1. Igor Kokoskov
The most important move Phoenix made this offseason was bringing in Coach Igor Kokoskov. The expectation is that he can finally be a coach the Suns settle down with as the franchise has had a rotating door for head coaches since Alvin Gentry left in 2013.
Having someone who can put the players in a position to win is what makes any basketball team, whether in high school, the NCAA, the NBA, or internationally, successful.
In the past, Booker has been placed on the court as the primary source of offense to create for himself.
Regardless of his talent, it is ludicrous for a coach to place such a young player out on the court and have him create on the fly. This lead to more difficult shots and a lower efficiency level, as well as role players standing around the court with no true purpose.
Kokoskov’s offense should thrive off of lots of motion, creativity, and moving off of screens. These skills couple in with Jackson’s decision-making, and Ayton’s passing and setting of screens.
If Kokoskov can place them in the situation to effectively improve upon those skills, he will unlock a new level to the team.
Coach Kokoskov is regarded very highly around the NBA, and around the world, and the Phoenix Suns had raving reviews for signing him to be their new leader.
Even with his impressive reputation, he is still a first year head coach who can stumble while learning the ropes of leading his own team, especially one that has not been the poster boy for stability over the past few years.
Expectations are he will thrive, but it is vital to monitor his leadership none-the-less.
The Phoenix Suns are young, need time to develop, and are likely to miss the playoffs again this season.
Regardless, they should be one of the most exciting teams to watch, and missing the playoffs should not deem the season a failure.
Keep an eye out for all the little improvements the team will make this season, as it can be a projection of their future success, or deficiencies, for years to come.