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Suns Analysis: What Each Player Needs To Focus On Down The Stretch

By Eric Saar

Mar 30, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Steve Blake (5) defends Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin (20) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Steve Blake (5) defends Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin (20) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. The Thunder defeated the Suns 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker reacts in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. The Thunder defeated the Suns 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

P.J. Tucker

There isn’t too much Tucker needs to do in the next six games. He already brings the hustle and heart every game. He might need to play a little bit smarter and maybe refrain from taking so many non-corner threes. Try to work some opponents over in the post more frequently.

Markieff Morris

Keef is already one of the clutchest players in the league and pretty consistent. He just needs to improve in a few areas. The “elder” Morris twin is currently averaging a flat 6.0 rebounds per game on the year. That is exactly the same as the season before. Those are unacceptable rebounding numbers for a starting power forward, especially for a team that plays at the third fastest pace in the league (averaging 99.1 possessions per game, only behind Golden State and Houston).

If he can bump up that average to eight or nine over the last stretch of games on the schedule that would really help him and the team going forward. Some of Keef’s rebounding “troubles” can be attributed to teammates “stealing” boards. Over the last 10 games, Tucker is averaging 7.3 rebounds! As the shooting guard! Tucker was the starting shooting guard while Knight was out. Marcus Morris took Tucker’s spot as the small forward. With Tucker doing that, not too many missed boards for Keef. But he still needs to work on it.

Marcus Morris

The “younger” Morris twin has really burst onto the NBA scene this year. He’s been starting games while Knight’s been out and had that big scoring outburst in early February against the Jazz, going for 34 points, a career-high. He’s averaging 10.6 points per game, the most in his career.

He just needs to pull up his field goal percentage from 44.3 to closer to 50 percent. This could be achieved by settling for less jumpers, even though he makes a pretty decent amount of them. He also needs to pick up his rebounding. I know he’s been mostly coming off the bench, but 3.8 rebounds per game is definitely not enough for a 6’9” guy playing small forward.

Next: Goodwin And Green

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