The Phoenix Suns need to manage minutes per game better for each player
With the current 34-9 record, the Suns are more or less locked into the playoffs already with many other Western Conference teams on the struggle bus.
The Suns need to start resting their stars in games vs teams well below the .500 mark. Not only will that give their younger players more experience, but it will prevent getting an elite player hurt in a game they could have slept walked through.
This seems to often get lost as teams are at the top of the league. They don’t need to throw out the starters against the Sacramento Kings for example.
With Klay Thompson coming back for Golden State, I can’t see a real way the Suns take that one seed, so they must start resting and building their roster in the easier games.
The key to winning a title is health. A healthy team wins a title, the Suns will not be able to challenge if they lose Ayton, Paul, or Booker for the year. Keeping them fresh, healthy, and still progressing is the only way this team will be able to get back to the league’s grandest stage.
Right now, Paul, Ayton, Booker, and Mikal Bridges are all averaging 30.0 minutes or more per game, which cannot continue. There is enough depth on this roster that they can bring them down to about 22-25 minutes per game and continue their winning ways, pending they do well at the trade deadline.
While many people will knock the minutes cap the NBA is doing now, it has shown to be effective. While other teams are starting to peak and throwing out their stars for 30-35 minutes a game, the Suns should do the opposite so when they end up in a showdown with Golden State, they can run them up and down the floor.