Phoenix but McDonough said the new coachs abilities, and not the fact

Orlando City FC pays a visit to Toronto FC on Wednesday coming off its worst defensive run of the season and in need of points against one of the leagues best attacking teams.The Lions have lost three straight while conceding four goals in each contest, most recently in a 4-1 defeat at D.C. United on Saturday.Eighth-place Orlando (7-10-13, 34 points) trails D.C. United by three points for the sixth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.The problem seems pretty obvious, Orlando coach Jason Kreis told mlssoccer.com after Saturdays loss. Weve been working defensively since I got here. I felt like we were moving in a very positive direction and then things went drastically wrong in the last three matches.The Lions can take solace knowing they will host D.C. United in the season finale on Oct. 24.They also visit Toronto (13-8-9, 48 points) while the Reds remain without playmaker Giovinco, who was in his native Italy getting his quadriceps and adductor strains checked over the weekend.Giovinco leads the team with 16 goals and 13 assists even without playing in a match since late August. The injury originally was expected to need a four-to-six week recovery period.Without him, Toronto has won once and drawn twice to clinch a playoff spot, including a 1-1 home draw against Philadelphia Saturday. It enters Wednesday in a three-way tie for first in the East.Hell be back by Monday in preparation for Wednesday, Toronto coach Greg Vanney told mlssoccer.com on Saturday. If he returns feeling how we think he will and how he thinks he should, then he would be in the mix to play. We all agree that it doesnt make sense to risk him. Mike Alstott Jersey . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Wholesale Buccaneers Jerseys . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. http://www.cheapbuccaneersjerseysauthentic.com/ . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Buccaneers Jerseys China Cheap . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Buccaneers Jerseys China . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position.PHOENIX -- One of the most popular Phoenix Suns players from the franchises past will guide the team to an uncertain future. At the news conference on Tuesday announcing his hiring as Suns coach, Jeff Hornacek spoke at length about his readiness for the job and the influences that will guide him. "Ive always felt that Ive been a coach," he said. "My dad was a coach, so Ive been around basketball since I was 5 years old." Hornacek played the first six of his 14 NBA seasons with the Suns. He was traded to Philadelphia in the Charles Barkley deal, then went to Utah, where he found great success as the backcourt teammate of John Stockton. Hornacek retired from playing to spend more time with his family, then eased into coaching, first as a shooting instructor in Utah, then since 2011 as a full-time assistant with the Jazz. His coaching style, he said, would be heavily influenced by his days playing for Cotton Fitzsimmons in Phoenix and Jerry Sloan in Utah. "Hopefully, I can take Jerrys toughness, Cottons enthusiasm and confidence-building and blend them together," Hornacek said, "and become a great coach like some of the great coaches that have been here in the past." He went through a "whos who" list of the best Suns players in the past, from Gar Heard to Walter Davis, Alvin Adams, Kevin Johnson, Barkley and Steve Nash. "Theres been great success here over the years," Hornacek said. But the Suns never have won an NBA title, and things have gone from mediocre to far worse the last couple of seasons. Hornacek inherits a team that went 25-57 last season, the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst in Suns history. Only the teams inaugural season of 1968-69 was worse. Owner Robert Sarver said that these days the Suns "are selling hope." Hornacek will embody that belief as new general manager Ryan McDonough works to improve the teams unimpressive roster. Phoenix has the fifth and 30th picks in next months draft. Hornaceks philosophy will be to build teamwork with a consistent improvement on the court. He especially looks forward to working with young players, although he knows that fortunes arent transformed overnight. "Sometimes its a tough deal as a coach, as players," Hornacek said. "Youre going to have some struggles and thats when you have to stay positive through that, kknowing that youre ultimately striving to get better and you have a higher goal.dddddddddddd" He said that he will enter the season with no preconceived notions on players and looks forward to the teaching aspect of his job. He said that todays players often havent received much quality coaching before they get to the NBA, often after just a year in college. His experience the last few years with Utah, Hornacek said, showed him that the demeanour of young players is not indicative of their willingness to be taught. "They may look at you and you might think theyre not paying attention," he said, "but they really do want to learn." McDonoughs first task when he replaced the fired Lance Blanks was to find a coach. He had heard all the great things about Hornacek but said the hiring seemed "almost too obvious." After McDonough met with Hornacek last week, he understood what all of those who had promoted him for the job were talking about. The team then moved quickly over the weekend to finalize the deal. Hornacek brings an amiable personality to a challenging job. He thinks thats an asset, because when he does come down hard on players, it will be a rare occurrence that gets their attention. "You have to find that fine balance between being able to get on guys and not harping on them all the time," he said, "because if you do that theyre going to tune you out." Hornacek has a home in Phoenix but McDonough said the new coachs abilities, and not the fact that he had such strong ties to the Suns, were the reason he was hired. "That was a bonus," McDonough said. Hornacek replaces Lindsey Hunter, who became interim coach after Alvin Gentry and the team parted ways in mid-January. Hornacek was drafted in the second round by Phoenix in 1986, the 46th selection overall. He eventually became part of a high-scoring backcourt with point guard Kevin Johnson, but he was sent to Philadelphia in the Barkley trade. Hornacek spent less than two years with the 76ers before being traded to Utah, where he played alongside Stockton for six-plus seasons, helping the team twice reach the NBA Finals. He averaged 14.5 points, topped by a career-best 20.1 points in 1992, his final season with Phoenix. He retired in 2000, and after working with the Jazz in various roles, he became a full-time assistant coach in 2011. ' ' '