ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that Jeff Hornacek may be in danger of losing his job. The Phoenix Suns’ head coach has suddenly become under fire after an incredibly bad stretch by the team, seeing them go 5-15 over the last twenty games, including a bad loss to the previously one-win Philadelphia 76ers.
Expectations around Phoenix and the league were that this team would compete for a playoff spot. However, that now seems unlikely as they hold a 12-20 record. The team is badly in need of a spark and it seems as though management is looking at the head coach position as the necessary change. Hornacek will likely have to have a strong next week in order to buy himself more time as the leader of the team. That may be incredibly difficult with Eric Bledsoe reportedly having suffered a knee injury and with the Suns’ next three games coming against the Cavaliers, Spurs, and Thunder.
While there are certainly other problems surrounding this Suns team – including a player lashing out and a poor fit of players around a solid backcourt of Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, it now seems apparent that Hornacek may be on his way out. If the Suns do not get at least one feel-good win next week, and perhaps even in spite of such a miracle, there is a high chance that they start the new year with a new leader in the locker room.
