PHOENIX SUNS

Suns’ color analyst: Miles Plumlee has to be more aggressive

Apr 9, 2014, 7:09 PM | Updated: 7:29 pm

Follow @AZSports...

LISTEN: Tim Kempton, Suns analyst

When the Phoenix Suns acquired Miles Plumlee in a trade with the Indiana Pacers last year, it wasn’t clear what was expected from a second-year player with only 14 career games under his belt.

Fast forward to the final week of the regular season, the 6-foot-11 center is a big reason why the Suns are competing for one of the last Western Conference playoff seeds.

Yet, with only five games left in the season, Plumlee is logging less minutes in the past month compared to his season average of 24.7 minutes per game.

In the last 17 games, his playing time has taken a hit and he is only on the court for an average of 19.35 minutes.

Tim Kempton, color analyst for the Suns, spoke with Doug and Wolf of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM about Plumlee’s sophomore season and what he needs to do to earn back his minutes.

“Jeff [Hornacek] is looking for offense and defense, and sometimes you just can’t count on the offense from Miles at this stage of his career,” Kempton said.

“He’s got to get his energy going. He’s got to be aggressive early on. The more aggressive he is, I think the more playing time he’ll get, because obviously the rebounding is there.”

Plumlee leads the team in rebounds (8) and blocks (1.2) per game, but Hornacek has been going with Channing Frye and Markieff Morris, who both averaged more minutes than Plumlee in the team’s last 10 games.

“Right now, Jeff Hornacek has lost a little bit of confidence in him,” Kempton said. “Maybe not that he’s lost confidence in him, but his confidence in those other guys have picked up so greatly that he has more confidence in them to go into clutch situations.”

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic...

Damon Allred

Jusuf Nurkic questionable for Suns’ matchup with Thunder; Bradley Beal no longer listed

The Phoenix Suns are listing center Jusuf Nurkic questionable for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

6 minutes ago

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

18 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

22 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

Suns’ color analyst: Miles Plumlee has to be more aggressive