Stability, improvement show for Suns in Flagstaff scrimmage
By Eric Saar
FLAGSTAFF — The Suns finished training camp up north with a scrimmage Saturday that drew thousands to Northern Arizona University’s campus to see the team ramp up for the regular season.
Coming into this preseason, the Suns are in a drastically different situation than a year ago. Last offseason, they had roster turnover, a rookie coach, a rookie GM and few prospects. They were predicted to have a horrible record because of how their roster was perceived.
They proved everyone wrong.
This time around, the majority of the roster returns after only losing Channing Frye. Their coach and GM are established and discussed in high regard around the league.
They have stability.
The one thing the Suns still carry with them from last year are doubters. The Vegas oddsmakers and even national pundits are banking on little growth and a ton of regression. The Suns thrive on proving the doubters wrong. That’s why they’ve improved last year. The individual players have worked on their games and are ready for another run at the postseason. They demonstrated that growth for the public on Saturday.
Down low
Miles Plumlee is still athletic. On Saturday, he was jumped high up for a tomahawk slam off an alley-oop, and he showed improvement on his jump hook. It still needs a lot of work, especially to become consistent, but seems to have more lift and arc.
Alex Len is fully healthy. That’s the most important thing. He missed summer league and training camp right after being drafted due to injury, and it happened again part-way through this year’s summer league. So the best thing is Len is getting actual reps in practice and gaining conditioning.
Even Shavlik Randolph played well in the scrimmage to the tune of 13 points. He made both the threes he attempted and now has the green light to shoot the long ball when he’s open. That’s crucial for his value when he’s on the court, and perhaps he can be more than a defensive specialist when he sees time.
Morrii lead the way
The Morris brothers led both teams in points Saturday with 22 for Markieff and 18 for Marcus. Keef went 4-for-5 on three-pointers. If that implies he’s improved since last season, when he shot 31 percent, the potential for the Suns to cover for the loss of Frye increases by several wins. Marcus only shot 2-for-8 from deep but had success in the mid-range.
P.J. Tucker is a big, big man for how short he is, and he seemed to have improved his ball-handling. If he can improve his versatility from a hustle player, to a three and D guy, to more of a well-rounded player in 2014-15, the Suns will be rewarded.
Rookie T.J. Warren doesn’t have an automatic jumper from midrange out, but seems to always convert near the paint with an array floaters and leaners, even scoring through contact well.
The deep backcourt
Zoran Dragic is one of the last men off the bench on this team. He only went 1-for-6 from field for three points in the scrimmage, but it’s assumed he’ll get better as he adjusts from the European game to the NBA.
His brother Goran is the best player on the team and treated Saturday’s game for what it was — a scrimmage. He pushed the ball and deferred, though he even had a one-handed dunk in transition.
Tyler Ennis didn’t do much in the scrimmage and only attempted (and missed) one shot. He had a nice floater that got overturned after he pikced up an offensive foul.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Thomas had a mixed showing in the scrimmage. He played tight defense despite being smaller. He was deadly from midrange and from deep, but not surprisingly, he was also speedy an elusive in both the half-court and in transition.
Gerald Green lit up the court with ridiculous dunks and electrifying transition threes, and Eric Bledsoe was a monster out on the court. He indeed looked more fit than last year. His passes are getting even better; his alley-oops to Plumlee were beautiful, and it’s one reason the Suns would expect the center’s effectiveness to improve this year.
Archie Goodwin definitely put on weight in the offseason and is stronger driving in the paint. However, he has developed a nice floater and still has the speed and length to score at will.