The optimal 2018-19 Phoenix Suns starting lineup
By Adam Maynes
Small Forward
Primary Starter: Josh Jackson
Primary Reserve: T.J. Warren
Secondary Reserve: Mikal Bridges
Among fans, the debate over who should start at small forward is by far the most contentious position on the roster.
There is a large contingent of fans who want Josh Jackson starting because he is the younger of the two main small forwards (between he and T.J. Warren), and because his second half was so special last season that if he can carry that over to this year, those oft comparisons of he and Clyde Drexler by Eddie Johnson is more than enough to excite all Suns fans.
However, there are others who want Warren to start because he is at least an accomplished scorer with veteran experience. If his 3-point shot improves then he can easily be a 20 points per game scorer, perfect for a starting lineup who needs as much shooting as it can get to regularly compete.
The optimal starting lineup though would include Josh Jackson for two very specific reasons:
The expectation for Josh Jackson is that he is going to be a good two-way player.
Right now, more than his scoring, his defense is key to his place in the starting unit and why he would be the optimal starting small forward. The starting lineup is going to have plenty of scoring from Brandon Knight and Devin Booker in the backcourt already, as well as the starting center (who I will get to soon), so Jackson will not be leaned on to score.
Phoenix Suns
He will score, and with regular flash and ease, as a slasher coming off of picks, put back scores, and fast break layups and dunks. Much like Shawn Marion, his points right now will not come from set plays, but instead from his overall athleticism.
In the mean time, he will provide defensive pressure that T.J. Warren does not provide giving the starting lineup two-way players (more on the second momentarily.
What makes a starting lineup with Josh Jackson involved so particularly optimal is the fact that the first bench player will be T.J. Warren, who is a point-a-minute scorer – the kind of scoring depth that every decent to good team needs.
Having a second unit of Warren and Daniels allows Phoenix to continue to provide balanced scoring from both the inside and outside. Daniels will of course continue to drain shots from the outside at a 40% clip, and Warren will be able to drive and slash his way to the hole, scoring at his near standard 50% rate.
Together that duo will keep the Suns in games while the starters rest, or even help to dig the team out of a hole against the opponent’s reserves, if the Suns starters couldn’t do the job to begin with.