Phoenix Suns: 10 Worst Moments Of 2014-15
8. Jan. 9-11, 2015
It was almost comical how many people condemned Jeff Hornacek’s technical foul rule early on in the season. While a stipulation that any player who received a T would sit out the rest of the game seemed a bit too Coach Carter for the NBA, Phoenix’s technical foul problem wound up costing them an important road game they might have won otherwise.
The home losses to crappy teams hurt, but they were so early in the season it was hard to gauge their impact. A Jan. 9 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs — who played without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the fourth, and Kawhi Leonard for the entire game, by the way — was a kick in the crotch of Phoenix’s playoff hopes, however.
Trailing 85-82 with two minutes to play, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris picked up back-to-back technical fouls. Patty Mills made both technical free throws, extending the lead. Phoenix rallied to cut the lead to two with 14 seconds left…and had to foul at that point. If it weren’t for those technicals, the Suns could’ve played out the last possession in a tie ball game.
San Antonio made its free throws and iced the game. You’d think the Suns would learn from that kind of boneheaded mistake and carry it with them into their next game, but no. Once again, Phoenix squandered a perfect opportunity to grab a big road win, this time against the Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 11.
With the Suns leading 108-106 with 17 seconds left, Isaiah Thomas dribbled into a double-team trying to advance the ball past half court. Instead of calling a timeout, he launched a desperate pass that was intercepted by Courtney Lee. Dragic accidentally ran into Lee, sending him to the line.
Lee made both free throws and the game went to double-OT, where the Grizz proceeded to outscore the Suns 14-2. Back-to-back games, back-to-back mental breakdowns that cost the Suns their chance at a big road win.
Next: No. 7