The Athletic ranks 1 Suns position as top 10 in the NBA
The Athletic isn't high on the overall talent and depth of the Suns roster despite coming off a playoff appearance.
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The Phoenix Suns have one of the better point guard rooms in the NBA, but according to The Athletic’s Law Murray, that’s about it.
The Athletic ranked all 30 teams by position, and the Suns are in the top 10 once. Here’s how Phoenix compares to the rest of the league:
- No. 8 at point guard
- No. 18 at shooting guard
- No. 18 at small forward
- No. 25 at power forward
- No. 28 at center
It’s noteworthy that these rankings evaluate the depth of the position on the team, so it isn’t just valuing the starters.
Murray argues that despite Devin Booker playing out of position at point guard, the depth the team has makes it the team’s biggest positional strength.
The Phoenix Suns have not always had ideal roster construction around Devin Booker. Once again, Booker is tasked with being the primary playmaker, although he at least has a strong backup in Collin Gillespie.
Gillespie broke out in a big way last season. He went from being in-and-out of the rotation a year prior to averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 40.1% from distance and becoming a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
Murray has the Suns’ wings in the middle of the pack despite Dillon Brooks coming off of a career-year and Jalen Green coming into this season healthy.
Green only played in 32 games last season due to nagging hamstring injuries, but he previously was a 20-point-per-game scorer in two of his first four seasons.
Murray also has the Suns’ big men near the bottom of the NBA because of Mark Williams’ injury. He said that leaves Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach in a “timeshare.”
The depth is also a major question mark within the Suns’ power forwards, with it still unknown who out of Rasheer Fleming, Ryan Dunn, Koa Peat and Haywood Highsmith will provide viable minutes behind newcomer Miles Bridges.
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Comments
3 Comments
Because Booker is a good point guard, duh.
Just because Booker is an elite SG (or was, well see if that 3 ever comes back), doesnt mean he isn't a very good point gaurd.
Sure would like to see the criteria for determining point guard ranking . Phoenix ranked eighth best in the league when they don’t actually have a point guard on their roster. either. The criteria is convoluted or the league is a mess with this position Phoenix would rank eighth…. not sure why Nash spent time with green this summer. I assume to teach him some point guard skills? a slasher and a scorer is somehow going to be a point guard? I am not buying it what should’ve happened. Is Nash spending time with Gillespie and making him a better point guard. start him. and bring green off the bench as the scoring spark plug sixth man.
But they Didn’t do that which concerns which concerns me. We still need that utility player that can do many things well including pass. I still say go after Josh Giddey. Chicago will entertain the trade since they’ve committed to Wilson and Buzelis.
I guess the "Athletic" didn't get the memo that it's now Point Green lol