The Phoenix Suns are in all-hands-on-deck mode just four games into this new season. With Bradley Beal yet to suit up and Devin Booker getting hurt in the season opener, the Suns’ revamped depth has already been put to the test.
Not surprisingly, the Suns have had an uneven start due to that, but what’s been interesting are the statistical trends that have started to form.
Since Booker and Beal are out, it isn’t quite clear if these themes are caused by, or independent of their absences. It’s important to note where some of these metrics stand as of right now, and see what kind of impact Booker and Beal have on them when they come back.
If these issues are something those two can fix then the Suns will be in a good spot. But if not, they will have to be proactive in addressing them with lineup changes and roster moves.
3. Too many turnovers
The absence of Booker and Beal has been felt the most in the playmaking department. The Suns have been a turnover machine thus far, averaging 18.3 per game, which ranks as the third most in the league. This can’t be attributed solely to having them both out though, as the Suns turned the ball over 19 times in the first game of the season, which Booker played in.
The lack of a true point guard on the roster, especially among the reserves, was a concern coming in to the season, so starting off this way isn’t promising. Jordan Goodwin has been great in his added minutes but as of right now he’s more of an off-ball guard.
Still, any definitive judgements can’t be made until all three of the big 3 share the floor together. The luxury to be able to pair one of the lead ball handlers with the bench players might completely fix this problem. However, if the turnover numbers still don’t improve then it might be time to sign or trade for a true point guard to shore up that issue.