The Phoenix Suns have one game recorded in the preseason books, one that we really can’t take much from. After all, it’s preseason. It’s a blank canvas for the coaching staff to experiment with rotations and manage minutes, while giving players an opportunity to try things they’ve been working on throughout the summer against real, aggressive competition. And the Suns certainly faced aggressive competition in their first game.
They opened against the Detroit Pistons, one of the best defensive teams in the league last season after finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. It was a great opportunity for Phoenix to go out there and try to match aggression with aggression.
I don’t put too much stock in the 32 turnovers, especially since the majority came in the second half when the Suns deployed their second and third units against Detroit. Do you like to see it? Absolutely not. You’d hope for better ball handling and more responsible facilitation, but credit the Pistons. Their pressure was steady and consistent throughout every phase of the match. This is something the Suns can learn from.
There’s only one thing that concerns me, and that’s free throw shooting.
I will thank the Suns for their aggressiveness and willingness to attack the cylinder. This has been a challenge for recent Suns teams. Phoenix ranked 29th in attempts inside 5 feet last season, so any move that swings the pendulum the other way is appreciated. As a result of that aggression, the Suns got to the line for 33 free throw attempts. In the first half alone, when we saw the majority of starters and rotation players, Phoenix attempted 21.
The problem was converting them. The Suns finished 17 of 33 from the line, good for 51.5 percent. Even in the first half, they were only 13 out of 21, or 61.9%.
This certainly will and must improve. Because what’s the point of going down the slope, playing physically, attacking the rim and making mistakes if you ultimately fail to convert the opportunities you create?
Last season, Phoenix ranked 28th in the league in free throw attempts and 15th in free throw percentage. It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that the Suns failed to finish in the top 10 in free throw percentage. This makes the line an area of opportunity for this team.
Defensively, the Suns will compete night after night. They will put pressure on the opposition and try to generate additional possessions. But given their personnel, they don’t project to be an elite three-point shooting team. They’ll need to generate points however they can, and the free throw line should be one of those avenues, considering the tenacity and ferocity of this team.
Is this something to be concerned about? In the short term, of course. We’ll see if this becomes a trend, if this is a team that can consistently get to the line but struggles to convert once it gets there.
Gn sports
