The Suns have been battered by injuries all season, and every time they seem healthy or get a player back, another always goes down. Well, tonight the team looks to turn the tide on that narrative as Jordan Goodwin has been taken off the injury report and returns to action. After missing seven games, he finally suits back up and looks to bring that hustle and heart we have all appreciated this season.
Goodwin has been impactful for this team in his return to the Valley. On defense, he has been a great disruptive force as a point-of-attack defender. He fits the scheme and identity that the Suns and coach Ott have been preaching all season long.
On offense, he has also been great, working well off the ball in catch-and-shoot opportunities with the playmakers in Collin Gillespie and Devin Booker. His three-point shot has been more efficient than his last stint in Phoenix, too, allowing him to fit into the team perfectly on both ends.
With Goodwin returning tonight, this is very key for the Suns. First off, they start a six-game road trip, one that is going to be very influential on where this team finishes in the standings. Also, with him coming back at the start of this trip, he can integrate into the lineup from the get-go. Not having to adjust mid-road trip to find his rhythm back. Going up against some top teams like the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, and Minnesota Timberwolves will require this team to be at its best to compete. Therefore, having Goodwin as one of the team’s best defenders and ultimately one of the league’s top defenders this season (if you ask me) will drastically aid this team’s efforts every night.
They are also without Dillon Brooks, still another major factor for this defense. Without him and Goodwin, players like Haywood Highsmith, Amir Coffey, and Rasheer Fleming have all seen an uptick in playing time. Those guys have done a fantastic job of filling in and stepping up when the team needed it most. With that, the Suns have now seen what these guys can do and have to figure out how to balance it all with Goodwin coming back. A challenge nonetheless, but one I think Coach Ott will be able to figure out.
