The Phoenix Suns offensive playstyle has been a bone of contention since their elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.
Valley of the Suns delved into this in greater focus last week, evaluating that, despite all their recent success, “eliminating some mid-range jump shots for threes and shots at the rim could prove fruitful” for the Suns.
Now, two ESPN heavyweights have affirmed the position that Phoenix need to garner greater flexibility with their style of scoring.
Despite being armed with two of the best mid-range jump shooters in the league, Chris Paul and Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns need to buy-in to a more modern NBA offense.
Michael Schwartz recently joined Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post to discuss all things Suns as the crucial offseason progresses. The offense became a major talking point, with Lowe suggesting their style has become outdated.
"“Time has run out on that, at least to that extreme…If this team is going to compete again with the big boys in West…I think they’re going to have to diversify their shot diet at least 10-15%”.“Whether it’s free throws, rim, something, I think they’re are going to need a jolt of a little something different in their offense to keep at this level”."
The Suns joined the Chicago Bulls as the only two teams ranked bottom four in both three-point field goal frequency, along with frequency of shots from within ten feet. Outside of Paul and Booker, Schwartz identified another Sun as needing to take more offensive responsibility.
"“Even at 10-15% of just taking some more threes. Deandre Ayton possibly having a bigger role. I think one of the big things that could unlock this offense a little more is if he could show a little more creation”."
77.1% of Ayton’s field-goal attempts last season came on zero dribbles, proving the need for him to be set-up by the playmaking abilities of Paul and Booker. That’s simply been the Suns style though, and like some teammates around him, we’re yet to fully get a gauge on what his true offensive capacity may look like.
That will be a major challenge for head coach Monty Williams next season – allowing his young players to flourish and explore their own personal games successfully, rather than confining them to pigeonholed roles that work so well within the team construct.