Suns News: September

[INFORMER]

Jeff Hornacek is CBS Sports' 6th ranked NBA coach:

The Suns were supposed to tank last year and instead wound up just a few games short of a playoff spot. That could have been just an outlier year where things went right, or a singular performance by a player. But while Goran Dragic was something special in 2013-2014, the Suns legitimately shocked the league with their playstyle. They shared the ball and played fundamentally sound. They shot extremely well but they also shared the ball and focused on playing inside and out.

Hornacek's spacing opened up new worlds for their roster and several young players made unexpected leaps under the tutelage of Hornacek's staff. The players also lavished Hornacek with praise not only for how he built and executed gameplans but also for how he handled the locker room and ran the team.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bas ... -nba-coach

[Indy]

That surprises me when I first heard it. Then I started thinking of the 30 guys, and I would easily put him in the top 20%.

Although, after reading that article, I would put him ahead of Spoelstra.

[Cap]

Warm fuzzies. He's our last connection to Cotton.

[The Bobster]

Warm fuzzies. He's our last connection to Cotton.

Along with his assistants Mark West and Kenny Gattison of course.

The best thing about bringing back Hornacek was that they not only hired a capable coach, but someone with a connection to the franchise who had to have a little extra incentive to get things straightened out since he was here during some successful years under Cotton.

[Indy]

Warm fuzzies. He's our last connection to Cotton.

Along with his assistants Mark West and Kenny Gattison of course.

The best thing about bringing back Hornacek was that they not only hired a capable coach, but someone with a connection to the franchise who had to have a little extra incentive to get things straightened out since he was here during some successful years under Cotton.

I forgot about him...

[The Bobster]

I remember seeing Gattison, Hornacek, Rafael Addison, Grant Gondrezick and Joe Ward at Suns Rookie Camp in 1986.

Never could have imagined Hornacek and Gattison would still be around!

[Indy]

Nearly 30 years later.

[TTron]

We all know what we expect from certain players this year. What surprises, or unexpected things could happen? My list in order of highest probability:

P.J.Tucker: late last year coach used him at power forward in brief stretches. If TJ plays well I could see him becoming the main backup power forward. They want him on the court. He is strong enough, obviously at a height dis- advantage but only a few of the power forwards would destroy him. This happens especially if Marcus doesn't make impovement...

T.J. Warren: I've seen him listed by many as 3rd string small forward. With P. J. suspended first few games, and if he can prove to hit corner 3 in camp, I say he could be a surprising opening day starter and never give the job up. Or he could not hit the 3 well enough and then get 15 a game off bench.

Len: Becomes a defensive force and very good rebounder and starts opening night. If he does, it helps offset the forwards being smaller than normal. I think this is the thinking if he's ready. Marcus, markieff or even P.J. (as a backup) may do ok with a good big man in middle.

Goodwin: He sure did disappoint in summer league. If he got it together could he put green on bench and play at backup small forward? Don't see it but won't be shocked.

Green: Could he take another step this year and become a great player. Would be a great surprise. Don't see it though. If he does well it will most likely have to be at small forward which he could not do well enough last year to put P.J. on the bench.

[The Bobster]

TTron - I agree with pretty much everything you mention except I'd be more inclined to start Marcus Morris alongside Markieff since they play so well together. I'd still give Warren plenty of time to see what he can do though.

Also, I really don't see Green progressing to much more - but his shooting and athleticism will always cause people trying to guard him some matchup problems. If he could handle the ball a little better off the dribble he's be a big-time scorer, but as it is he has his moments.

[Superbone]

Nice first post, TTron. Welcome!

[Superbone]

Cool story linked in the tweet on how the brothers interviewed on the same day for the two Arizona jobs. The dude on the far left is Terry McDonough.
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Odegard/status/515605814661222400

[Mori Chu]

Welcome, TTron! Fun reading your first post. It's more optimistic than I currently am about some of the young guys, but I like it.

[carey]

[youtube][/youtube]

I'm getting excited. We're about a month away from real basketball games!

[Cap]

Fix the paint!

[LazarusLong]

Fix the paint!

Jeezus Jones, that's a blast from the past. That's about all that poster said ...

[Superbone]

Fix the paint!

Jeezus Jones, that's a blast from the past. That's about all that poster said ...

What are you talking about?! That's our own Uncle Gene. He's alive and well and posting here.

[Xylus]

Goran loves him some Dragonball Z
https://twitter.com/Goran_Dragic/status/515951398438309888

[carey]

Suns to launch digital network, Rise (It's not what it sounds like): http://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/p ... al-network

Still, there's a lot of cool stuff. Finally a post game show available to those of us outside of Phx that use LP Broadband. Read on...

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns, recipients of the NBA’s Digital Innovator Award earlier this year, are introducing RISE, a new digital network featuring exclusive video content available on Suns.com and through the team’s official mobile app. RISE will launch on Monday, September 29 with a livestream of Suns Media Day, beginning at 10 a.m., including multiple camera angles and a first-person view via Google Glass.

The RISE digital network will feature a new talk show, “Four Quarters,” as well as Annexus Practice Reports, roundtable discussions with Suns broadcasters and alumni, an interactive postgame show with Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, player profiles and more.

In addition, RISE will offer daily coverage from Suns Training Camp on the live show “Training Camp Today, powered by Verizon.” Training camp coverage will culminate with a livestream of the Suns Scrimmage on Saturday, October 4 at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff. Coverage will begin at noon.

[INFORMER]

We all know what we expect from certain players this year. What surprises, or unexpected things could happen? My list in order of highest probability:

That's a good thread topic.

[JCSunsfan]

Cool story linked in the tweet on how the brothers interviewed on the same day for the two Arizona jobs. The dude on the far left is Terry McDonough.
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Odegard/status/515605814661222400

Is this why we have such a partiality to brothers in on the Suns?