The optimal 2018-19 Phoenix Suns starting lineup

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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets arrives before the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Power Forward

Primary Starter: Trevor Ariza

Primary Reserve: Marquese Chriss

Secondary Reserve: Dragan Bender

Optimally, Trevor Ariza will start at power forward, giving Phoenix two two-way players in the starting lineup, pairing up with Josh Jackson, allowing the starters to have good defenders on the opponent’s top two scorers – something they could never do last season.

Also, where Jackson currently fails with his 3-point shooting, Ariza succeeds.

Ariza is a tremendous 3-point shooter, (I speculated that he’ll drain over 200 for the Suns this season). Having Ariza stretch the floor at power forward will open up space for Josh Jackson to slash, giving him those Marion-esque athletic points as he can lock down.

Starting Ariza also means that there will not be a weak scoring link in the starting lineup, a problem that the roster has when either Chriss or Bender starts.

If I were discussing optimal reserves I would actually have Dragan Bender as the primary reserve because like Ariza he too can shoot 3’s and play decent defense, the perfect compliment (and even replica of) Ariza.

The problem with Bender though is that he is so woefully inconsistent that he can not be counted on to do either well enough.

That said, while Chris isn’t that much better than Bender (if at all), he is a slightly more well-rounded scorer, so I would still foresee him as the team’s primary reserve for now, until something happens.

Bender can also play a little at center which would allow him to play with Chriss, but hopefully that won’t be too often, considering the depth that the Suns have at that position right now.

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