For 14 years Jeff Hornacek ran up and down the hardwood floors in NBA arenas earning a living. As a member of the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, and Utah Jazz, Hornacek averaged 14.5 points per game for his NBA career. Hornacek will always be remembered as being apart of the trade that sent Charles Barkley from Philadelphia to Phoenix. Hornacek was a one-time NBA All-Star who will also be remembered for being John Stockton’s sidekick in the Jazz’s backcourt during Utah’s two trips to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. After retiring from the NBA in 2000, Hornacek returned to the Jazz in 2007 as a special assistant. Hornacek spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Jazz before getting his big break this season as he became the head coach of the Suns.
Hornacek took over a Suns team that had three consecutive losing seasons. Nothing much was expected from the Suns as they’re playing in the tough Western Conference, but Phoenix has been showing everyone that they can hang with the big boys.
The Suns 27-18 record currently has them second in the Pacific Division as they are 4 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers. If the regular season in the NBA ended today the Suns would be the sixth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.
At the start of the season big things were expected from the Suns starting backcourt consisting of Gorin Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe suffered a torn meniscus on December 30 and he has been out of action since then. On the other hand Dragic is leading the Suns in points (19.4) and assists (6.1).
With 104.5 points per game the Suns are sixth in the NBA for scoring as Hornacek is getting contributions up and down the lineup with players that were afterthoughts at the beginning of the season. Swigman Gerald Green has been a journeyman during his NBA career which has seen him play for seven different NBA teams along with several stints in the NBA’s Development League. Throughout his career Green has been known more for his leaping ability, but this season he is averaging a career high in points with 13.9 as a member of the Suns. An enlarged heart threatened to end the career of Suns power forward Channing Frye. After missing the entire 2012-2013 NBA season, Frye has returned to averaged 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds this season with Phoenix. In 2011, the Suns used the 13th overall pick of the NBA Draft on forward Markieff Morris. The Houston Rockets used the very next pick of the draft on Morris’ twin brother Marcus. A trade last season sent Marcus to the Suns to play alongside his twin brother. The Morris twins have improved each season that they have been in the NBA as Markieff is averaging 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while Marcus is chiming in with 9.7 points per contest. As a rookie last season center Miles Plumlee rode the pine with the Indiana Pacers. Along with Green, Plumlee was traded to the Suns last year and this season he has become a starter as he has appeared in all 45 games for Phoenix. In the process Plumlee is averaging 9.7 points per game and he is also leading the team in rebounds with 8.8 points per game.
When Hornacek played in the NBA he always played with a chip on his shoulder and that mindset can be seen with the Suns this season. The Suns have gone out this season and they have earned respect the old-fashioned way as they have simply beaten people for it. The Suns have defeated the Portland Trailblazers twice this season along with victories over the Clippers, Rockets, and the Indiana Pacers who have the best record in the NBA. The Suns 26 victories this season have already eclipsed their win total from last season and they are on pace for their highest win total since 2010 which was also the franchise’s last playoff appearance.
During his playing career Hornacek learned from two of the best the ever roam the baselines of the NBA. When Hornacek played for the Suns the team was led by Cotton Fitzsimmons. During Horncacek’s playing days with the Jazz he was coached by Jerry Sloan. Sloan and Fitzsimmons combined to win 2,053 regular season games in the NBA. Fitzsimmons was ahead of his time as far as offensive basketball goes in the NBA as the Suns were always high scoring teams under him. Sloan was a tough-minded defender during his playing career in the NBA and he carried that to his coaching tenure with the Jazz. Hornacek has taken the lessons that he learned from both of these men to the current Suns team and the result is a team that is playing with house money as they find themselves in the midst of the playoff race in the Western Conference.
The starters for next month’s NBA All-Star Game have been named and it wasn’t a surprise that any players from the Suns were voted in. The reserves for the Western Conference have yet to be announced and it is highly unlikely that any players from the Suns will be selected as well. Hornacek flew under the radar during his NBA career as he was only a member of one NBA All-Star team and the same can be said about this current Suns team. The Suns will continue to be unnoticed until May when they more than likely will be headed to the NBA Playoffs where they will look to do some damage.
Source: Basketball-reference.com
Leave A Comment