As NBA teams prepare for the upcoming season, the Phoenix Suns are hoping they can somehow sneak into the playoffs. It’s highly unlikely, but a possibility with a group of talent that could surprise many in the Western Conference.
The Suns aren’t as bad as many make them out to be. They ranked 7th in the NBA with 107.7 points per game last season. With Devin Booker, Eric Bledsoe, T.J. Warren, and Tyler Ulis, they had a formidable scoring unit. You now add the fourth overall pick, Josh Jackson, to the mix, a move that can only help Phoenix in the long run.
With T.J. Warren as the Suns primary SF, Phoenix featured one of the league’s up and coming players. Warren could defend, score, and had a great all-around game. As Jackson enters the league, it’s likely he will take over the starting job of Warren.
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You know what you’re going to get with Josh Jackson. He’s a great two-way player that scouts have praised for his defense. He’s got an improving jump shot. But most of all, he’s got a lot more scoring upside than Warren, who wasn’t a slouch himself in that department.
As Jackson settles into his role on the team, Devin Booker will look to solidify his spot among the NBA All-Stars. He broke out during the final months of the 2016 season, scoring 25.3 points in March and 27.4 points in April. Also, Booker averaged six threes and 5.6 assists for the last month of the regular season.
Finally, you get to the PG position. Eric Bledsoe averaged 19.1 points for the seven games played in March. After that point, Phoenix Suns coaching staff opted to play its younger talent more consistently. This is where Tyler Ulis proved his worth to the NBA audience.
During the month of March, Ulis scored 11 points per game. What was more fascinating were his 7.9 assists. As the season ended, the Kentucky guard averaged 20.7 points and 6.8 assists in 6 games for the month of April.
While Bledsoe will more than likely get his starting job back at the beginning of the year, it’s certainly nice for Phoenix that they have a player such as Ulis on the roster. In the event Bledsoe goes down with an injury or gets traded, the Phoenix Suns have a viable option at their disposal.
It’s no secret that this Suns team peaked during the months of March and April. The final six games of the year saw Phoenix put up the highest points per game average of the year with 115.3. The previous month ( March) was the most successful of the whole season. The team scored 1,714 points and amassed the highest total of rebounds and assists.
The Phoenix Suns are a team that is filled with potential. As Josh Jackson enters, the team might be able to better their numbers from the conclusion of last season. The Western Conference is stacked, so don’t expect a playoff run this year, but it’s coming soon enough.