The Phoenix Suns aren’t exactly on the rise and that home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the worst team in the NBA this season, did sound the alarm a bit. Is it time to overhaul the coaching staff? Will Jeff Hornacek be relieved?
Many felt that it would be the case but team owner Robert Sarver is somehow giving Hornacek another chance. Instead of Hornacek being given the boot, it was two of his assistant coaches who were relieved – Mike Longabardi and Jerry Sichting.
Taking their place are Earl Watson and Nate Bjorkgren, who Sarver hopes will render better results and provide better help for Hornacek.
"It is never easy to make changes to a coaching staff in the middle of a season, but we feel Earl and Nate are ready to take the next steps in their careers and provide some creative ideas to our group," general manager Ryan McDonough said via ESPN.
It remains to be seen if the changes made will provide any improvement to the Suns who are currently 12-21 in the Western Conference.
Despite the adversities, the Suns were looking forward to a playoff season under Hornacek’s tutelage. Seeing how the former Suns guard was able to steer the ballclub to a 48-34 and 39-43 mark in the previous two seasons, the outlook for this year was to improve on those.
Right now, it is not turning out that way despite the fact that they added Tyson Chandler to the mix.
The Suns now face the tall order of getting things in order though they are still in striking distance for at least the eight seed against four other teams (Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings).
Hornacek will, however, find the sailing rough. Everyone knows his issue with Markieff Morris involving that “towel-throwing” incident that the forward denies was on purpose.
The Suns' manpower woes also drew a big setback with word that guard Eric Bledsoe will be out for six weeks after suffering a torn meniscus, as reported by AZ Central. The earliest he can return is by February, but his departure does bring problems for the Suns’ backcourt.
It won’t be an easy route from here for Hornacek who is in the final guaranteed season of his four-year contract. He may not be fired for now but if the Suns falter badly after the regular season, there could be a coaching change happening in the offseason regardless of how fond Sarver is of Hornacek.
According to NBC Sports, someone the Suns are seriously considering is Golden State Warriors interim coach Luke Walton.