The Phoenix Suns have a chance to emulate the 2009-10 team if they fix one major problem

There is only 1 solution (Get it? 1? Because of Amar’e? Eh. I know.)

Plus, how many of the current roster do you think can dominate then end of a game when really  needed?

One? Booker?

I suppose that Oubre can, and maybe  Ayton, but if I were to put a gun to your head, you’d have  to admit that it is really only Devin Booker at this moment.

The 2009-10 team had no fewer than three.

Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Jason Richardson.

Therein lies the greatest issue facing this team: both the lack of scoring and talent at power forward, and the lack of at least  a second legitimate  scorer who can cause real havoc at the end of games forcing defenses to key in on two you’re-never-going-to-stop-me scorers.

James Jones too is obviously never going to find that player at point or shooting guard because each of those positions are locked in solidly.

Phoenix Suns

Small forward is presumably locked by a fantastic role player in Oubre, and whether or not Ayton works out long-term, he is still far too young for Jones to even take a phone call from a team that might want to take a swing at him.

The only  position that can and needs  to be upgraded is power forward – and it is the most sure fire way for the team to best emulate the last playoff team the franchise has put forward.

Let’s say too that Deandre Ayton does become a scoring force. Let’s say that his scoring average spikes to over 20 points per game and he wins a couple of games for his team with clutch performances between now and the end of the season.

That will be awesome, and unless injuries overtake the roster in a significant way, he will help guarantee the Phoenix Suns a playoff spot this year.

Then let’s say that that doesn’t  happen.

Let’s say this he averages something similar to what he did last year, he doesn’t dominate games because he still  doesn’t get to the free throw line, and with the team’s current propensity to shoot 3’s at will, he doesn’t get the ball in the post enough to force the action.

Either way: this team will still  need another scorer, one who can score at will, and dominate when necessary.

Without one, even if Ayton does become difficult for defenses to defend, the roster is currently only built to go so far, and that “so far” might just be a first round sweep at the hands of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers – if they’re lucky.

The Phoenix Suns are not only in need of a power forward just for the sake of resolving the depth issues there, but they are in need of another sure-fire scorer to help carry the team.

Melding the two together into the same player might just be the very thing that brings the franchise it’s first playoff appearance (and series victory) since 2010, the roster that they are so close to actually emulating.