Voluntary Workouts
Weeks before training camp began, every Suns player under contract except Keef — plus training camp additions like Cory Jefferson and Henry Sims — had already shown up to Phoenix for voluntary workouts. That may not sound like much, but according to every single player that talked about this summer, it’s going to make a big difference heading into a new season.
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At this point in time, there are five new rotation players on the roster, and there could be more by opening day if Sims, Jefferson, Terrico White, Deonte Burton or Kyle Casey make the roster. With so many new players and so many changed roles, building chemistry as quickly as possible is essential for any borderline playoff team in the Western Conference.
According to general manager Ryan McDonough, the team responded to an offseason call to get everyone on the same page ahead of schedule.
“We asked the guys to come back over a month before training camp started, and obviously we could not require them to do so, and the vast majority of our guys were here working and they seem like they’re in great shape,” he said. “They seem like they’re committed and I think we both feel like the vibe and the chemistry of the team so far in preseason workouts is a lot different than it was a year ago.”
Last summer, the Suns tried to incorporate a third starting-caliber point guard into their backcourt with the addition of Isaiah Thomas, but the point guard hydra was ultimately a failed experiment. According to Hornacek, the team’s newfound balance is a lot easier for everyone to buy into so far.
“I think last year in the back of their minds they didn’t think the three guards were gonna work or whatever, even when we were winning games I don’t know if they ever totally bought into it,” he said. “I see them right now, they believe. They believe they’re a good team, and that’s probably the biggest thing for us — them as players having the confidence going into these games that they can win any game they play.”
Of course, it’s easy for every team to be confident in September. The air is always filled with optimism before teams start winning and losing. But nearly every player on the roster had the same things to say about how eye-opening the voluntary pickup games have been so far. When asked what has stood out from those games, rookie Devin Booker replied:
"“I’d say everyone’s competitive nature. You wouldn’t think we were playing pickup games, you’d think it’s the regular season. We’re trying to get wins out here and everyone’s keeping track of their wins in pickup games and we all joke with the people that don’t get wins on that day. So at the end of the day, we all have the same winning attitude.”"
Championships are not won or lost in September, and no one should mistake the Phoenix Suns for title contenders. But Tyson Chandler, a former Defensive Player of the Year and NBA champion, said that what he’s seen thus far is encouraging for a young team trying to make the playoffs.
“We all saw it with the NBA champs ,” he said. “I don’t know how many people really saw them winning it all. And I’m by no means trying to compare us to them at this stage, but what I’m saying is, you can have a young group of players and if they’re willing to learn and do the right thing, you can definitely have success in this league.”
Bledsoe on his summer in Phoenix: "I think it was mandatory...just to give back, build relationships and chemistry."
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) September 28, 2015
These building blocks to success could be particularly helpful for Brandon Knight, a trade deadline acquisition who was only able to suit up 11 games for the Suns last season due to an ankle injury. With Phoenix banking on that Bledsoe-Knight backcourt thriving over the long-term, these voluntary workouts have been the first, necessary step to building chemistry.
“I think it was a choice that we had to make,” Knight said. “We could sit here and say, ‘We want to make the playoffs and do this and do that,’ but a lot of it comes down to action and I think that’s what we saw this summer. A lot of guys didn’t just say the right things, they put the action in and that came with being here.”
Next: The Chandler Effect