Phoenix Suns: Defending Hornacek’s Technical Foul Policy

Dec 26, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Phoenix Suns defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-106. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
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Phoenix Suns
Jan 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) high fives forward Markieff Morris (11) and center Alex Len (21) during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at US Airways Center. Phoenix won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

Accepting The Rule

“At the end of the day, if you get a technical it hurts the team, so we have to figure it out,” Isaiah Thomas told Valley of the Suns’ Jeffrey Sanders Sunday night.

If this were some mediocre, run-of-the-mill coach at the helm, this might be a different discussion. If he hadn’t tried to fix the problem so many times with stern team meetings, it’d also be a different conversation. But that’s not the case, and Hornacek has proven himself so far as a solid head coach who guided a team of role players to 48 wins last season.

Why, then, won’t those players respect what he has to say?

This dilemma reminds me of a scene from Liar Liar. Jim Carrey plays a lawyer, and when one of his sleazy clients calls in need of legal advice again, he’s fed up with the man’s inability to learn his lesson, and responds accordingly:

If the players don’t like the rule, STOP BREAKING IT. If fans don’t like the rule, that’s too damn bad. It’s not Hornacek’s problem his players can’t stop getting caught up in the moment and focus on what’s best for the team.

Next: The Rule And The Long-Term