Game 44: The Booker Watch

[SunsRback4Good]

I hope booker has a good game on national TV. Is the game showing on fsn as well as TNT?

The game isn't listed on my TV guide. Coyotes are playing on FSNAZ and don't see Suns on fs+ so looks like only TNT will be showing it.

[SunsRback4Good]

JellyRolling you finally made a decent game thread

Thanks man. Sorry that others are too dull for you.

[bwgood77]

I am not sold about "Booker watch" with Hornacek out there....he is capable of sitting Booker big time minutes tonight for whatever reason and after that Booker will be on the ground and not with high confidence.

Just play the youngsters 35 minutes Hornacek, the veterans are worse than them.

You've been on quite the Hornacek tirade as of late.

[bwgood77]

An ode to Suns fans watching this game -

Although our hearts are heavy with fear,
Tip-off with the Spurs soon draws near.
As much as we want to see this team tank,
a win over the Spurs feels good in the bank.

So on Booker and Tucker, keep shooting those three's
and may the basketball gods keep healthy their knee's.
And if Brandon Knight should miss this game,
I hope he takes his time coming back from that abductor strain.

I hate this team, I blame you Robert Sarver
and I hope the next time you go to the barber
he slips a bit, and he nicks your ear
and when you yelp, he says listen here -

"We're a proud folk in Phoenix, and we all really mean this,
could you just sell the team back to Jerry and leave us?"

Post of the week...month...year?

[Saberestar]

I am not sold about "Booker watch" with Hornacek out there....he is capable of sitting Booker big time minutes tonight for whatever reason and after that Booker will be on the ground and not with high confidence.

Just play the youngsters 35 minutes Hornacek, the veterans are worse than them.

You've been on quite the Hornacek tirade as of late.

Yeah, I am not happy with the coach if my team lose 14 out of the last 15 games.

[ATTL]

Hey, Jeff is leading us to a better pick. All I ask of him is to play tj more, reign in knight, and set ore plays for booker

[bwgood77]

I am not sold about "Booker watch" with Hornacek out there....he is capable of sitting Booker big time minutes tonight for whatever reason and after that Booker will be on the ground and not with high confidence.

Just play the youngsters 35 minutes Hornacek, the veterans are worse than them.

You've been on quite the Hornacek tirade as of late.

Yeah, I am not happy with the coach if my team lose 14 out of the last 15 games.

Yeah, some have been ugly but it might end up being the best situation we could be in all things considered. This is the worst make up of a team he has had, and while I disagree with some things he does, it's tough to judge when he is given just a crappy team. It's too bad he had to spend his first two years in a conbuild (with avg vets) instead of complete rebuild. Instead we MAY start to really embrace the rebuild after the trade deadline, unfortunately in the last two months of his contract. It's unfortunate for him he didn't get or take the Boston job back in 2007 and Doc got it or even the Philly job which they wanted him for that Brett Brown got...both were better situations that he would have done well with and given a longer leash due to better more patient owners/GMs.

I never really judged Brett Brown much even though that team has been terrible for so long and getting the crap beaten out fo them, and now we are trotting out a worse lineup/roster than they are.

I know you were really unhappy about the TJ benching the other night, and I don't really know what all was behind that (I know he said lack of hustle) but hopefully he is back with big minutes tonight and plays hard. I imagine PJ will still get a ton of minutes though, if not because we are so banged up, to showcase for a trade. Markieff probably would have too, but I'm glad he's questionable. Hopefully he doesn't play.

[kennydorglas]

hahahaha
Knight and all our PF out tonight.
Hornacek will be forced to play TJ haha

[GetYourPHX]

You've been on quite the Hornacek tirade as of late.

Yeah, I am not happy with the coach if my team lose 14 out of the last 15 games.

Yeah, some have been ugly but it might end up being the best situation we could be in all things considered. This is the worst make up of a team he has had, and while I disagree with some things he does, it's tough to judge when he is given just a crappy team. It's too bad he had to spend his first two years in a conbuild (with avg vets) instead of complete rebuild. Instead we MAY start to really embrace the rebuild after the trade deadline, in the last two months of his contract.

I never really judged Brett Brown much even though that team has been terrible for so long and getting the crap beaten out fo them, and now we are trotting out a worse lineup/roster than they are.

I know you were really unhappy about the TJ benching the other night, and I don't really know what all was behind that (I know he said lack of hustle) but hopefully he is back with big minutes tonight and plays hard. I imagine PJ will still get a ton of minutes though, if not because we are so banged up, to showcase for a trade. Markieff probably would have too, but I'm glad he's questionable. Hopefully he doesn't play.

I'll respectfully disagree with you.

Here's why -

The number one job of a head coach is to manage the personalities on his team.

This is Phil Jackson's calling card. When you talk about The Zen Master, the first thing you think of is how well he coached adverse personalities into playing championship basketball. Look at Kobe and Shaq. Look at Jordan and Pippen. Phil is going to the hall of fame because he kept those guys together and playing basketball long enough to win multiple championships.

Jeff, on the other hand, can't even manage Dragic, IT, and Bledsoe. The players on this team look like they hate Knight. Mirza is our only consistent shooter and no one passes him the ball. Kieff is moody. He's pulling Warren to "motivate" him. The list goes on and on. I don't think Jeff knows how to manage these guys well and I think the results of that show up on the court.

The second most important job of a head coach is to make sure his team is prepared

Can you honestly say the Suns look prepared to play even playoff level basketball this year? I think this team looks absolutely lost. Our offense seem to go like this -

1. Lob to Chandler
2. Dribble around
3. ??????
4. Long 2 or turnover.

Even if that's the results of players messing up the offense, it doesn't seem like we ever attack mismatches. It seems like we have a static lineup, a confusing rotation, and no obvious strategy on any given night. Once again, you can (rightfully) blame the talent, but I don't think you can completely absolve Horny of all blame. I don't think this team is prepared to play NBA basketball on any given night. You have to put that on the coach.

The third most important job of a head coach is to be an ambassador for the team

Jeff blows this one too. He's calling players out in the media. Having a special "work harder" practice. He's having a stupid **** cold war with Markieff about some towel incident. I mean, this kind of stuff is just unacceptable and it starts with Jeff.

Jeff is the CEO of this team, and he doesn't act like it. He's just as whiny as the rest of them, and you can see it on the sideline every single game. He's certainly not the source of all ills, but he's certainly not doing his job at an NBA level.

I really hope Sarver understands how important it is for him to open his pocketbook and get a better coach in here. Coaching staff salaries not subject to the CBA, and there realistically isn't a limit in how much he can spend. Calipari wants 10 years 100 mil? Why not consider it. What does Thibs want? Paying either of those guys would make this team better.

I like Jeff, I really do. I'm sure he's a great guy. I'm sure if he had a roster of veterans that got along really well he could make a deep playoff run. However - the Suns don't have that roster and we won't for at least three years.

It's time for the Suns to move on.

[SunsRback4Good]

I'm having a hard time seeing us score over 75 points. Even if everyone was healthy we'd score in the high 80s buy now it can get ugly.

[kennydorglas]

Goodwin
Booker
Tucker
Len
Chandler

YES, SIR.

[Jdiddy701]

I said before the season started a lineup of Len and Tyson would be something I want the team to try out. We've tried it only once this season in a blowout game. Will be interesting.



Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Sunsss]

So, we got 9 guys available, 1 of them plays PG who comes from D-League. Sounds good.

[bwgood77]

I'll respectfully disagree with you.

Here's why -

The number one job of a head coach is to manage the personalities on his team.

This is Phil Jackson's calling card. When you talk about The Zen Master, the first thing you think of is how well he coached adverse personalities into playing championship basketball. Look at Kobe and Shaq. Look at Jordan and Pippen. Phil is going to the hall of fame because he kept those guys together and playing basketball long enough to win multiple championships.

Jeff, on the other hand, can't even manage Dragic, IT, and Bledsoe. The players on this team look like they hate Knight. Mirza is our only consistent shooter and no one passes him the ball. Kieff is moody. He's pulling Warren to "motivate" him. The list goes on and on. I don't think Jeff knows how to manage these guys well and I think the results of that show up on the court.

The second most important job of a head coach is to make sure his team is prepared

Can you honestly say the Suns look prepared to play even playoff level basketball this year? I think this team looks absolutely lost. Our offense seem to go like this -

1. Lob to Chandler
2. Dribble around
3. ??????
4. Long 2 or turnover.

Even if that's the results of players messing up the offense, it doesn't seem like we ever attack mismatches. It seems like we have a static lineup, a confusing rotation, and no obvious strategy on any given night. Once again, you can (rightfully) blame the talent, but I don't think you can completely absolve Horny of all blame. I don't think this team is prepared to play NBA basketball on any given night. You have to put that on the coach.

The third most important job of a head coach is to be an ambassador for the team

Jeff blows this one too. He's calling players out in the media. Having a special "work harder" practice. He's having a stupid **** cold war with Markieff about some towel incident. I mean, this kind of stuff is just unacceptable and it starts with Jeff.

Jeff is the CEO of this team, and he doesn't act like it. He's just as whiny as the rest of them, and you can see it on the sideline every single game. He's certainly not the source of all ills, but he's certainly not doing his job at an NBA level.

I really hope Sarver understands how important it is for him to open his pocketbook and get a better coach in here. Coaching staff salaries not subject to the CBA, and there realistically isn't a limit in how much he can spend. Calipari wants 10 years 100 mil? Why not consider it. What does Thibs want? Paying either of those guys would make this team better.

I like Jeff, I really do. I'm sure he's a great guy. I'm sure if he had a roster of veterans that got along really well he could make a deep playoff run. However - the Suns don't have that roster and we won't for at least three years.

It's time for the Suns to move on.

I agree with much of what you say, but I think the three guard position you mention, was more a botch by the FO than Hornacek. There was zero need to overload with guys wanting the ball in their hand at that time.

The plays are bad as you mention, but the roster sucks, another problem more with the GM imo. The Knight and Chandler trades, and making Kieff disgruntled falls on McD imo.

Calling out the players in the media....I agree not a fan of.

I keep thinking that Hornacek has been put in crappy situations and he himself is on a rookie contract, and I think playoffs are extremely unreasonable with this roster.

I just have a feeling he is like one of those guys like Belichick or Carroll who failed with not great teams, got axed quickly, and then became great coaches. I won't say he will get quite to THAT level, but it wouldn't necessarily surprise me either. He is the type of guy that will learn from mistakes, but first and foremost McD would need to purge the team.

It probably is time to move on, and I'm guessing someone else will look better because you will have TJ and Devin who Hornacek has been working with, and they have improved, and probably (almost certainly) a better roster. Of course we will have a big contingent of "I told you so" fans here when that happens, but that will be the reason it happens, unless we get a genius like Brad Stevens or Rick Carlisle who are rare.

[Qwigglez]

A message I wrote to my Spurs buddy on FB...
I was thinking... I bet pop gives his entire team the day off, picks up 7 scrubs from d-league, 3 guys from the audience, teaches em the fundamentals of Spurs basketball and they still end up beating the Suns by double figures.

Sorry guys, no faith in us beating the Spurs. But Booker goes off for 40! Unless Kawhi guards him instead of Warren...

[AtheJ415]

I hope we don't lose by 50. This will be a coaching clinic regardless of the talent gap. Arguably the best coach of this season going against the worst coach of this season imo.

[AtheJ415]

A message I wrote to my Spurs buddy on FB...
I was thinking... I bet pop gives his entire team the day off, picks up 7 scrubs from d-league, 3 guys from the audience, teaches em the fundamentals of Spurs basketball and they still end up beating the Suns by double figures.

Sorry guys, no faith in us beating the Spurs. But Booker goes off for 40! Unless Kawhi guards him instead of Warren...

Yup. Pretty much. Pop can make stupid players smart, or at least effective and somewhat efficient. Jeff can't.

[bwgood77]

A message I wrote to my Spurs buddy on FB...
I was thinking... I bet pop gives his entire team the day off, picks up 7 scrubs from d-league, 3 guys from the audience, teaches em the fundamentals of Spurs basketball and they still end up beating the Suns by double figures.

Sorry guys, no faith in us beating the Spurs. But Booker goes off for 40! Unless Kawhi guards him instead of Warren...

Yup. Pretty much. Pop can make stupid players smart, or at least effective and somewhat efficient. Jeff can't.

yup, something that comes with experience as a coach.

[RaisingArizona]

Hornacek still being our head coach is beyond me.

[RunDogGun]

A message I wrote to my Spurs buddy on FB...
I was thinking... I bet pop gives his entire team the day off, picks up 7 scrubs from d-league, 3 guys from the audience, teaches em the fundamentals of Spurs basketball and they still end up beating the Suns by double figures.

Sorry guys, no faith in us beating the Spurs. But Booker goes off for 40! Unless Kawhi guards him instead of Warren...

Well it doesn't hurt that there will be more Spurs fans at the game.