Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Way too early predictions for the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns

By Adam Maynes

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 03: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on January 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 14: Marquese Chriss #0 of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 14, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 14: Marquese Chriss #0 of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 14, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Marquese Chriss

Marquese Chriss is a conundrum. He is hyper athletic yet doesn’t use it too his defensive advantage. He can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but cannot create a shot for himself. He tries to stretch the floor, but cannot hit 3’s with any modicum of consistency to make an outside shot a weapon.

Marquese Chriss is the kind of player that coaches dream of coaching up, yet he is two coaches in and the only mild   success he had was under Watson, and Chriss was a teacher’s pet.

Then last season under interim Head Coach Jay Triano, Chriss even appeared to take a step back from his rookie season (which wasn’t all that great to start with) really worrying everyone that he just might not be that great of a player.

I worry, and sadly but boldly predict, that Chriss will not have a big recovery season, even under Igor Kokoskov who is credited with being somewhat of an offensive genius. Chriss won’t be a starter at all (unless Trevor Ariza is hurt) and will get even less consistent playing time than last season.

If Chriss doesn’t take this as a challenge to maximize every fleeting moment he might have on the court and instead internalizes it negatively, as he sometimes seems apt to do, then he will not have a breakout year and might potentially see his time in Phoenix over before he knows it.

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