems in the future.

 

[Errntknght]

Gerald Green was never known as a playmaker and never will. Even point-a-minute guys like Green have very important roles on any team.

TJ Warren's reputation is exactly the same, so I'm not sure why you think playing him more will magically solve our problems.

Warren's reputation includes being a consistent scorer, which Gerald Green is not. At one time Hornacek commented positively on Warren's defense and I doubt that anyone has ever said that about Green. His larger size and weight suggest that he can probably rebound better as well.

I like having a gunner like Green on the team but off the bench in desperate circumstances - day in and day out I'd prefer a better rounded and more consistent player.

Frankly I'd play Goodwin ahead of Green and take the lumps that come with it - but of course I don't have to worry about job security. I don't think Hornacek has to worry about it much either and not pushing the development of your young guys can wind up biting you in the behind, too.