PHOENIX -- From body language that needed little translation and an interview session that, for him, qualified as almost seismic, Jeff Hornacek's displeasure was obvious.
"We played hard for about 12 minutes in the game," the Suns coach said after his team lost a home encounter to a losing team from the less-than-prickly Eastern Conference. "That was about it."
Not one to make reflexive changes in his on-court rotations, Hornacek did feel the need for an alteration based on personal perception that last year's upstart mentality was missing.
Naysayers predicting as few as 19 victories certainly can provide extended motivation -- as it did for Hornacek's maiden voyage at the Suns' helm. But with a 48-win season in their hip pockets, there have been times during this season -- according to Hornacek -- when that chip-on-the-shoulder attitude was missing.
His not-so-big move was to return P.J. Tucker to the starting lineup for Tuesday's rout of the Indiana Pacers.
OK, so having the defensive-minded small forward on the floor to start the game wasn't exactly a definitive catalyst for Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe combining for 61 points.
But having Tucker -- who's converting a career-best 45 percent of his 3-point attempts -- on the floor to start a game almost guarantees the grit and intensity that defined last season will be on display.
"Me and coach always discuss different ways I can kind of bring that energy and bring those things to the team we need," Tucker said after Wednesday's practice at U.S. Airways Center. "That attitude is one of those things that we need."
It also should be noted that while having your name called amid the pre-game pyrotechnics is nice, Tucker will function the same way regardless of when he enters a game.
"I don't prefer either," Tucker said when asked to contrast a starting role vs. that of upgrading the overall intensity as a sub. "It doesn't matter for me . . . the biggest thing is having an effect on the game, bringing my positive energy to the game, doing the things I do best every single night."
Tucker, who started 81 games last season, forfeited his position with the first unit after pleading guilty in August to super extreme DUI charges. In addition to his legal obligations, the 29-year-old former Texas Longhorns star was suspended for the first three games of this season.
While he was out, Marcus Morris worked at small forward, joining twin brother Markieff in the starting five.
"It was tough, it was really tough," Tucker said of sitting out. "It was satisfying to see us win some big games . . . that was great to see.
"At the same time, I'm a competitor. I love to play, so missing those games really hurt. Now, I'm just going to leave it all out on the floor, because you can't take anything for granted."
Taking superior effort for granted may have been true for Suns fans and the organization. Although there have been minor changes to the roster, the expected return to last season's focus has been inconsistent.
"We fought for those 48 (wins) last year, tooth and nail," Tucker said. "We gave up a few, but we fought for every single one of those wins. I think everybody that was here knows that.
"The thing is not to just get back to the 48 wins, but to exceed that. Forty-eight didn't get us to the playoffs last year, so for us we should expect more of ourselves now that we've been there."
Currently sitting on the eighth seed at 11-8, the Suns are looking up at seven teams with winning percentages of .706 or higher.
Starting Friday, they'll tangle with three of those teams in four nights . . . all on the road.
It begins in Dallas, continues the following night in Houston and resumes with a date against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night.
Having considerably less star power than those upcoming playmates possess, the Suns roster -- in some respects -- was built to withstand such short-term challenges.
Dragic and Bledsoe do have the capacity to take over some games, but the on-any-given-night approach dovetails nicely with Phoenix's perimeter-heavy roster of above-average players.
"I think throughout the season it's going to help us," Tucker said of the Suns' depth. "We go 10 deep, pretty much every night. A lot of teams don't do that. We've got guys that can switch positions, and Coach does a really good job of resting guys and getting us in at the right time."
The rotational balance, however, is something that's been blamed by those searching for reasons why the Suns have been inconsistent.
While Tucker is one of many players affected by the glut of perimeter talent, he's on board with how the situation has been reconciled.
"It's tough," he said. "Coach has a tough situation because we have so many good players, so many guys that want to be play. The truth of the matter is that a different guy may be in a different role on a different night. Every game is different, so we've got to stay positive, stay together and keep playing together.
"For the most part, the guys have stayed positive and stayed together. It's a completely different team from last year. For us . . . the way we respond is what we're trying to find out right now."
