The Rule And Long-Term Intentions
As much as benching two starters in the last two games is a big reason Phoenix lost those games, Hornacek has his eye on something greater than just sneaking in the playoffs as the eighth seed. With such a young team, he has to keep the future in mind, and that’s what this rule is about.
"“We’re not just in this for this year, this is for the next few years and trying to be a team that in a couple years can try and win a championship,” he in his post-game conference Sunday. “It’s aggravating, we are arguing on calls that we even get. What else can you do? I will take the blame for the loss for not playing them.”"
One loss does not make a season. Neither does one technical, you could argue. But a consistent problem like this needs to be stomped out.
“So something is going to have to be done; we don’t play them, we continue to sit them like this or we get new guys in here that want to win a championship,” Hornacek said. “We will figure it out.”
Nothing good has ever come from arguing a call with officials. Once the whistle is blown, it’s over. In order for the Suns to “figure it out” and build a winning culture, maybe some tough love is what it takes.
And even if this is a drastic overreaction, at the end of the day, arguing against the merits of Hornacek’s controversial rule accomplishes about as much debating with an official: it’s not your call. Just accept it, abide by it, and move on.