The Phoenix Suns have got off to a promising start in preseason play. The result against the Los Angeles Lakers didn't matter - although to beat them is always nice - as much as having a group that actually cared on the court did. This team may surprise a few people this coming season, and it will be as a result of their newfound defensive identity if they can pick up some unexpected wins.
Dillon Brooks has been huge in that regard already, and it is clear that the roster has more depth than when Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal were in town. The area that received the most work this offseason was the center rotation, with the organization drafting Khaman Maluach and trading for Mark Williams. This on top of trading for Nick Richards at the deadline last season.
Defending will remain a problem for Suns at center position this season.
Despite moving away from Deandre Ayton - and you can ask the Lakers how that is going - as well as Jusuf Nurkic, Sam Vecenie and Bryce Simon of The Game Theory Podcast remain unconvinced by the Suns' centers to defend at a high level. This came to a head during their most recent episode alongside Andrew Claudio, which you can check out below.
Although the Suns clearly upgraded the defensive end with the addition of Brooks - while both Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro look to have improved - their trio of centers are going to be a liability according to the trio on the podcast. Maluach clearly has the best upside of the three, but at 19-years-old it is going to take time for him to reach his potential on that end.
His massive frame helps, but smarter opponents will work around him while the true brutes will still be able to go through his chest. As for Williams - when he is even able to get on the court - last season the Charlotte Hornets gave up 118.9 points when he was out there. That is somehow even worse than the 117.7 posted by the Suns, which was still the fourth worst mark in the entire NBA.
In fact Williams had a net rating in 44 games of minus 12.7, which shows he's hardly going to be a key factor offensively each night either. As for Richards - much as he brought the energy when he came over from Charlotte - it became apparent quickly that he is a backup big in this league. One who is already fighting for a spot in the rotation.
Suns fans are right to be cautiously optimistic about what this season could bring relative to the low expectations in place. Just don't expect their trio of centers to fix the glaring hole in the paint that has existed for several years now. Each will try in their own way, but the reality is none are good enough - and in Maluach's case that will hopefully change soon - to turn the team's fortunes around.