Phoenix Suns: 5 Lessons From Preseason Opener
4. Warren Is On The Brink
One of the more intriguing training camp battles has been P.J. Tucker vs. T.J. Warren for minutes at small forward. The Suns went with Tucker in the starting lineup last night, but all signs are pointing to an eventual takeover from Phoenix’s second-year scoring machine.
“The first day of training camp, we talked to the guys and said, ‘There might be guys that have earned the right to start, but for the best of the team, we might have you come off the bench,'” Hornacek said before the game. “We have to see how our mix of guys plays together. I think our guys are all willing to do that.
“If they’re not starting, that doesn’t mean they’re not ending the game, but the approach this year is: how are we gonna win the game? If you have to come off the bench, if you have to play 48 minutes, it doesn’t matter. So again, we’ll look at the combinations and see what works best for us.”
Tucker’s defensive intensity, clutch rebounding and knack for making hustle plays in crunch time are all qualities that set him apart, but if the Suns were looking last night, there was a stark contrast between T.J. and P.J.
I wouldn't be surprised if TJ Warren is the starting SF by the first reg. season game. If not, I think he will be within the first 10 games.
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) October 8, 2015
As the starter and veteran, Tucker was never going to play that much in a preseason game, but he didn’t look particularly sharp in those limited minutes either. Tucker finished with zero points, zero shot attempts, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 15 minutes.
Warren, on the other hand, tied Leuer for a team-high 17 points on an incredibly efficient 8-of-14 from the field. He was doing normal T.J. Warren things, running to open spaces by the basket and squeezing in shots from around the rim that made you wonder how he got them off in the first place, let alone to go in.
One preseason game means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but Warren was already getting some reps in with the starters at training camp. If Hornacek’s comments are any indication, it may only be a matter of time before Warren — the Suns’ first player off the bench last night — is made a starter.
Next: No. 3