Zach Buchanan

azcentral sports

With the Suns riding a nine-game losing streak that featured losses to the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, coach Jeff Hornacek took a look at his team and figured it was worn out.

So he decided to take a break from the routine and took everybody bowling. The Suns had an abbreviated practice and film study Tuesday before heading across Jefferson Avenue to the lanes at Lucky Strike.

“We talked over these last two days trying to figure out how to get these guys back into having the energy,” Hornacek said. “We had 20 games in 34 days, and when we looked at the tape these last couple games it just looks like we’re worn out.”

The Suns have played a lot of games in a short period of time, and are coming off consecutive back-to-backs. They’ve also dealt with the dismissal of Hornacek’s top two assistants, a two-game suspension to Markieff Morris for throwing a towel his coach’s way and a season-ending injury to Eric Bledsoe.

Hornacek didn’t want to blame the packed schedule for everything, but admitted that “in reality it did have an effect on us some.”

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Hornacek presided over a short shoot-around before turning on the game tape. Besides watching recent games, he hammered home some defensive principles and also showed film from earlier games when the team was playing with more pep in its step.

Then it was off to bowl. The Suns divided into four teams – the coaches, the trainers, the big men and the guards. The guards ultimately claimed a narrow victory over the coaches for bragging rights.

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“They were cheering for each other like we expect them to do on the court,” Hornacek said. “Maybe some of it carries over.”

Once the team returned to Talking Stick Resort Arena, Hornacek did his best to bat away questions about his job security.

“You can either quit or keep fighting,” he said. “None of these coaches are quitters.”

Len’s hand

Suns center Alex Len has been dealing with a sprain in his hand that has limited his effectiveness over the past several games, but the 22-year-old said its condition has improved recently.

Len still had his middle two fingers wrapped, but did not wear a pad on his hand against the Lakers on Sunday. The significant bruising on his palm has dissipated.

“Catching is a little bit better,” he said. “Before it was so sensitive.”

Len said he suffered the injury going for a dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 28. One player – he thinks he was Richard Jefferson – swatted him on the hand awkwardly, although no foul was called.

Since then, he’s had trouble catching and gripping the ball. Hornacek felt Len was scared of getting hit, resulting in the young center getting stripped when he was in the paint.

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“I couldn’t dribble with my left,” Len said. “It was like I was playing with one hand. I was just trying to play defense and set screens and do the little things.”

Len had a strong run in the first half of December, scoring in double digits in six of the first eight games of the month. His production has fallen off since then, only some of which can be explained by the hand injury. He’s registered a negative plus/minus in the past seven games, predating the injury.

A losing season would likely mean more development time for Len, but he’s not counting on that just yet.

“Hopefully we can turn it around,” Len said. “We’re still five games from the eight spot. We just have to go on a winning streak and come back. The season isn’t over.”

One thing that is likely over is Len sharing the front court with fellow center Tyson Chandler. Hornacek experimented with the pairing against the Lakers, but didn’t seem likely to try it again.

“The hard part is if a team gets out in transition, then you’re in trouble,” Hornacek said.

Wednesday's game

Hornets at Suns

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena

TV/radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7).

Hornets update: The Hornets visit Phoenix having lost four in a row, leveling their record at 17-17. Three of those four losses have come against some of the Western Conference's best teams -- the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder. Charlotte has given up more than 100 points eight of their last 11 games, all losses. Point guard Kemba Walker leads the team with 19.3 ppg. Former Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Nicolas Batum, who is among team leaders with 16.3 ppg, 5.2 apg and 6.5 rpg, is questionable to play with a toe injury.