Larry Fitzgerald has opened the 2019 season on fire. One Phoenix Suns player may open the year equally as hot, and who, might surprise you.
The Arizona Cardinals, like the Phoenix Suns, have entered the 2019 season with a brand new coaching staff, a re-vamped direction, a reloaded roster, and most importantly, a brand new field/floor general; Quarterback Kylar Murray for the Cardinals, and point guard Ricky Rubio for the Suns.
While the comparisons essentially end at “first year” for both Murray and Rubio, the preferred style of play is very similar as each are capable (and most succeed) in fast-paced, uptempo offenses.
Through two weeks for the Arizona Cardinals, Kylar Murray has not only shown his value as the first overall pick, but he has taken a veteran on the roster and already raised him to heights yet known in his career: future Hall of Famer, Larry Fitzgerald.
In two games, Fitz has caught and ran for 217 total yards, an average of 108.5 per game, the highest through two weeks of his entire career.
While it does not mean that this uptick will continue for 16 weeks (he averaged only 45.9 yards per game last season and his career-high is 93.9 set in 2007), it does at least appear that Fitz is a favorite target of Murray’s, as he has been targeted an average of nine times per game as well, third highest of his career.
Ricky Rubio has the capability to pull off something similar with the Phoenix Suns, running a fast-paced offense with a lot of movement and open shots, leading to any number of players potentially having career years – or at least career starts to the year.
Obviously the first person that one might think of is Devin Booker, but he already averaged 26 points per game last season so unless Rubio somehow takes Booker up to 30+, it will be difficult to consider anything around 26 points per game through two weeks as a “fast start.”
Deandre Ayton averaged 16 points per game in his rookie year, but fans should almost expect him to average at least 20 points per game this season regardless of who the starting point guard was because of his year’s growth and maturation, the new offense under Monty Williams, and the addition of any competent point guard who will know how to find the big man in the post.
Mikal Bridges could be in the running, although he probably will be overshadowed by Kelly Oubre (the presumed starting small forward) who earned his contract extension with the final 30 games of the season.
It is hard to imagine that Oubre will be able to average much above his 16.9 points per game that he did in Phoenix last year, but even if that is exactly what he opened this season with, that would be a hot start for him, and if his defense and intensity too remains on fire, it is hard to imagine that he couldn’t be the third star that it seems the franchise needs alongside Book and Ayton.
However, there is still one player who can literally catch fire to open the season, in much the same way as Larry Fitzgerald has done for the Cardinals.