Hornacek Looking to See Improved Defense

After allowing the franchise’s highest opponent shooting percentage (58.6) in five seasons Monday at Brooklyn, the Suns have allowed a league-worst 49.8 percent shooting over the past 13 games, winning only five of them. It is a massive departure from what was a top-10 defense four weeks ago.

“Teams must be pretty happy about coming to play us,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We’ve just got to find the mix of guys who will go out there and battle and not be afraid of fouls and just play and not worry about the offense, but worry about the defense, and the offense comes.”

It has not been an easy stretch — six winning opponents among the past eight games and heavy travel — but the Suns also blew a chance at home last week against lowly Cleveland. The Suns’ turnover issues make the defense look worse, putting them in defenseless situations, but their transition defense has been poor off missed shots, too. The NBA’s top fast-break-scoring team is also near the top in allowing fast-break points.

via Paul Coro of AZCentral Sports