Suns need bench to come up big

If the Phoenix Suns are going to reach the playoffs this
season, their bench will be a big reason why.

Regarded as one of the game’s top second units just two
years ago, the group consisting of Sebastian Telfair,
Michael Redd, Shannon Brown, Markieff Morris and Robin
Lopez has found a comfort level since the All-Star break.

“I’ve been real happy with the way the reserves have
played,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry told Arizona Sports 620’s
Burns and Gambo Thursday. “I think Robin has stepped up,
Michael Redd has had his moments for us, and I think
Sebastian is really catching on to what we want to do, and
he’s done a great job for us.

“Shannon Brown has been pretty consistent.”

Gentry, though, added that while he likes how his bench
has played of late, the team needs to get its starters
back on track.

Included in that group is Channing Frye, whose season-long
struggles have led to a 40 percent shooting percentage and
a scoring average of 10.4 points per game — the lowest
mark of his Suns career.

“He’s struggled this year more times than I’ve seen him
struggle,” Gentry said, noting that if Frye is struggling
it’s up to other guys to pick up the slack.

“I think everybody wants to play well and I think
everybody is very much engaged, and if a guy’s not doing
it then we’ve got to have someone else step in and do it
for them, so that’s why we’ve tried to develop our bench,
that’s why we wanted to be a deep bench.”

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