Phoenix Suns: 7 statistical superlatives for the 2019-20 season

Phoenix Suns Superlative Stat 1: 5-Man Lineup

After the Suns’ incredible 8-0 bubble run without Kelly Oubre, speculation began to fly about how much the team really needs Tsunami Papi after all. Should they relegate him to the bench in favor of the sharp-shooting Cameron Johnson? Should they trade him?

Many statistics simply don’t back up this argument. Just because the Suns won eight games in a row without him, doesn’t make Oubre expendable. In fact, he was part of the most effective lineup in the entire NBA.

No other 5-man on-court quintet in the league had a higher net rating (20.2) than the combination of Ricky Rubio, Devin Booker, Kelly Oubre, Mikal Bridges, and Deandre Ayton with a minimum of 200 minutes played.

This is a full 1.3 units better rating than the starting lineup of the powerhouse Milwaukee Bucks.

This fivesome also led the league in assist percentage (72.9 percent), assist ratio (21.9), and was second in the league in true shooting percentage (63.6 percent).

Effectively, if real life was an NBA2K game where we could turn fatigue and injury settings off, and Monty Williams could simply play those five players 48 minutes every game, the Phoenix Suns would win the championship.

Of course, the NBA isn’t a video game, and thus the Suns will need to continue to improve in all areas before next season. Still, these statistical superlatives are impressive, regardless of record, and will serve as building blocks to propel this team forward in the near future.