Hoops Habit
Fansided

Daily NBA Fix: Phoenix Suns Started From The Bottom, Still There

By Ben Gibson

Jan 31, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek yells to this team during the first half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek yells to this team during the first half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Phoenix Suns fired Jeff Hornacek today, reaffirming that things haven’t gone as planned since their playoff run three seasons ago.

As a new day dawned, the Phoenix Suns let the world know they would be starting anew.

By firing head coach Jeff Hornacek.

Hornacek’s record as the Suns coach had fallen below .500 this season at 101-112, but it isn’t as if things have really been going as planned in Phoenix for two years now.

The Suns tried to force their way into the Western Conference playoff picture last season after a surprising run in 2013-14, but the moves they made only forced out Goran Dragic and shuffled many of the pieces that had gotten them to the playoffs. Things didn’t work out as Phoenix had a 39-43 record and missed the playoffs. Injuries to Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, firing Hornacek’s assistants, and others issues compounded the situation as the Suns were 14-35 this season.

Were they at rock bottom? Let’s see what Markieff Morris said earlier in SI.com’s Ben Goliver’s post.

"“We’re at ground zero right now,” Markieff Morris said after Sunday’s 97-77 loss. “We can’t go no lower.”While Phoenix (12-25) might not have the league’s worst record, they’ve been playing the NBA’s worst basketball for some time now. Since their losing streak began on Dec. 20, the Suns have by far the league’s worst net rating (-14.6), the league’s second-worst defensive rating (112), and the league’s third-worst offensive rating (97.5). Their nine-game losing streak includes losses to five of the NBA’s nine worst teams, including the Sixers (3-33)."

And that was a few weeks ago. They are 2-10 since then, and that all is part of a 2-19 skid since Dec. 20.

Many of these issues could be traced back to the “Go for it” attitude owner Robert Sarver had as far as the team’s playoff aspirations in recent seasons. That impatience can’t be blamed on “Millennial Culture” this time, Mr. Sarver.

More from NBA

But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t time to move on from Hornacek. There is a certain point where even if the coach is still liked, a team has to consider hitting the reset button on everything. You can’t replace the hardware (the players) easily but you can change the software (the coaches) without as many issues.

Can the Suns hit rock bottom again? Doesn’t seem like they could do much worse as a -15.7 net rating in January was the league’s worst right.

However, my fear for the Suns going forward is if they have a real plan or not. They’ve made plenty of moves and interesting signings (Tyson Chandler comes to mind.), but from the outside looking in, there doesn’t appear to be a real idea of what’s going on.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say they just made moves from moves’ sake, I don’t think any team is that crazy, but I don’t think they’ve stuck to a plan in the past few seasons. When you look at the roster there are players to work with as Phoenix isn’t devoid of talent, but they need to figure out the best way to use it.

Whoever takes over for the rest of this season is still in question, but whoever the next full-time head coach for the Phoenix Suns better hope that Ryan McDonough and owner Robert Sarver stick to whatever plan they have going forward.

Another Triple-Double for Draymond

Draymond Green isn’t going to catch Oscar Robertson‘s record of 41, but he is leading the league in triple-doubles after picking up his ninth of the season in a victory over the New York Knicks .

When typically older people who don’t watch the NBA as often as they used to claim this Warriors team couldn’t hold up with the historical greats, they seem to forget that this is a team where a player like Draymond might not even be their second best player. The triumvirate of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green are a Big Three that isn’t really a “Big Three” like we normally think.

The Warriors winning another title feels like all but a sure thing if it weren’t for the San Antonio Spurs, thankfully giving us some drama in the Western Conference.

December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Griffin/Nixon 2016

The Los Angeles Clippers flat out hammered the Chicago Bulls in a 120-93 blowout on Sunday, but the best quote of the weekend came from Doc Rivers when asked about Blake Griffin’s latest incident.

"“You have to forgive people at some point. I believe that. We built Richard Nixon a library,” Rivers told reporters before L.A.’s game against the Lakers, asking for forgiveness on the matter. He also said that Griffin and Testi, who are friends, had talked since the incident."

More hoops habit: Phoenix Suns: 5 Long-Term Replacements For Jeff Hornacek

This is just Doc being Doc… or a subtle cue from Doc that Griffin should resign?