Phoenix Suns: Make or break season for Tyler Ulis

The Phoenix Suns have asked a lot from undersized point guard Tyler Ulis, with all the responsibility he has it could make or break his career with the club.

It’s tough for an undersized point guard to be competitive in the NBA. Yet every game, Tyler Ulis goes out and competes hard for the Phoenix Suns. Ulis has gotten the majority of starts this season and while his effort are there, his stats do not reflect the energy he puts out on the court every night. There are two possible reasons why this is occurring, one of which is that the Suns have put too much responsibility on the young point guard. The other possible reason could be that Ulis as already reached his potential. It could be either one of those reasons or both, which could lead the team to unfairly evaluate his future with the club. The Suns are doing Ulis and themselves a disservice by giving Ulis so much responsibility, which could be jeopardizing his long term future on the team.

Ulis’ stats show the lack of development and increase of his role has done to his game.

Per Game Table
Season	Age	Tm	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	2P%	eFG%	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2016-17	21	PHO	61	15	18.4	.421	.266	.455	.445	.775	1.6	3.7	0.8	0.1	1.3	1.2	7.3
2017-18	22	PHO	35	23	23.6	.387	.283	.416	.418	.803	1.9	4.0	0.9	0.1	2.0	1.5	7.8
Career			96	38	20.3	.408	.273	.441	.435	.788	1.7	3.8	0.8	0.1	1.5	1.3	7.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/29/2017.

The increase in minutes and starts would usually produce an increase in stats. Ulis shows minor increases in some areas. The decrease in field goal percentage and increase in turnovers are alarming. Still based on his stats, Ulis hasn’t shown much improvement.

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There are several contributing factors to why Ulis has barely shown any improvement this season. Like all young Suns players, he had the disadvantage of having Earl Watson as a head coach last offseason. Based on the lack off development of Ulis and the bad shape that Marquese Chriss came into the season with, it’s pretty evident that Watson didn’t do much if any development with the young players. Last season Ulis only started 15 games last season, which meant he played against other team’s second units the majority of his first year. Now that he is competing against starters who are typically better defenders, this would explain his down field goal percentage and his increase of turnovers.

With a more competent coach to help develop the 21 year-old guard, there is still hope that Ulis hasn’t reached his potential. Still, there should be a sense of urgency to show significant growth by the end of the season.

Barring any trade, the Suns will most likely have Brandon Knight at the beginning of next season after he is finished recovering from his ACL tear. The team currently has two first round picks, one via the Miami Heat and the other their own, there’s a chance that Phoenix selects a point guard. Then there is always a chance to sign a point guard in free agency. Based on the team’s moves this offseason, Ulis could go from starting to being a third string point guard. After next season, there is a team option on his contract the Suns could choose not to exercise if he doesn’t show improvement in the summer of 2019.

Next: Suns Rookies and Sophomores Review Week 10

The Phoenix Suns aren’t be doing Ulis or themselves any favors by having him play against starters, which he is clearly not ready to do in his young NBA career. However, Ulis does need to show the team improvement before this season ends or he could be sitting on the bench for most of next season.

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