Valley of the Suns
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Final stretch for Phoenix Suns is make or break for Josh Jackson

By Kyle Manthe

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 1: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns is interviewed after a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 1, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 1: Josh Jackson #20 of the Phoenix Suns is interviewed after a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 1, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After a trying season for Josh Jackson he has the opportunity to finish strong with a depleted roster around him as the Phoenix Suns play their last games.

After Devin Booker went down with an injury against Utah, it left Josh Jackson as the highest scoring healthy member of the Phoenix Suns. This is not to say that Jackson has had some sort of incredible year, because he has not, but it does illustrate the opportunity in front of him and others for the last few games.

The player who can change his value the most these final games is Jackson, because his skill set and play style can allow him to take over a game, for better or for worse. With Mikal Bridges and Kelly Oubre Jr. having played strong seasons and with both likely coming back for next season, Jackson will have a struggle to keep his value and role for the Suns.

Last season after the new year rang in, specifically after players were shut down to tank, Jackson began to take on a bigger role and impressed in it for the most part. Fans just saw a perfect example of that on Friday night when he went off for 35 points, one off of his career high, in a win over New Orleans.

Jackson will need to continue with performances like this to end the season if he wants to secure a prominent role in the Suns’ rebuild.

If he does continue to impress down the stretch it should be looked at a little differently than when Ray Spalding goes off. Who can forget last year’s huge performance by Alec Peters in the last game? Josh has been in the rotation all year, and has had flashes throughout the year that show he still has a lot of room to improve.

It was important and impressive for Jackson to take over in his first full post-Booker game but it will need to continue for it to be meaningful. If Jackson reverts back to his “normal” game to close the season it will leave a bad impression for fans and team management as they head into the summer.

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This is why this last stretch of games could decide if Jackson is a member of the Phoenix Suns next season or not.

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