Phoenix Suns: 5 Goals For T.J. Warren In 2015-16
4. Boost Rebounding Numbers
Three-point shooting is a skill that will allow Warren to log more minutes as a small-ball 4, much like he did in Summer League with some success. But one skill that Warren needs to improve in order to play that position in small-ball lineups is his rebounding.
Against the raw talent of Summer League, Warren was able to get away with being undersized in small-ball lineups. Alex Len was taller than everyone else and was able to take care of the boards himself, but against NBA competition, Warren would need to be more active on the glass for the Suns to enjoy any sort of advantage by going small.
Warren has done pretty well as a small-ball 4. He needs to rebound a bit better, but if Len is going to grab 14 in 23 min it's not a problem
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) July 15, 2015
And that’s not just for small-ball lineups either. Even with the addition of Tyson Chandler and the development of Len, the Suns don’t have a ton of rebounding at the power forward position between Markieff Morris, Mirza Teletovic and Jon Leuer. P.J. Tucker obviously helps in that regard, but why not teach the 22-year-old Warren how to aid that frontcourt rebounding effort?
As a rookie, Warren averaged a meager 2.1 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game, which translates to 5.0 rebounds per 36 minutes. By comparison, P.J. Tucker averaged 6.4 rebounds per game last season, or 7.6 rebounds per 36 minutes. Warren has the potential, he just needs to make sure to add it to his list of areas to focus on in his second season.
Next: No. 3