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3 reasons keeping Kevin Young was masterstroke move by the Suns

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 27: Associate head coach Kevin Young of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the first half of the NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Footprint Center on December 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 114-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 27: Associate head coach Kevin Young of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the first half of the NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Footprint Center on December 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 114-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 18: Head coach Frank Vogel and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 18: Head coach Frank Vogel and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

3 reasons keeping Kevin Young was masterstroke move by the Suns.

2. He fits perfectly with coach Vogel

Coach Young has come a long way from beginning his career in Ireland, and in that time he has established himself as one of the top offensive minds in the NBA today. He is responsible for some of the pretty and effective plays that the Suns have run so well in recent years, and why they still rank third in offensive rating (116.1) this postseason.

Going back to the 2021-22 season, before Durant was on the roster, and the Suns were top five in this category in the regular season (114.2), while in the playoffs they again jumped up to third (114.9). It helps when you have high end talent on the roster to execute a strategy, but Young rightly still gets a lot of credit for the ability of the Suns to score.

More. 3 Suns players who value increased in 2023. light

On the other side of the coin, coach Vogel has always been a defensive maestro. When the Lakers won a championship in 2020, they had the third best defense in the league (106.1). A year later, and with the team missing James and Anthony Davis for large periods of time, they somehow led the NBA in this category (106.8), which was even more impressive again.

Vogel also had superb defensive-minded teams while coaching the Pacers, and will once again lean into his expertise in that area to try and lead the Suns to a championship. It would be ideal if his top assistant was much more comfortable on the other side of the ball, and in putting together offensive sets that mesh well with what Vogel has in mind defensively.

Young possesses exactly that, and in coming back as the highest paid assistant in the league, will know that he has the backing of the front office to use his voice to have the group humming when in possession. This is not always the case, and Vogel will ultimately have the final say. But with the Suns fighting hard to keep Young and Vogel being ok with it, this duo are perfectly balanced.

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