Game 31: Denver Nuggets (11-17) @ Phoenix Suns (12-18)

[bwgood77]

Suns are tied with Minnesota for the 6th worst record in the league. With the negative momentum we have developed over the last several games I can see us being one of the worst 2-4 teams in the the league by end of year.

Well maybe it is all for the best and we end up winning the lottery. Funny tweet I saw....favorited by Minnesota fans (I'm guessing)

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BreakTheHuddle/status/679887546730414080[/tweet]

Great. They can sign him next season. Good luck.

I hope he doesn't. Not sure he'd want to move to Minnesota. But they have a hell of a lot more talent than the team Horny took to 48 wins in a much tougher western conference a couple of years ago, so they'd probably destroy us for years. They may anyway.

[TeamTragic]

Well maybe it is all for the best and we end up winning the lottery. Funny tweet I saw....favorited by Minnesota fans (I'm guessing)

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BreakTheHuddle/status/679887546730414080[/tweet]

Great. They can sign him next season. Good luck.

I hope he doesn't. Not sure he'd want to move to Minnesota. But they have a hell of a lot more talent than the team Horny took to 48 wins in a much tougher western conference a couple of years ago, so they'd probably destroy us for years. They may anyway.

If next season Hornacek is coaching the Wolves and they destroy us along with making the play-offs then I will have stop watching the NBA. How much more bull**** can fans endure?

[Jarlaxle0204]

What are you talking about? Kings currently have a better record then we do and are not that far off from the 8th seed. Come on.

You think he's a good owner? The guy who wanted his team to legitimately play 4 on 5 on defense and cherry pick? If so, I can't have a conversation with you.

Again. Better record. Can possibly make the play-offs. Comparing Sarver to Ranadive would be like comparing getting stabbed in one eye versus both. Besides Ranadive has a decent looking daughter

Fair enough and I'll agree with you on his daughter.

I'll disagree with you though about him being a better owner. Our team's record last year was better than there's. I don't think whichever team has the better current record directly relates to how good their owners are. I'll stop this though as I'm detracting from the current mood of hating on the team. Carry on.

[Cutter]

Hornacek sort of ripping on the players in the post game interview. Rick Carlisle is doing the same thing on Mavs players.

Coaches contribute 10% towards a winning team while talent contributes 90%. You can turn over coaches all you want, but until you have great talent on the floor you aren't going to win many games.

Occasionally you can have a perfect system with the exact right players and over achieve for a season like the Suns did 2 years ago with their 48 win season. Honestly I believe the season we are having now is the season the FO wanted to have 2 years ago. Unfortunately Goran messed things up,and helped us win too many games.

[bwgood77]

I would REALLY love to get Tyson Chandler's true take on everyone on the team and the coaches.

[Revived]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SeanSullivanNBA/status/679892032064634880[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SeanSullivanNBA/status/679892579404546054[/tweet]

[Cutter]

It feels like Bledsoe has really regressed as the season has progressed. I'm wondering if he feels the pressure of carrying a team? Hornacek made a comment tonight that players "get paid" and once they get their contract don't try quite as hard as before. I wonder if he was referring to Bledsoe?

[Revived]

Btw I know most of us are (rightfully) blaming Hornacek for a lot of the struggle. But how come McD isn't getting any blame for waiting so long to trade Kieff?

Just like last year when he didn't trade at least one of the 3 PGs until literally the very last second at the trade deadline which caused so much problems.

McD needs to learn to make moves in a more timely fashion, he isn't doing Hornacek any favors.

[SunsRback4Good]

I missed tonight's game. I'm not just going to look at the box score so can you guys tell me who played great, good and bad on our team? Thanks, love you.

[bwgood77]

Hornacek sort of ripping on the players in the post game interview. Rick Carlisle is doing the same thing on Mavs players.

Coaches contribute 10% towards a winning team while talent contributes 90%. You can turn over coaches all you want, but until you have great talent on the floor you aren't going to win many games.

Occasionally you can have a perfect system with the exact right players and over achieve for a season like the Suns did 2 years ago with their 48 win season. Honestly I believe the season we are having now is the season the FO wanted to have 2 years ago. Unfortunately Goran messed things up,and helped us win too many games.

I agree with you. You give Horny most of the rosters truly in the playoff hunt, no problem. But Sarver is like some here on the board and jumps to conveniently easy conclusions and decisions that are detrimental to the team in the long run.

Where can I see this interview?

Also, I would like to say, at this point I would trade everyone other than Price (no trade value anyway but probably good leader for young guys), Booker, Warren, Len, Knight (willing to give him a chance a bit longer), Leuer/Telly (no trade value since impending FA's), and possibly Chandler because he may not have much value and may be that leadership he was supposed to be with guys like Markieff and Bledsoe gone. Tucker is fine to go too, but I seriously doubt Chandler has a problem with how he is playing since he is pure effort...honestly Tucker and Price kept us IN this game tonight.

[Puff]

It feels like Bledsoe has really regressed as the season has progressed. I'm wondering if he feels the pressure of carrying a team? Hornacek made a comment tonight that players "get paid" and once they get their contract don't try quite as hard as before. I wonder if he was referring to Bledsoe?

For the first part of the season Bledsoe was playing very well.

In recent games he has reverted to last years antics. If he does not play at a high level we have no chance to be a good team.

[bwgood77]

It feels like Bledsoe has really regressed as the season has progressed. I'm wondering if he feels the pressure of carrying a team? Hornacek made a comment tonight that players "get paid" and once they get their contract don't try quite as hard as before. I wonder if he was referring to Bledsoe?

That could apply to Bledsoe, Knight, Chandler, Kieff and a # of players.

[bwgood77]

It feels like Bledsoe has really regressed as the season has progressed. I'm wondering if he feels the pressure of carrying a team? Hornacek made a comment tonight that players "get paid" and once they get their contract don't try quite as hard as before. I wonder if he was referring to Bledsoe?

For the first part of the season Bledsoe was playing very well.

In recent games he has reverted to last years antics. If he does not play at a high level we have no chance to be a good team.

This is the reason I think maybe we should try and trade him since he HAS been a stud in some games. Other teams may not realize that he sometimes doesn't care and is pretty sloppy. They probably know about the sloppy part, but maybe not the 'not care" part or lack of effort. Get something for him.....if we could trade him for Marcus Smart and maybe Olynyk or someone I would probably do it. I know these guys don't lack effort. Though in that particular scenario, I wish Smart could shoot better. But he is a better defender than Bledsoe imo.

[Sunsss]

If I was the coach I'd have resigned by now. He's got some patience. (or really need the money)

[bwgood77]

If I was the coach I'd have resigned by now. He's got some patience. (or really need the money)

I know. I've heard other well reasoned people say the same.

[bwgood77]

For people asking why Chandler/Len were not in much.

The Nuggets went at Phoenix with a small-ball lineup with forward Kenneth Faried playing center. Phoenix didn’t settle in until Hornacek countered by putting small forward P.J. Tucker on the aggressive rebounder.

“Put P.J. on him and look what happened? We got back in the game. We need more of those guys who play like that,” Hornacek said, before later adding, “We got to get tougher guys.

“We always say when we interview guys, ‘Do you like to win or hate to lose?’ We want guys who hate to lose,” the Suns coach added. “Tuck’s one of those guys.”

http://arizonasports.com/story/498849/markieff-morris-towel-jeff-hornacek-coach-suns/

[bwgood77]

I missed tonight's game. I'm not just going to look at the box score so can you guys tell me who played great, good and bad on our team? Thanks, love you.

On both sides of the ball? Only Price and Tucker. Price was awesome tonight, and Tucker was our only big (if you can call him that) with a great effort. Leuer was also good scoring and rebounding and Knight shot well. For the most part, Bledsoe and Warren were terrible.

But Knight and Bledsoe's D's on their guards sucked....I mean as bad as it can get.

[RunDogGun]

Well maybe it is all for the best and we end up winning the lottery. Funny tweet I saw....favorited by Minnesota fans (I'm guessing)

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BreakTheHuddle/status/679887546730414080[/tweet]

Great. They can sign him next season. Good luck.

I hope he doesn't. Not sure he'd want to move to Minnesota. But they have a hell of a lot more talent than the team Horny took to 48 wins in a much tougher western conference a couple of years ago, so they'd probably destroy us for years. They may anyway.

I like living in Minny.

[thamadkant]

For people asking why Chandler/Len were not in much.

The Nuggets went at Phoenix with a small-ball lineup with forward Kenneth Faried playing center. Phoenix didn’t settle in until Hornacek countered by putting small forward P.J. Tucker on the aggressive rebounder.

“Put P.J. on him and look what happened? We got back in the game. We need more of those guys who play like that,” Hornacek said, before later adding, “We got to get tougher guys.

“We always say when we interview guys, ‘Do you like to win or hate to lose?’ We want guys who hate to lose,” the Suns coach added. “Tuck’s one of those guys.”

http://arizonasports.com/story/498849/markieff-morris-towel-jeff-hornacek-coach-suns/

Tucker might be very limited offensively.. he may have regressed defensively.... he might drink too much during his free time... but he puts effort.


Hornacek saying that wont help anyone... because Tucker is in the NBA because of his hustle and effort... not talent.


The team... this team... that McD has put together is NOT a team.. but a collection of players that likes to win but doesnt HATE losing apart from Tucker. And I bet Chandler too... the youngins I can understand... Goodwin, Booker, Len, Warren etc... these guys are likely just trying to establish themselves in the NBA. Making money and getting a contract is important to them moreso than winning.... I can totally understand that.

But for the rest?... millionaires, veterans etc... McD needs to establish a WINNING culture... players that sacrifice themselves for the team's betterment.

Suns will likely need to re-rebuild... Knight, Bledsoe, Chandler etc are not going to lead this team to the playoffs...

[JMac1]

smh...Glad Booker didn't play, because he is the reason that we are losing...............