How good are the Phoenix Suns?
Coming into the season, most wondered if they could win 19 games this year. After their 107-88 blowout victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, they are an impressive 19-11 – just one game behind the Clippers for the Pacific division lead. In comparison, they didn’t get to 19 wins until February 26 last season.
Certainly, much of the credit has to go to rookie coach and former player Jeff Hornacek, who has somehow guided what was supposed to be a lottery team into a powerhouse in the tough Western Conference. Bill Simmons saw the game in person and had nothing but positive things to say about the Suns’ coach:
I’m at Clips-Suns. Hornacek is terrific. His team is well-prepared and playing hard. Guys on bench are locked in. Really fun to watch.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 31, 2013
Of course, he wasn’t as kind about some members of the Clippers:
If we’re talking MVP candidates, the difference between LBJ/KD + everyone else is that LBJ/KD don’t ever take nights off (like CP3 tonight).
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 31, 2013
Stephen Jackson is like Christian Bale – he put on 50 lbs for his latest role.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 31, 2013
Ouch. To be fair to Chris Paul, what Simmons says isn’t necessarily true. Kevin Durant had just 13 points, four rebounds and four turnovers in a blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves early in the season. LeBron James has also had some tough games this season, including a 21-point performance (on seven-of-17 shooting) in a blowout loss against a depleted Chicago Bulls team. It happens to the best of them, but for whatever reason, Simmons seems to enjoy calling out the Clippers whenever he can.
As for his comment directed at Stephen Jackson? Lets just hope for Simmons’ sake that Jackson doesn’t check his twitter tonight.
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James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.