Huge boost for Suns as key player comes off injury report

The Phoenix Suns may have only played three regular season games, but already a rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers looms. For those counting at home, this is also the four game between the two already, although a pair of those contests came in preseason play.

The Suns' single loss so far this campaign has been to the Lakers, and it came in a way that certainly left a sour taste in the mouth. Letting a 22 point lead that was amassed as quickly as the second quarter needlessly slip away. Reverting to isolation play offensively and failing to take care of the basketball two of the key reasons why. We've been here before.

Good news has arrived though, in the form of the availability of Grayson Allen.

Allen has been limited to only one game played so far, as a result of achilles soreness and then personal reasons. This came at a not so ideal time for the Suns, as they were working on integrating Allen into their second unit. Credit to rookie Ryan Dunn though - who may yet start again with Bradley Beal missing for the second straight game - who has taken his chance brilliantly.

Royce O'Neale another individual who stepped up in the early season absence of Allen, and who in truth is now the team's sixth man until Allen can wrestle that title back from him. But the addition of Allen gives head coach Mike Budenholzer several new ways to hurt the Lakers, and his return has come at the perfect time.

From the most obvious point of view, Allen is going to ensure the Suns are taking even more 3-pointers than they already have in the early goings of this season. He led the league in shooting percentage last year at 46.1 percent - and with the team shooting around six more efforts from deep each night to take their team number to around 38 - this is the perfect marriage of player and system.

Less obvious - but sure to be equally as important - is how Allen can ensure the Suns have a different lineup to hurt the Lakers and other opponents off the bench. He packed on a ton of muscle over the summer, and the potential to use him as a small ball forward alongside the likes of Dunn and Kevin Durant now exists.

Physically he can hold his own against the likes of a Rui Hachimura, which allows coach Budenholzer to play groups of players together that previous leading man Frank Vogel couldn't last season. This new physicality - to go alongside the athleticism and underrated defending that was always there - will be a big boost once Allen can get a run of games under his belt.

Really though the Suns are just a better and stronger team from top to bottom when he is a part of the rotation. He makes plays on both ends of the court, and was the Suns' third best and most important player last season after Durant and Devin Booker. Having him availability legitimately gives the Suns a better chance in this game.