The Phoenix Suns miss Grayson Allen this season; there is already no denying that. While they have sputtered to a 4-6 start, Allen has not missed a beat with the Charlotte Hornets and recently dropped 27 points (making six 3-pointers in the process) in a convincing victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are about to come face-to-face with their former player, and Allen is going to show them how valuable he could have been for this version of the Suns.
Allen's two-way play crucial part of Coach Ott's system
When fans think of Allen, it is his elite 3-point shooting that always comes to mind first. Only he proved during his time in Phoenix that he is an underrated defender and has the athleticism (and, if we're being honest, the nasty streak) to stick with guys bigger and more explosive than he is. The Suns ditched that in favor of Miles Bridges, and so far that has not worked.
Bridges is the better all-around scorer and is capable of giving the Suns 20 points each night. Only his fit alongside Devin Booker has been clunky, while the backcourt of Devin Booker and Jalen Green can't rely on him defensively to cover the more difficult matchups. What made Allen work so well in Head Coach Jordan Ott's defensive system was his willingness to guard bigger opponents, switch onto quicker guards when necessary and spread the court when his team had possession.
He even helped to keep Victor Wembanyama on one occasion, about the highest compliment you can give a valuable role player in the league. The Suns sit third from the bottom in defensive rating (119.3), not just because they moved on from Allen. It was replacing him with a more offensive-minded and bigger forward who isn't as interested in defending, despite promising to do otherwise at media day, which has been the issue.
Allen the perfect player to hit Suns where it hurts
When he does take to the court against his former team, Allen will immediately become the kind of opponent the Suns have struggled to contain this season. He's going to stretch the paint for his teammates to go to work, while everybody from Bridges to Booker and even Collin Gillespie is likely to be tasked with slowing Allen down.
They won't be able to; he moves too well without the ball and will do a solid job guarding Brooks or Bridges when he is out of possession. The Suns had to move on from Grayson Allen last summer, but giving him up for Bridges, while also including Royce O'Neale and a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, continues to look like an overpay. Allen continuing his hot form from his time in The Valley makes this even worse, and he surely sees this as a revenge game.
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