Phoenix Suns are changing their perception to the basketball world

The Perception of the Organization

The last decade-plus has provided Suns fans plenty of opportunities to pinpoint the many challenges majority owner Robert Sarver and the organizational leaders present. To put it lightly, history has shown many poor or not thought out decisions.

That perception is beginning to change around the league due to Robert Sarver making two very important additions to the organization – James Jones and Monty Williams.

The Orlando bubble has allowed the organization to showcase how James Jones has put together the puzzle that is the Suns’ roster. Looking from a team level and not an individual player level, the Suns are now athletic, long, quick, and aggressive on defense.

Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Ricky Rubio are plus defenders right now. Winning in the NBA is much easier with plus defenders at the center and point guard positions, and having a strong wing stopper is necessary to win with how the NBA is currently played.

Two of the keys to that group, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges, are second-year players who have not reached their defensive ceilings. With the most recent signing, Cam Payne, joining Jevon Carter off the bench to change tempo with various presses, the Suns are becoming a good defensive team.

On offense, James Jones and put together a team that creates spacing which has led to a team that leads the NBA in team assists per game. The Suns are showing signs of being able to play different speeds and types of offense to counter a range of defenses that NBA teams play.

DeAndre Ayton’s growing perimeter game, along with the spacing and cutting that Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges have brought in the bubble, have opened up the offensive potential for the Phoenix Suns. The bubble has shown that James Jones has put together a roster that is catapulting up the NBA offensive ranks due to the team synergy from these individual pieces.

Finally, Monty Williams has been the lynchpin for pulling the team together. He has created an environment that nurtures accountability, growth, and team bonding. NBA players like to play for respected coaches, and the Suns have a highly respected coach that players not only want to play for but are buying into his system.

The Phoenix Suns are rising in the Orlando bubble and showing the basketball world that they have a strong foundation for future success.