TNT’s Charles Barkley rips Phoenix Suns

Feb 5, 2016, 9:47 AM | Updated: 1:37 pm

The Phoenix Suns lost their sixth straight game Thursday night, 111-105, to the Houston Rockets.

No surprise there.

Phoenix has now lost 21 of its last 23 games. Interim coach Earl Watson’s roster is in shambles, mostly due to injuries to guards Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight and forward T.J. Warren.

But Suns Ring of Honor member Charles Barkley doesn’t have any pity for the franchise he played for in the early 1990s, guiding them to one of their two NBA Finals appearances.

On TNT Thursday night, while highlights of the Rockets’ win over the Suns played, Barkley was relentless in his criticism of the franchise.

“These guys, man, I feel so bad,” Barkley said. “Jeff Hornacek, they threw him under the bus. Ran over him. Hang in there, Jeff, you’ll get another chance with a real NBA team.”

He wasn’t done.

“Look at them, empty seats, man. The best fans in the world have to watch this trash.”

When reminded by host Ernie Johnson that the Suns have been crippled by injuries, Barkley retorted quickly.

“They were no good when they had ’em.”

Ouch.

The barrage continued, as Sir Charles illustrated how bad things are organization-wide.

“You know how some places, they serve good nachos and they put jalapenos on them,” Barkley asked. “The Suns be putting pickles on them.”

That line coaxed audible laughter from crew members not even on camera.

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan McRae drives past Houston Rockets guard Jason Terry (31) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. The Rockets won 111-105. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) is fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. The Rockets won 111-105. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. The Rockets won 111-105. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives past Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. The Rockets defeated the Suns 111-105. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets guard James Harden, left, drives on Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) drives past Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) drives on Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) is fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) drives between Phoenix Suns guards Devin Booker (1) and Jordan McRae during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) draws the foul on Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Phoenix Suns center Alex Len shoots over Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Phoenix. The Rockets won 111-105. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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TNT’s Charles Barkley rips Phoenix Suns