1. Bol Bol
Big man Bol Bol finds himself in an altogether predictable situation, having been mothballed by the Orlando Magic last season down the stretch even after being everything they needed earlier in the campaign. He still managed to play 21.5 minutes per game across 70 contests (33 starts), numbers Bol could only wish to be posting now.
This season he’s appeared in two games, seven minutes total, and scored a single basket. Given that Suns fans were excited to add him to the back end of their roster, Bol isn’t being given any kind of opportunity to show what he can do. Don’t tell a certain Hall of Fame floor general though, who believes Bol is in the same class as Victor Wembanyama.
Free Bol Bol pic.twitter.com/eOwJWDZPfG
— Tay Supreme (@2HUNNID6TAY) November 1, 2023
He clearly is not, and defensively has been awful throughout his career. That might explain why coach Vogel – a known defensive specialist – has been reluctant to throw Bol out there. He’s stopping nobody, and is beyond raw on that end, even though he is in his fifth season and is usually the tallest player on the court.
Looking at this another way however, and perhaps Bol will get some minutes alongside Durant, Booker and Beal when all three are healthy. That doesn’t seem likely though, as defensively the Suns need players like Josh Okogie and Eric Gordon to surround their stars to help on the other end.
If anything Bol should be playing in the absence of these stars, because he represents a problem for opponents to solve with how he can score outside of the paint, especially next to Durant. That isn’t happening, and the intrigue of Bol has withered away slowly so far because he’s not playing even when the Suns are winning, or losing and in need of something different. That is a worry.
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