Stein: Sources say Hornacek's job is "under immediate threat"

YouTube · Post #81 » by **Kerrsed** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:06 am

So let me get this straight.....

PROBLEM: Suns staff believe "There is also a growing fear within the organization that the team is no longer responding to its head coach."

SOLUTION: Fire both lead assistant coaches.

One thing i do like is that they held on to Bjorkgren. He has spent years coaching in the D-League, where its less about talent and more about real coaching/plays/teamwork. He also has experience in dealing with younger players and has spent a lot of time with our own Goodwin/Warren/Booker/Len. That i can get behind.

So out of a weird Suns Loyalty, Sarver wants us to give Coach a 2nd opportunity, but without Bledsoe and a real tough stretch of games coming up.....

Well.... while Knight was semi-expendable for a trade before, with Bledsoe out we can kiss that idea goodbye. So it looks like we shall keep our lame duck coach and continue marching towards that #1 draft pick.

Post #82 » by **batsmasher** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:07 am

Didn't Sichting not have a great reputation in the league? Longa did after his work in Boston but now it's looking like that was Doc and Thibs and definitely not him.

GMATCallahan · Post #83 » by **GMATCallahan** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:10 am

blacksun wrote:There were reports that Hornacek was against firing those two, so i guess its Sarver's idea. Fans are certainly pressuring him to do something, and he did. Bjorkgren is the coach of our D-League team IIRC. He also coached the summer suns this July. I think we also have Corey Gaines in there. FWIW i guess we have to be happy to know that they arent happy. They certainly have their work cut out for them.

As for Warren I agree. To me its crazy that Warren is universally loved while Goodwin is hated. Both dudes didnt improve much since getting into the league.Its just Warren already has an NBA ready skill. If were gonna go young, there is no reason to leave Goodwin out.

I would just as soon experiment with Goodwin as the starting small forward as Warren ...

And Goodwin possesses an NBA-level skill, too: slashing. Offensively, they are almost variations of the same guy. They are both talented at scoring at the basket, but Warren excels primarily by cutting or running and finishing with little dribbling, whereas Goodwin possesses more of a handle and can really slash or explode off the dribble from the wing while on the fast break or in transition. Occasionally, he can do so in the half-court as well. Warren's jumper is better right now, but neither is a reliable shooter at all. Neither contributes much of anything in terms of passing, rebounding, or defense, but Goodwin's defense is not as bad as Warren's and it carries the potential to be an asset—with the proper motivation.

Post #84 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:11 am

Spoiler:

I really think it is just more table setting for the eventual inevitable firing or step down or whatever they will call it for Hornacek. It will be easier to place an assistant in the role after this next brutal three game stretch. I think it is lip service so the don't fire the head coach after a player throwing a towel at him and having his best player go down.

letsgosuns · Post #85 » by **letsgosuns** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:16 am

Ryan McDonough has now become the official king of letting things drag on so far past their breaking point. He just does not know when to cut his losses. It is unreal.

blacksun · Post #86 » by **blacksun** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:17 am

bwgood77 wrote:I really think it is just more table setting for the eventual inevitable firing or step down or whatever they will call it for Hornacek. It will be easier to place an assistant in the role after this next brutal three game stretch. I think it is lip service so the don't fire the head coach after a player throwing a towel at him and having his best player go down.

But why fire them first? Why not just select Bjorkgren, and keep Sich and Longo, if thats plan, when Hornacek is fired? Or like fire Hornacek, Longo, Sichting all at the same time?

i505 · Post #87 » by **i505** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:21 am

Kerrsed wrote:So it looks like we shall keep our lame duck coach and continue marching towards that #1 draft pick.

Schwing.

YouTube · Post #88 » by **Kerrsed** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:25 am

letsgosuns wrote:Ryan McDonough has now become the official king of letting things drag on so far past their breaking point. He just does not know when to cut his losses. It is unreal.

He wanted to, it was HIS boss (Sarver) that wouldnt let him.

blacksun wrote:
bwgood77 wrote:I really think it is just more table setting for the eventual inevitable firing or step down or whatever they will call it for Hornacek. It will be easier to place an assistant in the role after this next brutal three game stretch. I think it is lip service so the don't fire the head coach after a player throwing a towel at him and having his best player go down.

But why fire them first? Why not just select Bjorkgren, and keep Sich and Longo, if thats plan, when Hornacek is fired? Or like fire Hornacek, Longo, Sichting all at the same time?

From what i have read, there is a strong loyalty between the 3. Just like when Gentry was sacked, his coaching staff quit too. Sich and Longo have been in the league for a while and i doubt they would have stuck around as a 1st year (NBA) coach surpassed them, specially after the guy that got them their jobs here was just fired.

I encourage everyone to take a quick read on Bjorkgren.

http://arizonasports.com/story/444753/nate-bjorkgren-suns-d-league-affiliation-jam/

Seems like a solid choice.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #89 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:30 am

One other mcd point is I feel like he hoodwinked me. He came in said all the right things about committing to a real rebuild and hell year one he followed through by cashing in the gortat Scola and dudely assets. But they happened to overachiev and win 48 games and he lost his vision. I can even forgive the IT signing because it was and still is a good contract but to not understand the what it would do to dragic and to not trade him that summer while his value was at its peak was idiotic. Then when things went bad last year to trade a great asset like the Lakers pick was shortsighted and foolish. Then to watch len start to figure it out last year only to bring in an old chandler to block him this year was down right criminal. I was dubious of that move from the day it was made but thought maybe the suns would zig as the rest of the NBA zagged towards small ball and they would play them together some and it would work out.... nope they don't even play a combined 48 minutes a night. I really hope the terrible chandler signing teaches Sarver that this notion of "veteran leadership" is a complete load of ****. These are adults, they need to act like it.

It's also the most predictable thing ever that keif is acting like a petulant child after they dealt his brother... to not have the foresight that would be a disaster is fireable by itself.

Puff · Post #90 » by **Puff** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:30 am

blacksun wrote:
bwgood77 wrote:I really think it is just more table setting for the eventual inevitable firing or step down or whatever they will call it for Hornacek. It will be easier to place an assistant in the role after this next brutal three game stretch. I think it is lip service so the don't fire the head coach after a player throwing a towel at him and having his best player go down.

But why fire them first? Why not just select Bjorkgren, and keep Sich and Longo, if thats plan, when Hornacek is fired? Or like fire Hornacek, Longo, Sichting all at the same time?

This is called the "SARVER TOUCH"

He makes your life in Phoenix so horrible you end up stepping down, like MDA did, so he does not have to pay you.

I am just happy that neither of the guys let go are going to be our next head coach. Sarver and McDonough must have got an ear full in those interviews with the players. If Jeff would stand up for his players like he apparently did for his assistant coaches maybe we wouldn't have "MUTINY ON THE HORNY". It is just a matter of time until Jeff is either fired or quits, IMO.

Post #91 » by **rsavaj** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:31 am

Firing the assistants and not the head coach is one of the weirdest things I've heard of.

With that "Hornacek was adamantly against their firing" tidbit from Woj's article, it almost reads like they were maybe trying to get him to quit.

I don't think a coaching change is going to make a huge difference, even if you replace Hornacek.

Post #92 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:32 am

blacksun wrote:
bwgood77 wrote:I really think it is just more table setting for the eventual inevitable firing or step down or whatever they will call it for Hornacek. It will be easier to place an assistant in the role after this next brutal three game stretch. I think it is lip service so the don't fire the head coach after a player throwing a towel at him and having his best player go down.

But why fire them first? Why not just select Bjorkgren, and keep Sich and Longo, if thats plan, when Hornacek is fired? Or like fire Hornacek, Longo, Sichting all at the same time?

Well I have no idea what is going on, but I can understand a long time Suns fan being a backer of Hornacek and knowing there were all kinds of issues hanging over the roster this season, that he would possibly want to save face, because despite what we all think here should happen, there will be a bit of a public backlash amongst casual Suns fans with a firing after the towel incident and Bledsoe injury on top of all the issues this year. In hindsight it all should have happened sooner, but if most of us are hoping for the high pick over the playoffs (though I'd be happier with either as long as we don't land in the middle of those two options which is par for us) who cares? But I'm guessing Sarver is still demanding playoffs when he should realize we need to play the young guys and hopefully get into that top 3, but playing young guys should definitely get us to the 4th to 5th worst record anyway.

Post #93 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:34 am

rsavaj wrote:Firing the assistants and not the head coach is one of the weirdest things I've heard of.

With that "Hornacek was adamantly against their firing" tidbit from Woj's article, it almost reads like they were maybe trying to get him to quit.

I don't think a coaching change is going to make a huge difference, even if you replace Hornacek.

Any respectful manager is going to be adamantly against the people under him being fired. I'd respect Hornacek less if he wasn't against us...he likely feels it's not their fault and that it is his if anything. I saw another poster laughing at that fact but I understand the he probably doesn't understand this concept.

Grots · Post #94 » by **Grots** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:35 am

Goodwin's defense is not as bad as Warren's

I don't buy that at all. I'm a big "Goodwin should get more of a chance" guy, but he always surprises me with how bad he is on defense. He is constantly sagging off his man too much and ball-watching and then losing his guy when they inevitably sneak off.

garrick · Post #95 » by **garrick** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:36 am

Does Sarver honestly expect the Suns to win the next 3 games against the Cavs, Spurs and Thunder without Bledsoe?

Suns ownership is a mess with Sarver at the helm because Sarver knows nothing about basketball and probably just looks at the stat sheet and sees our two best players are averaging 20 ppg and thinks that is enough to make the playoffs.

Is throwing the team into turmoil really worth getting in as the 8th seed where we would probably be lucky to win one game against the Spurs or Warriors?

DRK · Post #96 » by **DRK** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:37 am

Give Hornacek "one more chance."

Get ready for Ronnie Price + PJ Tucker 35mins a night while Booker is glued to the bench so that Horny can grab a few more wins to keep his job safe.

Sarver is behind this. I can smell it.

Would not be shocked to see Ronnie Price starting next to Knight for the rest of the season

DRK · Post #97 » by **DRK** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:38 am

Happy to see Sichting gone though. Our offence was a mess. Hope to see more ball movement now

toucansma · Post #98 » by **toucansma** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:41 am

blacksun wrote:
bwgood77 wrote:I really think it is just more table setting for the eventual inevitable firing or step down or whatever they will call it for Hornacek. It will be easier to place an assistant in the role after this next brutal three game stretch. I think it is lip service so the don't fire the head coach after a player throwing a towel at him and having his best player go down.

But why fire them first? Why not just select Bjorkgren, and keep Sich and Longo, if thats plan, when Hornacek is fired? Or like fire Hornacek, Longo, Sichting all at the same time?

Maybe they asked both coaches if they would stick around if they canned Jeff and both said no way. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jeff step down tomorrow.

WeekapaugGroove · Post #99 » by **WeekapaugGroove** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:42 am

DRK wrote:Give Hornacek "one more chance."

Get ready for Ronnie Price + PJ Tucker 35mins a night while Booker is glued to the bench so that Horny can grab a few more wins to keep his job safe.

Sarver is behind this. I can smell it.

Would not be shocked to see Ronnie Price starting next to Knight for the rest of the season

Good lord I think you might be right about the price knight backcourt.... I just spewed in my mouth just thinking about it. **** us all

Edit add: I'm done puking. Really if booker doesn't start and be instructed to take 5+ 3's a game Jeff shouldn't last to 2016.

Saberestar · Post #100 » by **Saberestar** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:43 am

I could not imagine that coming....what a weird thing.

In the NBA is usual to fire the complete big staff, on this case Hornacek and his two lead assistants, or fire the HC and promote an assistant....BUT to fire two assistants and that is all?!

Hopefully they fire Hornacek in less than a week...these 3 next games are going to be big losses and it's gonna be clear that Hornacek doesn't make sense at all coaching this team anymore.

Watson or Bjorkgren.....Woj says that could be Watson.

Watson could become the most likely candidate to be interim head coach should Hornacek be replaced.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--suns-owner--gm-hold-individual-meetings-with-players-to-assess-problems-212607403.html