Phoenix Suns: Technically, Coach Hornacek Is Wrong
Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek hates technical fouls, especially when they come as a result of arguing with officials. For those unaware, he’s enacted a rule that states when a player gets assessed a technical foul for arguing with officials, they’re taken out for the duration of the game.
Hornacek stuck to his guns when Markieff Morris got one against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday and when Goran Dragic got one on Friday against the Houston Rockets. It’s admirable that he’s decided to lay down the law in an effort to create some discipline amongst the team, but is it necessary?
In the postgame presser after a 20-point loss to the Clippers, I asked coach Hornacek about his technical policy and if he was concerned that his team is being branded by the refs, causing an unfair disadvantage. He replied with the usual coach speak, but one specific quote stood out in reference to players who may or may not buy in:
"“We want players who want to win championships.”"
Coach related these arguing technicals to winning championships, which inspired me to do a bit of research to see how the previous nine champions fared in that respect. Here’s what I found:
- 2013-14 — Spurs, 37 technicals, t-23rd in NBA
- 2012-13 — Heat, 39, 25th
- 2011-12 — Heat, 46, t-16th
- 2010-11 — Mavericks, 83, 7th
- 2009-10 — Lakers, 77, 4th
- 2008-09 — Lakers, 75, 8th
- 2007-08 — Celtics, 97, 2nd
- 2006-07 — Spurs, 61, 26th
- 2005-06 — Heat, 99, 2nd
GIVING REFS SOME CREDIT
You can see from the list above that there appears to be no real correlation between technicals and championship success. Cool, calm teams like the 2013-14 Spurs and the 2012-13 Heat stayed out of trouble and won. Fired-up, powder keg teams like the 2009-10 Lakers and 2007-08 Celtics won while getting t’ed up with regularity.
I can understand the worry that Hornacek has about being called for more fouls because of reputation. The Suns are currently tied for first in the league in technicals (51) and are second in personal fouls (1036). However, that theory is debunked a bit as we see the league leader in personal fouls (Denver, 1046) is tied for 15th in technicals (24). Third place in personal fouls is Orlando with 1026 and they’re tied for 18th in technicals.
I’ve never been one to believe in “superstar calls” or believe that a group of three rotating referees can have a secret agenda where they’re going to call fouls against a team that they don’t like. There’s no evidence to support it and for me — in this day and age of technology — I believe any true outliers would stick out like a sore thumb.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Now, if coach Hornacek feels like the players are losing focus by arguing with the referees, that’s a whole different story. All too often, a player will hang back after getting knocked down to argue — instead of rushing back to help on defense. I don’t care who you are, playing 4-on-5 defensively will get you torched.
It’s not like the Suns are getting killed in the foul battle, either — they draw the eighth-most fouls (957) in the NBA. This is further proof that Hornacek’s concern over the technicals is just a veiled shot at the other issues that plague this team — most notably staying focused and on-task in games.
I’ve mentioned in the past how frustrating it must be to coach an unfocused team. Gerald Green is notorious for checking out during timeouts. The rookies are often gazing out at the crowd or watching the in-game entertainment on the screen. This may seem like a small thing, but watch a coach like Gregg Popovich to see what championship teams look like.
He’s got EVERY set of eyes on what’s being drawn up in the huddle. Why? Because he’s teaching — he’s making sure any single player can step in and produce when they need to. How can coach Hornacek garner that kind of respect? I think that’s the main issue he’s facing right now.
GAINING RESPECT
When a leader feels like they’re being disrespected by their subordinates, they can do one of two things — they can flex their muscles, showing their power, or they can try to find other ways to get through to the players. Hornacek has chosen the former.
The problem is, each person on the team is an individual and needs to be treated differently. I remember talking to Goran Dragic three seasons ago about former coach Lindsey Hunter and how he was a screamer on the sidelines. Dragic grew up in professional basketball and was used to that style from his time playing in Europe.
Other players look at that as a challenge to their manhood — and that’s not a good path to go down. In the lockerroom after the Clippers loss, Isaiah Thomas acknowledged that fact in relation to the technical policy:
"“If you’ve been a basketball player before, you get caught in the moment…it happens. I’m not going to go on what rules the coach has, just have to do the best possible to not get a technical.”"
Does that sound like the message is being received? Thomas has never been afraid to speak his mind, but that statement should be a huge red flag. He essentially said that he’d try to not get a technical, but he’s not going to stop being emotional just because the coach says so. That kind of defiance is dangerous and to go back to the Spurs example — it would NEVER happen in a Popovich locker room.
At some point, either the players or the coaching staff will have to give in. I don’t think limiting the player’s emotion is the right way to do it. Getting through to them means getting closer to them and coming together as a unit. As that respect grows, the results will follow.
Right now it’s like two rams pacing around, getting ready to butt heads — and that hurts everyone.