PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek: We want to get the ball and go

Oct 2, 2014, 7:30 PM | Updated: 7:30 pm

Follow @CraigAZSports...

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Push the pace.

It is the one phrase that has been spoken the most thus far here at Phoenix Suns training camp.

“We want to play even faster than we did last year,” forward P.J. Tucker said.

Last year, the Suns ranked eighth in the NBA in pace of play, a statistic used to measure the number of possessions per 48 minutes.

“We want to pick that up. We want to be one, two or three,” head coach Jeff Hornacek said. “Really try to get the ball out of bounds and go with it. Put pressure on the other teams. We have a deep team so we feel we can do that. And that’s us pushing these guys to get in that type of shape you need to be to do that.”

Holding two-a-day practices at an elevation of 7,000 feet will certainly help.

“We want to tire people out, so to do that we’ve got to be in the best shape in the league,” said Tucker, following yet another conditioning run.

By all accounts, the Suns reported to training camp in great shape, including guard Eric Bledsoe, who stayed away from Phoenix during prolonged contract negotiations. He did not, however, stay away from the gym.

“We said it to him when he left (in April) that we need him to be in better shape so that he can go from the start of the game through the end,” Hornacek said. “He obviously worked on it because he could probably go all day right now.”

Sustaining that pace from the first quarter to the fourth quarter is the goal this season.

“We were fast for maybe half of the game and then I don’t know what happened, but we started playing slow,” guard Goran Dragic said. “I think we can change that, definitely.”

How?

“Jeff actually is pushing us to run even if they score on us,” Dragic explained. “When they miss a shot, we’re good in transition. But, I think the main difference for us this year is going to be if they score we need to get quick the ball out of bounds and try to run on those guys. We didn’t do that last year.”

Hornacek agreed.

“We were a little slow in getting down the court (after a made basket),” he said, after looking back at the film in the offseason. “Whoever is right there, just grab (the ball). Grab it and get it to one of the guards. It’s a lot tougher if you have only one guard that pushes it just because the opponent can kind of gear up on that and pick the guy up early and make him hesitate throwing it in. But when you’ve got two guys at the 1 and 2 spot that can both push it, they can’t pick you up and you should be able to get it in to somebody.”

Of course, the Suns now have three guys who can push it.

With the addition of guard Isaiah Thomas “it’s going to be much easier,” Dragic said. “If I’m going to be tired or Eric, Isaiah is going to come in and that pace is going to be higher through the whole game, and I think that’s a good thing.”

No team was better scoring on the run last season than the Suns, who led the league in fastbreak points with 18.7 per game, more than five points better than the year before Hornacek arrived.

The Suns’ overall scoring was good — 105.2 points ranked seventh-best — but that number needs to improve, too.

“We’ve got the guards to do it,” Tucker said. “We just got to be able to run with him. Goran, Eric, Isaiah now, they get that ball, we’re gone. We’re flying. All of our bigs can run. Miles (Plumlee) has been great. It’s just together doing that.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

13 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

17 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

21 hours ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: How the Suns lost to the Spurs before they stepped on the court

Burns & Gambo react to the Phoenix Suns stunning loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and try to figure out why it happened.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek: We want to get the ball and go