Valley of the Suns
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Phoenix Suns: What each player is thankful for this season

By Lucas Johnson

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 11: the Phoenix Suns stand for the national anthem on November 11, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 11: the Phoenix Suns stand for the national anthem on November 11, 2017 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 19: NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 19: NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Forwards

Rookies are usually thankful for just being in the NBA, but Josh Jackson should be thankful that interim head coach Jay Triano is in charge of the team now. Before Triano took over as interim coach, former head coach Earl Watson had thrusted Jackson as the starting power forward; a responsibility he wasn’t ready for. Triano isn’t putting to much pressure on the rookie, which is the the right way to approach Jackson’s development.

T.J. Warren should be thankful that his job wasn’t given to rookie Jackson. Most of the time when a player gets drafted high they usually get to start. Even though Jackson did start the season, he did so next to Warren. Warren was able to keep his job when Triano decided to start a more traditional power forward in Marquese Chriss. Warren has been a solid secondary scorer for the squad this season. Warren got the chance to earn his job, which was very wise of the club.

Fans, the Suns’ front office and Dragan Bender himself should be thankful to see improvement from the second year player.

Per Game Table
Season Age Pos G GS MP FG% 3P% 2P% eFG% FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2016-17 19 PF 43 0 13.3 .354 .277 .483 .441 .364 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.7 3.4
2017-18 20 PF 19 0 21.8 .386 .365 .421 .500 .800 4.1 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 1.6 5.9
Career 62 0 15.9 .366 .311 .459 .464 .615 2.9 0.7 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.7 4.2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2017.

Obviously, Bender is still far away from justifying his high draft selection. However, if he continues to show improvement as the season progresses, Bender should be awarded a starting role.

Current starting power forward Marquese Chriss should be thankful that he is still the starting power forward for the franchise. Chriss has had uneven play and has played with a bad attitude half the time. If this trend continues, the Suns should try to move on from Chriss and trade him.

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