Hornacek looking great so far

[sunsfan88]

I know its only been 6 games but Hornacek has looked very good thus far. We were supposed to get blown out every night and yet we haven't been blown out even once not even by the reigning West champs Spurs and the favorites from the West, Thunder.

Our only two losses are against arguably the two best teams in the conference. And even those losses were very close.

For a team that supposedly had such little talent according to the "experts", we sure have guys stepping up and playing good ball.

Hornacek also figured out how to use Markieff unlike Gentry. Gentry wanted to turn him into Frye 2.0 but Hornacek is actually using his post game, mid range game etc. I don't expect Markieff to continue this hot streak but at least he will attract more attention from the defense freeing up someone else to get points.

Its a very young season but Hornacek has done a great job thus far and deserves to be recognized.

 

[Superbone]

Yep, loving his demeanor out there. The guys play hard for him too. I couldn't have asked for a better start to his coaching career. He has the chance to become a very good coach. So glad we picked him. The McDonough era is getting off to a magical start.

 

[frdbtr]

Everyone was talking (in the media) that this Suns team was in a race for the #1 pick. I think we can put that thought to bed. This team might compete for the playoffs. Horny has done a phenomenal job, I don't think anyone foresaw this team playing as well as it is. Of course it is a long season and anything can happen but this has turned out to be a good hire. I love Hornecek was one of my all time favorite players, glad to have him back as a Sun.

 

[ProdigalSun]

Everyone was talking (in the media) that this Suns team was in a race for the #1 pick. I think we can put that thought to bed. This team might compete for the playoffs. Horny has done a phenomenal job, I don't think anyone foresaw this team playing as well as it is. Of course it is a long season and anything can happen but this has turned out to be a good hire. I love Hornecek was one of my all time favorite players, glad to have him back as a Sun.

Neither Philly nor Phoenix look very much like lottery bound teams at this point. Both McDonough and Hornacek have been brilliant thus far. High lottery pick or not I think this team is going to be contending sooner than we all think

 

[BC867]

'Agree. As I posted last night on the thread of the Nuggets game:

Jeff Hornacek is looking like a genius!

In six games so far, the Suns are 3-0 at home (best in the Division) and 1-2 on the road (2nd best in the Division). Without Dragic in the last three games.

Jeff goes 12 deep to keep his players on their toes vs. D'Antoni's 7 deep. Jeff's team plays defense vs. 'Antoni's -- oh, never mind. Jeff is teaching and playing guys with little experience vs. Mickey D' saying it wasn't his job.

And even when we blew the lead vs. the Nuggets in the 3rd quarter, we were able to take it back in the 4th.

In a very short time, Jeff Hornacek is looking like a genius in his first Head Coaching experience! It shouldn't be a surprise. As a young Suns player, he used to diagram plays on the palm of his hand during timeouts.

'Lookin' good! Build a winning attitude and add a key free agent during the off-season and we're back in business.

 

[AZ Native]

Here what Pops had to say:

Pop ‘hates’ Hornacek

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was asked what he thought of Hornacek and his hire as Suns coach.

“I hate Jeff Hornacek,” Popovich said in his pregame press playfulness. “He was too tough as a player. He was too good of a shooter. He was too smart. I hated him.

“I can’t imagine him not doing a great job. He’s a quality one. He’s got great character and great perseverance. I’m sure he’ll be demanding and fair. It was great move and it’s going to prove to be really wise as time goes on.”

Told of Popovich’s feigned hatred, Hornacek said: “It’s nice to hear him say that. I was probably just a guy who played hard. I always thought I probably could have been a guy who, just like the Jerry Sloan teams in Utah, I could have fit right in on this team.”

 

[Gaddabout]

The bar is very low right now. It's not the measure of a coach.

I was one who loved this hire from the start, but I'm cautious to give a thumbs up on his performance for this year. Everything's fresh. Let's see how the team handles adversity -- especially Bledsoe.

 

[Gaddabout]

The bar is very low right now. It's not the measure of a coach.

I was one who loved this hire from the start, but I'm cautious to give a thumbs up on his performance for this year. Everything's fresh. Let's see how the team handles adversity -- especially Bledsoe.

 

[sunsfan88]

Here's the reason that I'm excited about Hornacek right now: After 3 of our wins this season, he has said that he hated how we played and that we played sloppy and that he's not satisfied at all but he will take the win.

Most coaches, especially rookie coaches will be content with wins and probably not push their players that hard after the wins. Hornacek? Different story. And I love that.

 

[BC867]

The strength is in the West

It is only seven games into the season, but the Western Conference has nine teams with records over .500 and one more at .500.

While the Eastern Conference has three teams over .500 and two more at .500.

The collective record of Western Conference teams is 52-48 (4 games over .500). That of the Eastern Conference is 45-49 (4 games under .500).

And our Suns have started the season tied for the fourth best record in the NBA.

It is good to be a Suns fan. It is good to be in the West. It is good to be a member of the Arizona Sports Fan Network.

Cheers!

 

[JCSunsfan]

It is only seven games into the season, but the Western Conference has nine teams with records over .500 and one more at .500.

While the Eastern Conference has three teams over .500 and two more at .500.

The collective record of Western Conference teams is 52-48 (4 games over .500). That of the Eastern Conference is 45-49 (4 games under .500).

And our Suns have started the season tied for the fourth best record in the NBA.

It is good to be a Suns fan. It is good to be in the West. It is good to be a member of the Arizona Sports Fan Network.

Cheers!

If the playoffs started today, we would be third seed in the west. I know it is incredibly early, but not one of us would have thought that even at this point.

 

[frdbtr]

I've always been a huge fan of Hornecek. I was excited but saddened when he was hired as the Suns head coach. I was excited for him to get a shot but saddened because I figured that the suns ownership would doom him from the start. He has proved me wrong so far and I am ecstatic because of it. It seems that all he needs is a piece or two and he will be able to contend for the west. This team is exciting because no one saw this coming. It is still early but Horny deserves a very good grade for his job performance so far.

 

[Mainstreet]

The biggest compliment I can give Hornacek is that he coaches as he played. He was always a smart and heady player. He was also an approachable, unpretentious person who believed in hard work and playing for the good of the team. I think this has rubbed off on the players... work hard and I will give you playing time. He does not show favoritism.

 

[carrrnuttt]

I posted what's below in last night's Suns @ Jazz thread, but it bears repeating here:

-------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone checked out any of the Jazz forums recently?

Here's some recent gems:

Any guesses for how our record would be right now with Hornacek coaching us? I'd say 10-6, or 9-7.

A lot closer to .500 than they are.

If Hornacek was coaching us, we would be taking a lot more 3s and fast breaking a lot more which is the way I like to have my team play. Fast breaking basketball requires less smarts which would help our village idiot Burks play better.

Any guesses on Suns record if they didn't have Hornacek?!? Maybe .500, but probably less.

Suns record if they had Corbin, they would definitely have 4 wins tops.

What an idiot let Horny go, top pick wont replace such good coaching.

Looking at Phoenix's roster it's shocking they're 8-7.

HORNACECK is a GREAT COACH

Pheonix is so well coached.
Hornacek puts in Dragic on Burke. Dragic posts him up and causes 2 fouls on Burke.
Then what does Corbin do to fix this size problem? Puts in an even smaller point guard.

This is not to mention that they exploit the Jazz bigs coming out on the PnR too far. They're getting open shots all day by following their offense.

Phoenix are ****ing money from mid range

I always kinda dismissed people when they would say things like "oh we can get hornacek to work on his shot he'll be fine". but maybe there really is something to that

Suns look so well coached. Hmmm

Watching Horney outcoach Corbin is like watching that last great playoff series we had when Jerry Sloan completely dumped poor Adrian Dantley of the Nuggets when Karl was battling cancer.

From the offensive execution, rotation, to use of timeouts.

What a horrible mistake we made not dumping Corbin and letting Hornacek go. One that might haunt us for years.

man this has been a clinic by the Suns. Based on the rosters this game has to be a massive indictment on our coach.

Ive been pretty quiet on Ty this year. But this **** is getting embarrassing. I don't mind losing because we have no bench but the team is just not trying at all. And the vets are now getting too many minutes as well. So much for letting the future of this team grow up together. Just panic and throw the vets out there because you are unwilling or unable to teach the young guys. Way to go Ty, good job coaching.
.
Seriously does phoenix even have as much talent as the Jazz? Because they are a bunch of no names lighting up the league while the Jazz look confused and pathetic on both ends of the floor.

I miss Jeff Hornacek... Sad face

Just think how good Burke would be if Jeff was his coach

Let's play devil's advocate - what would our record be if Sloan was the coach?

Better yet, what would our record be if Hornacek was our coach?

Hornacek is the guy who works for a crappy company. Decides to open his own store and becomes a millionaire.

A Corbin coached Suns team (with their current roster) would be so gloriously terrible... my god... what did we do to deserve this

If there's anybody still defending Corbin, this game tonight settled it once and for all.

Two young, inexperienced teams chosen to finish in the bottom five... yet the Suns (chosen to finish dead last) are overachieving and may contend for a playoff spot. Even if they don't, Hornacek is bringing out a lot from this rag-tag group and they could have as many as four first round picks in next year's unprecedented draft. The Suns are without a doubt on the upswing.

The Jazz, projected by many to finish 5th to last, are in fact DEAD last. This team is sloppy, appears to have no direction, doesn't click well as a team, players repeatedly make the same mistakes, the young talent is not being developed the way it should be, mediocre vets still getting playing time for some reason, I could go on and on and on. It was painfully obvious tonight, as blatant as could be. Jeff Hornacek was clowning Ty Corbin all night long.

If you watched this game and still have any excuses for Ty, nothing in this world can fix what's wrong with you.

That being said, I know tanking for a star is what's best for this team long-term, so what the hell... keep Corbin around for the rest of the season because any other team is hard pressed to out-tank us as long as we've got Corbin running the show. It's just painful to see what a great up and coming coach we could have had in Hornacek, instead we're stuck (for now) with bone head Corbin.

How refreshing to see a well coached team get the most out of his talent...too bad the Jazz never had a shot at a coach like that.

And these are just from two small game threads from this game.

 

[jandaman]

Hornacek is an adequate ~ good coach.

With potential to be very good.


That may seem like an under rating... But even with my statement above, Hornacek is better than 75% of current league coaches and he is only getting better.

 

[BC867]

Hornacek is an adequate ~ good coach.

With potential to be very good.

That may seem like an under rating... But even with my statement above, Hornacek is better than 75% of current league coaches and he is only getting better.

I guess I would phrase that more positively. You may call Jeff an adequate~good coach after his first 16 games, but as a brand new Head Coach, he is showing signs that he could be a great one.

Great disposition, logical, complete. With a pedigree of being trained by his father (a basketball coach), Cotton Fitzsimmons and Jerry Sloan, all of whom evidently recognized how intelligent a basketball player he was.

He is no flash in the pan.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Hornacek is an adequate ~ good coach.

With potential to be very good.


That may seem like an under rating... But even with my statement above, Hornacek is better than 75% of current league coaches and he is only getting better.

The guy won Coach of the Year in his first year in charge, what more could you ask for?

Future Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

The guy won Coach of the Year in his first year in charge, what more could you ask for?

Future Steve

I think you are thinking of Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals Retro Steve.

Seriously, if the Suns continue to play well with the minimal talent most predicted, you may be right. Hornacek might have a legitimate shot at Coach of the Year.

 

[Sci Fi]

The guy won Coach of the Year in his first year in charge, what more could you ask for?

Future Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think you are thinking of Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals Retro Steve.

Seriously, if the Suns continue to play well with the minimal talent most predicted, you may be right. Hornacek might have a legitimate shot at Coach of the Year.

My guess, the chubby guy in KC has that one almost locked up.

BTW, I think by the end of the season people will stop looking down on our roster. Dragic has always had the ability to play with the best, he just lacked consistency. I think he's clearly top 50 right now, maybe top 25. Healthy, I think Bledsoe is a top 10 kind of player. And if I was positive the Morris twins were going to finally learn the difference between a good shot and a bad shot, I'd say they were each destined to play in a couple of All Star games. This is a good roster with a coaching staff that knows how to get the best out of them. I am in shock that we have made such strides since last season.

Steve

 

[elindholm]

The coaching comparison for Hornacek might be Doc Rivers, who in his first season marshaled a "terrible" Orlando Magic roster to a .500 record and did indeed win Coach of the Year.

 

[SirStefan32]

My guess, the chubby guy in KC has that one almost locked up.

BTW, I think by the end of the season people will stop looking down on our roster. Dragic has always had the ability to play with the best, he just lacked consistency. I think he's clearly top 50 right now, maybe top 25. Healthy, I think Bledsoe is a top 10 kind of player. And if I was positive the Morris twins were going to finally learn the difference between a good shot and a bad shot, I'd say they were each destined to play in a couple of All Star games. This is a good roster with a coaching staff that knows how to get the best out of them. I am in shock that we have made such strides since last season.

Steve

Do you think Bledsoe/ Dragic back court can work long-term? If not, which one do you keep?

 

[Mainstreet]

My guess, the chubby guy in KC has that one almost locked up.

I did a poor job of trying to draw a comparison between then first year head coach Bruce Arians and new first year head coach Jeff Hornacek (as a candidate) for Coach of the Year awards. Drawing an analogy between two different sports can do that.

BTW, I think by the end of the season people will stop looking down on our roster. Dragic has always had the ability to play with the best, he just lacked consistency. I think he's clearly top 50 right now, maybe top 25. Healthy, I think Bledsoe is a top 10 kind of player. And if I was positive the Morris twins were going to finally learn the difference between a good shot and a bad shot, I'd say they were each destined to play in a couple of All Star games. This is a good roster with a coaching staff that knows how to get the best out of them. I am in shock that we have made such strides since last season.

Steve

I agree about Dragic being able to play with the best. However, I have never felt the need to make the argument he is a top 50 player. There are five positions on the court and too much competition on that list. I am also in awe the Suns are playing this well early in the season. Perhaps surprisingly, I give a big assist for Plumlee being able to anchor the Suns defense inside. Of course Dragic has been the catalyst.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Do you think Bledsoe/ Dragic back court can work long-term? If not, which one do you keep?

I really don't see any problem with the two of them playing together. I take it that you don't think it can work? Are you worried about the size we're giving up or do you question how they'll work together on offense? I love the fact that we'll never really need to have a drop off out there when a point guard is resting and I also love the fact they can each create their own shot in addition to setting up their teammates.

Steve

 

[SirStefan32]

I really don't see any problem with the two of them playing together. I take it that you don't think it can work? Are you worried about the size we're giving up or do you question how they'll work together on offense? I love the fact that we'll never really need to have a drop off out there when a point guard is resting and I also love the fact they can each create their own shot in addition to setting up their teammates.

Steve

I am not sure yet. Dragic was hurt, Bledsoe was hurt, so we haven't had a chance to see enough to form an opinion. I was just asking to see how others see it.

I do like having two explosive PGs, but I am concerned about size, especially with Bledsoe. I am also concerned about Dragic being converted into a SG. I think both of them would be better off playing next to a real SG than playing alongside another PG. We'll see how everything looks once they get 20+ games together.