The Phoenix played just two games this past week, dominating the Los Angeles Lakers despite going down early in the game on Monday and getting dominated by Kevin Durant in his first game against his former
team since being traded. Here are this week’s questions we want your thoughts on:
How do the Suns navigate an extended Devin Booker absence?
While there’s a chance he misses just tonight’s game against the Timberwolves and returns on Wednesday to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup Quarter Finals, but in case of a set back, how should Jordan Ott and the coaching navigate Booker’s injury? In their win against the Lakers, the Suns had no problems scoring the ball, but in the second half against the Rockets, the Suns went dry, scoring 40 points, including just 14 in the third quarter.
Who does the team need to rely on more amid his absence?
The Collin Gillespie question. Does he start when the team is fully healthy?
While Booker is out, Gillespie will continue to start. When he returns, it’s plausible to a see world where Gillespie starts, considering Phoenix played small the only game this season they were fully healthy, slotting Dillon Brooks at the four with Booker, Jalen Green and Grayson Allen playing the 1-3 spots. Gillespie is off to a strong start to the season, averaging career highs in almost every statistical category.
Jalen Green could potentially return this month after a long absence dealing with a hamstring strain. Green is more of the scoring type while Gillespie is more of a point guard. Should Gillespie stay in the lineup even when the whole team is healthy?
What do other coaches comments about the Suns say about them?
JJ Redick was the latest head coach to praise the Phoenix Suns’ effort this week, saying “if you don’t play hard against that team (the Suns) you’re gonna get exposed.”
During the offseason, Suns management continuously emphasized the idea of building a culture that was filled with toughness and high energy, people around the league are starting to describe the team as such. Along with Redick, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Thunder coach Mark Daigneault have praised the way Phoenix has played to start the season. What do the compliments say about the culture that Phoenix trying to build and how Jordan Ott has helped implement it?
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