The Phoenix Suns would win more if they put their vets in to close games, but playing the young guys would be a more valuable developmental experience.
The Phoenix Suns want to win this year. The front office made it clear when they signed veteran swingman Trevor Ariza to a one year deal in free agency. Devin Booker made it clear when he said it out loud. And the fans have been making it clear throughout the preceding losing seasons.
Last year, losing on purpose often meant benching players who were playing well to prevent them from accidentally stealing a win. That shouldn’t be the case this year. But when it comes down to it, young players should get preferential minutes at the end of games.
Giving high pressure minutes to experienced guys like Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson would definitely add a few wins. But the experience of attempting to finish a game out, even if it starts with a decent amount of failure, can be an invaluable developmental experience for guys like Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges.
People often think of making the playoffs as the be all end all for player development. While it’s true playoff games are a great experience for young guys, there are plenty of important events throughout the regular season that can help a player grow.
In all likelihood, the Phoenix Suns won’t be challenging for a playoff spot. In that case, the best thing they can do to help their young wings improve and adjust to the NBA is to give them the most meaningful minutes possible. That should include playing at the end of close games, even if they’ve struggled during that game.
The Suns won’t be blown out nearly as much this season, so plenty of games should come down to the final few minutes. It might cost the team a few wins to play Jackson and Bridges over Ariza and Anderson, but playing young guys to finish games would be a key step forward in their developments.