The Phoenix Suns have looked like a strong and cohesive group during preseason play, and Jalen Green accepting a role as a primary playmaker has been one of the big reasons why. The 24-year-old said all the right things during media day about creating for his teammates more, and he also revealed he had put in the work with Steve Nash during the offseason. If he's ready to do that often, it could unearth the version of him this team needs.
Green playing more as point guard unlocks Suns' offense
Green spoke to the media recently and revealed that he is more than happy to take on more responsibility in the backcourt alongside Devin Booker. This backs up what we have seen from the former second overall pick so far during preseason, which now includes a victory over the San Antonio Spurs in which Booker was rested.
"I feel comfortable bringing the ball up, getting guys in the sets. I'm very comfortable with having the ball in my hands in general. As far as making the right read, that is where my head is at right now. Get into the paint, draw two, make the right read."
It is no secret that the only way for the Booker-Green tandem to work is if he takes the ball out of Booker's hands more to initiate the offense. So far, Green has willingly done this. That has created a new issue: Booker has struggled badly to connect from 3-point range (1-of-12 through two games), but that is not a problem that Green can fix.
Playing alongside an offensive upgrade at the four in Miles Bridges and the Suns' current best player, Dillon Brooks, gives him more weapons to create for, while they do an excellent job of hiding him defensively as well.
Green has always had a willingness to drive to the basket; he didn't always make the right pass once the defense had collapsed in on him. That remains a work in progress, but understanding that he has to add passing out of drives to his game and setting up his teammates so that Booker doesn't have to will be huge for him this season.
Green can still revert to elite scorer in certain lineups
While Green as a floor general has been designed to get Booker back to scoring at an elite level, the Suns haven't forgotten about the former in this department. Part of the logic behind bringing back both Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin is that it gives him a pair of true point guards that he can also play off of in order to get his own buckets.
Green is a 20-point-per-night scorer, and forcing him to pass more often than not would only be replicating the past and the failure to convert Booker into a floor general. He will have periods in a game in which he is tasked with scoring the ball, but becoming the most talented backcourt mate Booker has had since Chris Paul, while also being open to setting up the offense, is what will take this group to the next level.
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