25 Questions For The Phoenix Suns' 2016-17 Season
Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; (From left) Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe , guard Devin Booker and guard Brandon Knight pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Phoenix Suns enter in the 2016-17 season a team filled with promise, but even more unknowns.
In the spirit of the start of the new season, a little over 25 days ago I presented the first 25 questions to have answered over the next season, and now I present to you the second set of 25.
These are all Phoenix Suns questions that could – and mostly will – be answered sometime over the next eight months. Most of these are serious queries based around the potential of statistical improvement or regression, but some are fun and a little off the wall.
Leading into every season there are always many things to look forward to, even if the team isn’t projected to be that good. But watching every game looking for the answers to these questions will help to draw a more full and complete picture of the Suns’ 49th season.
So now, with just under 25 days left before the official start of the Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss era, here are 25 questions for 2016-17.
Next: Starting with Question #25 for the 2016-17 Season
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
25. Will the Phoenix Suns introduce a new special jersey for the season?
The Suns have a penchant for adding a new jersey about once a year that is intended to both bolster their options on the court, as well as sales off.
Two years ago they added the new grey sleeved jersey with the old school PHOENIX across the chest. Last season, part of their new public marketing campaign was the addition of a slick black jersey with white outlined black PHX letters across the chest.
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So far this offseason there has been no additional jersey added to the player’s closets. But rest assured, if their designers can come up with something that will boost sales, a new jersey may be coming our way.
24. After only selling out 8 home games in 2015-16, how many will the Suns sell out this season?
Once a franchise perennially near the top of the league in attendance rankings, as the Suns have fallen upon hard times on the court, they too have suffered with ticket sales. But, with Devin Booker growing to be a can’t miss star, and three exciting new rookies on the roster, there are several reasons to come and watch the Suns live.
Fortunately, while tickets are generally fairly expensive and it can be difficult for a family to afford to purchase four or five seats for a team not expected to win, secondary market tickets can be found in an affordable range.
Apr 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
23. Will Devin Booker be 6-foot-8 and playing power forward for the Phoenix Suns by the end of the season?
This question is not nearly as silly as it might seem on paper. As a 19-year-old, Devin Booker has reportedly grown an inch since he was drafted, and men do tend to grow until they are about 21. It is not terribly uncommon for men to add height late in their formative years, so who knows. By the start of 2017, he could be listed at 6-foot-8.
Regardless, shorter players have played power forward, and even if Booker is done growing, having a dynamic 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward is a luxury that very few teams have on their roster.
22. Speaking of Book, will he win the Three-Point contest in All-Star Weekend in New Orleans?
Last season Devin Booker surprised most NBA fans by making the finals of the NBA three-point shooting contest at All-Star Weekend. Finishing third behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, his presence with them was still the highlight of the weekend for Suns fans, though it left us wanting more.
There is a very real possibility that Booker is given another shot to shoot during All-Star Weekend in 2017 in New Orleans. If he is selected, what difference does one year make?
Jan 6, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) dribbles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
21. Brandon Knight changed his number. Will it help his game?
Brandon Knight switched from #3 to #11 this season, allowing Jared Dudley to wear his familiar #3. The number on the front of the jersey shouldn’t make any difference at all in a player’s game, but he has also made another significant change: he is now coming off the bench. A new number and a new role could produce a new game for the combo guard.
The Suns need Knight to both accept and excel as a sixth man. Will his number play a large factor? Probably not. But, if he does take a leap forward this season, then the change in number may have been the signaling of a new era in his game.
20. Will the Suns have a winning streak longer than three games?
Rebuilding teams have to take each game one at a time. During the Steve Nash era, fans would look at the schedule and chart out 5-10 game winning streaks throughout the season, and generally the team would oblige regularly. But rebuilding teams cannot be so cavalier, and often two wins in a row is an accomplishment.
Last season the Suns’ largest winning streak was three. Looking at the calendar now, it is hard to find a period where fans can guarantee that they can do better than that. However, this team has improved, has added depth, and has far fewer negative distractions than they did last year. Do not discount the possibility.
19. And with that number in mind, the Suns have won their last two games on Halloween Night. Can they make it three in a row this year?
Fast Fact – The Suns are 7-8 all-time on Halloween night, and have never won more than two in a row.
The Suns play at the Los Angeles Clippers on Halloween, not generally an easy place to get a win these days. And yet, the Clippers are vulnerable, and it would not be the most unlikely upset for the Suns to pull off.
So, after your kids – who we assume are all dressed up like little Devin Booker’s – are finished trick or treating, pick through their candy stash and grab the Butterfingers while you watch the Suns go for three in a row on Halloween night.
Mar 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) moves the ball defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcelo Huertas (9) during the second half at Staples Center. The Phoenix Suns won 95-90. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
18. Can the Suns sweep the Lakers?
As bad as the Suns were last season, they still managed to win three out of four over the even worse Los Angeles Lakers. Whether L.A. has multiple Hall of Famer’s or just running out a bunch of spare parts, a victory over the Lakers can be the most gratifying win of the season for Suns fans.
Sweeping the Lakers (something that has only been accomplished three times in franchise history with the last occurring in the 2014-15 season) would be one of the sweetest moments to relish of the season, regardless of the overall outcome.
17. Can the Suns beat the Warriors once?
With his move from Oklahoma City to Oakland, Kevin Durant has gone from one of the most beloved superstars in the NBA to one of the more…disliked.
Regardless of your opinion of his decision or of the Golden State Warriors in general, this season series will undoubtedly be the most difficult. The Warriors swept the Suns last season and have won seven straight.
This season does not seem to be the one where the Suns are most likely to breakthrough against Steve Kerr’s bayside beasts, but when you’re playing the best, teams tend to try their best, and in this rivalry, you can never count out a team with nothing to lose.
Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (left), guard Tyler Ulis (center) and forward Marquese Chriss pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
16. Who will be the surprise player off the Phoenix Suns’ bench?
With three rookies (Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis), a former starter (Leandro Barbosa), a local product (Alan Williams), and a young stud (Archie Goodwin), the Suns have several options to become a surprise bench player. Brandon Knight and P.J Tucker will be expected to take the lead in bench scoring and defensive play.
However, any one of the other five have the opportunity to average around ten points per game, or around five rebounds or assists per game, depending on play and position.
Smart money may be on Marquese Chriss or Archie Goodwin, but any of these players could conceivably come off the bench as the spark plug that helps bridge the gap between starting rotations.
15. Can Bender, Chriss, Len, and Chandler all play on the court at the same time?
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Throw Devin Booker into this mix and you have the ultimate tall-ball lineup. The Suns are a franchise perennially known for small-ball lineups, even as most recently as two seasons ago with Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, and Isaiah Thomas.
But considering that Len has played power forward in the Suns system, and the possibility that Bender could be a point forward, moving him to the wing as a shooting guard would actually be plausible if the defensive matchups work out well enough.
PG – Booker
SG – Bender
SF – Chriss
PF – Len
C – Chandler
There would be a lot of rebounding in that lineup and once Bender and Chriss find their way in the offense, a tall-ball lineup isn’t a crazy idea and would be a lot of fun to see.
Feb 2, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver (left) with general manager Ryan McDonough following the game against the Toronto Raptors at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
14. How many additional first round picks will Ryan McDonough acquire this season for the Phoenix Suns?
There are upwards of four players that are most discussed as possible trade bait this upcoming season: Chandler, Knight, Tucker, Goodwin, any one of whom could potentially bring a first round pick back in return in the right package. (Just to be clear, I’m not saying a high lottery pick. Tucker to the Cavs for the 32nd pick isn’t a ridiculous notion.)
Depending on if, when, and in what size of a package any of those four players (and potentially others) are traded, first round picks could definitely sweeten the deal for the Suns if they pick up a bad contract in return, end of the bench players, or no players at all.
So if McDonough is 100% bought in that the best way to rebuild is through the draft, then do not be surprised if he manages to acquire one or more first round picks this season to compliment the pick that the Suns already own.
13. The Suns ranked near the bottom of the league in blocks. Can Earl Watson develop a defensive scheme that gets Len, Chandler, and Bender in positions to get more blocks around the basket?
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Tyson Chandler has lost a step; Earl Watson believes that what is holding Alex Len back is between the ears; Dragan Bender is not a fan of banging around down low; and yet they are each over 7 feet tall, capable of building a forest in the paint defensively in a lineup that features the three of them in the middle.
Once a defensive stalwart, Chandler averaged a career low 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes last season. Alex Len averaged 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes in his third season in the league, although it was less than half what he averaged the year prior, and a career low.
Somehow the two giants managed to cancel each other out on the defensive end preventing either of them from getting the blocks that centers with their height and athleticism should easily be able to obtain.
Now, there are many factors that allow a center to average 2+ blocks per game, including the defensive effort of the other players on the court. Outside of Eric Bledsoe, Suns guards are rarely known as good defenders, which generally leads to easy access of the lane via guard penetration. When this happens Suns centers are left on an island and are less likely to face a layup because of kickouts, which completely negates the physical superiority of Chandler, Len, and Bender.
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Dragan Bender (right) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
12. Will Dragan Bender play any point forward?
Through Bender’s Las Vegas Summer League and early preseason play it seems like this is a harebrained idea. However, in Vegas, Bender did bring the ball up on occasion, leaving open the possibility that this could develop into a part of his repertoire.
He first must become far more confident offensively. Plus, with plenty of competent guards on the roster, there isn’t a glaring need for him to do so. However the option can be on the table in the future and should be something to look forward to as he develops.
11. Can Alex Len bump up his points and rebounds enough to average a double-double for the season?
As mentioned earlier, Earl Watson noted that Alex Len’s issues mainly fall between his ears. Much like a rookie, Len has still not grown to have total confidence in his own game and ability to do what he wants to do on the court without receiving a foul called, or risking a turnover.
One of the publicly stated reasons that Mehmet Okur was brought onto the Suns coaching staff was to help develop that confidence in his game and build his play up to levels more highly expected of a player of his size and length.
Aside from just additional minutes, Len has improved his points, rebounds, and assists averages each year of his career. Look to see the additional coaching and personal maturity push those numbers up even higher, and watch for the double-doubles to start racking up.
Last season Len had 19 double-doubles including one stretch in late February and early March where he had seven in eight games.
Apr 13, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after taking a jump shot against the Los Angeles Clippers at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
10. Can Devin Booker average ten three’s attempted per game? Knowing that Steph Curry averaged over eleven per game last year, is ten even that crazy a number to contemplate anymore?
The short answer is yes: Book can average ten three’s attempted per game. However, the greater question is: is it likely?
The answer to that is whether the Suns’ new motion offense allows it, and how big of a scoring threat Coach Watson is planning on making Booker.
Last year, in 51 games started, Book attempted more than 10 three’s three times in a single game. However, he shot 8+ nine additional times and in those 51 starts, averaged just under 5 three’s attempted per game.
Now, it is safe money that Booker will be the focal point of the offense and will very likely lead the team in scoring this season. If so, and if he is expected to generally stay around the perimeter, his three-point shooting could rise considerably, and the chance, and opportunity to average at or near ten three’s attempted per game, is not out of the realm of possibility.
Nov 29, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Phoenix Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe (2) celebrates a basket against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Suns beat the Raptors 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
9. Will the Suns be a top-five fastbreak scoring team in 2016-17?
The Suns franchise is known as a fastbreak team, something fans have grown to expect since the late 1980s. For a fastbreak team, transition points are the defining statistic, and even in a down year like 2015-16, the Suns averaged 14.4 fastbreak points a game, good for 8th in the league.
This season with the addition of high flyer Marquese Chriss, the growth of T.J. Warren as a transition player, as well as the presumed health of Eric Bledsoe running the point, the Suns should be able to improve upon this statistic – with the positive side effect of raising the total per game scoring average as well.
8. Can the Suns break their streak of four years without an All-Star?
Devin Booker winning the All-Star Weekend three-point shooting contest was discussed earlier, but can a Phoenix Sun make the roster of the Sunday All-Star game?
Just as a quick reference check, they do not likely have a front court player either good enough or popular enough to be voted in. And now that no “center” position is available to be voted on by the fans, it is unlikely that by some quirk Tyson Chandler or Alex Len are selected.
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But the Suns do offer three solid guards with All-Star potential in Booker, Bledsoe, and Knight, the three players on the roster with the greatest chance for selection.
Presuming that Knight stays on the bench, he will be the most unlikely of the three to be elected for the game. Whereas Devin Booker, based on LeBron James’ extremely high praise this offseason, will certainly receive the most national attention, giving him the best opportunity through name-recognition alone.
However, if healthy, both Eric Bledsoe and Booker will have a fairly decent shot of being selected by the Western coaches, if their stats approach what they are capable.
Last year, the West boasted six guards on its All-Star roster: Starters Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Kobe Bryant, and reserves Chris Paul, James Harden, and Klay Thompson. Barring injuries, the only player on that group who will not be returning is Kobe Bryant, leaving a potential guard spot available should six make the roster again this season.
If Devin Booker is designated as a shooting guard/small forward, there is a very plausible argument that if he is leading the Suns in scoring – especially if he is pushing 20 points and 3-4 three’s per game, that he would be selected.
Furthermore, if Bledsoe too is averaging near 20 points per game, and over seven assists, then (likely in the event of an injury to Curry, Paul, or Westbrook), he too could be a likely choice to make the roster.
It must also be noted that Damian Lillard was not on last year’s Western Conference roster, the West’s biggest snub. Look for there to be a popular push to include Lillard this year.
Suns Head Coach Earl Watson. Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
7. Can the Phoenix Suns have one month with a winning record?
In October the Suns play four games, which would be the easiest opportunity to pull off the feat, and is the only month they finished above .500 last year going 2-1. However, starting the season against Sacramento, Oklahoma City, Golden State, and the Clippers, it will not be easy.
To win a month, the Suns will have to find some consistency, have few to no injuries, and a favorable schedule to work with. Stringing together a few wins in a row would certainly help too because it would allow shorter losing streaks to not have the same impact on their record.
Look at February as the best month to finish above .500. Although it is a little shorter because of the nine-day All-Star break, those nine days will help the team get healthy; they should have a good level of consistency with the Watson system; and they have zero games against GS, OKC, SA, Dallas, or Portland.
The last time the Suns won a full month? January 2015. 10-5.
6. Marcus Morris makes his return to Phoenix on November 6, and Markieff makes his return on March 7. Who will receive the louder boos?
Marcus Morris has already returned once, receiving a relentless showering of boos every time he touched the ball and there is no doubt that Markieff will receive the same. But while Markieff will probably receive louder boos this season, Marcus has not shut up about calling out the Suns since his departure, so the public angst he receives may actually become more intense moving forward.
Mar 12, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives in against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Suns 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
5. Even if the Phoenix Suns happen to be mired in a terrible losing streak, would you still attend a game just to see Devin Booker live?
Devin Booker has become the closest thing to a “must see” player that the Suns have had since Steve Nash. The second half of his rookie season was so spectacular that fans couldn’t help but wonder if he had been a starter from the beginning if he could have won Rookie of the Year.
This season he is poised to take the next step, and as mentioned before, will very likely lead the team in scoring. That being said, is he alone worth the price of admission on an otherwise mediocre team?
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I can certainly not tell you how to spend your money, but do take this into consideration: Devin Booker is in his second year and already LeBron James has heaped praise on him. Booker accomplished scoring feats last season as a 19-year-old, putting him in the class with other greats that fans wouldn’t hesitate to buy a ticket to watch.
Also, this is a period in his career where the Suns aren’t selling out a lot of games so tickets to see him will be easy to come by. If he develops into the player that we all hope he will, and the team improves, then tickets will be a lot more difficult to afford, and seeing him live will be a much more expensive challenge.
4. With all the talk about Booker growing an inch this offseason, no one has really mentioned the other three teens that still have some growing to do as well. Will Bender, Chriss, and Ulis grow at all too?
It is a fact that men often grow until about the age of 21, and Bender (18), Chriss (19), and Ulis (20), may very well add some height over the next season, or two, or three. Do not be surprised if the currently listed heights of either of these players is adjusted in the future. Let’s just hope they all eat their Wheaties.
At only 18 years old, Dragan Bender is the most likely to see a height adjustment on his stat sheets sometime in the next three years. Do not expect him to be listed as 7’1″ forever.
Dec 2, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons guard Steve Blake (22) during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit won 127-122 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
3. Will Tyler Ulis produce enough to become the main backup point guard on the roster?
The Suns roster is guard heavy, and with Brandon Knight coming off of the bench and Leandro Barbosa and Archie Goodwin waiting in the wings, it will be difficult for Ulis to see extended regular minutes.
However, one injury to a guard ahead of him and he’s pushed up a rung on the ladder. Plus, he showed a lot of heart in the Summer League and is not afraid to take his mid-range jumpers in the land of the giants.
Much of Ulis’ time will be awarded to him based on practice, and with his heart and energy, don’t be shocked if by mid-season he has worked his way into a regular role.
2. After all the offseason bluster, is Eric Bledsoe the undisputed leader of the Suns? Is this the season he takes a significant step forward in that regard and claims the Suns as his team?
Before his injury last season, Bledsoe was averaging 20.4 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.0 steals, all career highs. This offseason he paid for the team to take a bonding trip to San Diego and he hosted similar events at his home.
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Bledsoe recognizes that at the moment he is the best player on the roster, and as the team’s starting and undisputed point guard, he is developing into the role as team leader.
This can work wonders for a franchise not only looking for a player to lead the team, but also for a team that suffered through more turmoil in the two prior seasons than most teams endure in a decade.
Devin Booker is the future, but at nearly 27 years old, Eric Bledsoe is the now. For the Phoenix Suns to succeed, they need him to not only be the best player on both sides of the floor, but also the Captain.
He should take responsibility for the losses, even if it was not his fault. He should pass off responsibility for a victory, even if he should be awarded the credit.
Eric Bledsoe can lead this team where it wants to go, and as of today, he is the undisputed leader of the Phoenix Suns.
1. Is there any chance the Phoenix Suns are a playoff team?
At 23-59 last season that record was good enough for 14th in the Western Conference. In an earlier post, I had them pegged as a 32-50 team this season – bad, but a nine game improvement. The Houston Rockets finished with the last playoff spot at 41-41, nine games above even my earlier prediction, and 18 games better than the Suns’ 2015-16 finish.
Of the eight playoff teams, the only one that prognosticators can peg as one that will take a step back is Oklahoma City due to their loss of Kevin Durant. But, is this enough to knock them out of the playoffs opening a spot for a new team like the Suns? The Rockets also lost Dwight Howard, but is this addition by subtraction?
Even though a few players on the Suns see themselves as a playoff team, it will likely take around a 20 game improvement, and at least one of the top eight from last season to take a significant step back, allowing the Suns to leapfrog in. Is this likely? We’ll see, but probably not.
Thanks for reading! Less than 25 days left until the season starts! If you have any questions about this team that you would like to ask, leave them below!