3 goals for Oso Ighodaro's rookie season with the Suns
By Luke Duffy
1. Average four rebounds per game
It doesn't seem right to try and give Ighodaro personal goals around stats, because he is only going to get spot minutes unless he can force his way into the conversation to have a bigger role. Averaging four rebounds per game isn't really about him though, but rather what he can do for this group.
During the regular season last year, the Suns ranked 10th in boards per game at 44.1. A nice number and one that doesn't necessarily need a ton of improvement, but then you see how this was achieved and it is clear something has to change. After Nurkic, the next four players who grabbed the most rebounds each night was their three stars plus O'Neale.
How the Phoenix Suns will use point guard Monte Morris next season. How the Phoenix Suns will use point guard Monte Morris next season. dark. Next
That's both a bad way to use offensive talents while outside of Durant none of the other three guys are even bigs who spend a lot of time in the paint. Which is why Ighodaro's contribution in this area could quickly become crucial.
Also worth noting is that the Suns ranked dead last in the playoffs in rebounds at 32.5. Yes they were battered by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but that was four rebounds less than the next worst team (Miami Heat, 36.2). Ighodaro isn't likely to make the postseason rotation proper - but if he can make up those four rebounds himself - he'll be helping this roster in a real way.