3 way too early observations after three Phoenix Suns games

The Phoenix Suns have played three NBA regular season games which can mean only one thing - it is time to overreact to what we have seen so far. The team have gone 1-2 and are about to close out a three-game road trip - in which they've failed to win both games - against the Utah Jazz. They will likely attempt this without one of their key starters.

Even though fans were eager to move on from Kevin Durant and root for a new and younger roster, the reality of doing so has already represented challenges. It is all well and good to say you want to support a group that defends as a unit and has each other's back out there. You also need a lot of talent, which is why the losses have come so quickly despite an encouraging preseason.

More bad than good in the early goings in Phoenix.

So despite there being some things to like about this roster - as well as head coach Jordan Ott - the early knockings of the campaign feature more bad than good. Which isn't a problem, both because this is a rebuilding year and because we're overreacting to what we've seen so far. Besides - according to a recent Suns' player - we've got bad takes anyway.

3. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

It must not be forgotten that the Suns are yet to have their full compliment of starters for a single regular season game yet. Jalen Green is yet to appear for the team - and when he does - you can bet the offense is going to get a nice boost. He might be regularly criticised for his playoff shortcomings with the Houston Rockets last season, but he can also create his own shot out of nothing.

Booker hasn't had a teammate as athletic, explosive and comfortable with the ball in hand - even if he won't always make the right decisions - potentially ever, and his debut will bring with it a boost. Quite how the two are going to fit together is another problem for coach Ott to solve, but there's something to be said for playing your best five and figuring it out as you go.

For all the talks of the Suns being a better defensive team, they currently rank second last and have given up 124.8 points per game. That number will shrink, but it is also a reminder that this was hardly an elite group on that end without Green. He's regularly been called a negative defender - but if he can chip in with 20 points per game right off the bat - then that won't matter given their struggles.

2. The woes of Oso Ighodaro.

Through three games, it is clear that second year forward Oso Ighodaro has been struggling badly. This isn't even all on him either, as coach Ott has elected to start him every game the center position. There are certain nights and matchups where giving up some size in favor of athleticism can pay off, but the Denver Nuggets and L.A. Clippers are not those opponents.

Ighodaro was outmuscled and outsmarted in both losses, and his confidence looks to be taking a hit. Mark Williams is unable to play in back-to-backs right now, and he should be their starting five. Nick Richards is also best used as a backup, while coach Ott appears unwilling to turn rookie Khaman Maluach loose just yet.

Which has meant Ighodaro has had to continue on in what is not his primary role, and the players around him don't help either. The Suns regularly giving up size as a result of starting Brooks and Grayson Allen alongside Booker, with Ryan Dunn only able to do so much guarding scoring wings. It is hard to see how this gets better, but taking Ighodaro out of the starting group seems the best move.

1. Passive Devin Booker.

We singled Booker out for praise in the wake of their opening night win over the Sacramento Kings, but it appears we spoke too soon. Our premise that you can play the 28-year-old anywhere on this roster and he is going to contribute remains correct, but it has also become clear that he's still not back to being the guy in The Valley.

At 15 field goal attempts per game, Booker is putting up shots at a clip not seen since his rookie year. Not only that, but Brooks is taking almost five shots more per game than the superstar. We all know that is not a good way to distribute shots on this roster, and it partly explains why they've been blown out in their last two.

The most worrying aspect of all of this however is the fact Booker doesn't seem to mind that Brooks has come in and - much like Durant before him - immediately tried to do things his way. He might say all of the right things to the media about needing Booker to be aggressive, but Brooks also clearly needs the ball taken out of his hands some. If the Suns want to win games, Booker has to dominate.