Suns beginning to form identity, Oubre impresses in 4th straight win

The Phoenix Suns have been missing an identity as a basketball team for quite some time. It’s one of the chief reasons they’ve gone through immense struggles the past couple of seasons.

As the new year approaches, though, it appears they might be on to something with four wins in a row after beating the Boston Celtics 111-103. It’s the Suns’ first four-game winning streak since late March of 2015. In case it hasn’t set in yet how long ago that was, Devin Booker was still attending the University of Kentucky at the time.

The special sauce is through the Suns’ supplementary pieces, not the primary foundation and core of the present and future.

Richaun Holmes and Josh Jackson play with the motor off the bench all coaches dream of. Rookies Mikal Bridges and De’Anthony Melton are changing the Suns’ defense with tremendous defensive length and instincts.

Mix in new addition Kelly Oubre Jr., who qualifies for both spots, and you’ve got five key glue pieces to play off Deandre Ayton, Booker and T.J. Warren.

But what starts happening when those high-energy players perform in that manner is that they start rubbing off on the others.

Booker has played his best defense in the NBA over the last week. Ditto for Ayton, who tied his career-high of 18 rebounds with eight of those on the offensive glass.

The plays the glue guys make really add up.

Oubre had a block in the third and was terrific in his debut, making himself felt all over the court.

KELLY SAYS NAHHHHH! pic.twitter.com/yg1dxLh6EU

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 20, 2018

Jackson had another in the fourth, continuing his strong run of play during the Suns’ winning streak.

😱 JOSH JACKSON 😱 pic.twitter.com/4Fh30ZDLyB

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 20, 2018

Those two, in particular, featured in a lineup alongside Bridges that had active hands defensively the Celtics visibly had trouble with. Boston continuously had to work through tough angles and reset possessions after a Suns deflection while time was crunching down on the shot clock.

Seven of the nine Suns players that played picked up at least one steal. Oubre had a steal and two blocks, Booker recorded the same and Jackson collected one of each as well.

Jackson was a team-high plus-14, Oubre was plus-12 and Bridges was the only member of the starting lineup to be positive at plus-five.

Those three had plenty of possessions like this one.

A defensive trio of Bridges – Oubre – Jackson is going to be fun to watch. pic.twitter.com/uDfUHwDagr

— Suns Film Room (@SunsFilm) December 20, 2018

When the switchy wings are doing the switchy wing things, 25 points from Booker (who didn’t have that great of an offensive game), 23 from Ayton and 21 from Warren can win you most basketball games with a couple of key shots from others.

Jackson had his jumper going throughout.

Alright Suns fans. LET'S GET THIS BREAD!!!!!!!!!

Suns 86 | Celtics 80 pic.twitter.com/mPRIplcu94

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 20, 2018

Oubre introduced the Suns fans to his quickness off the dribble.

.@KELLYOUBREJR THROWS DOWN! pic.twitter.com/8Zswj84bDw

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 20, 2018

And even when his jumper wasn’t going down most of the night, Oubre didn’t hesitate in a big moment to shoot, drilling the dagger jumper with under a minute left in the fourth quarter to seal a Suns win.

Welcome to Phoenix, Kelly Oubre Jr. 🔥#TimeToRise pic.twitter.com/1vzJGMpDFU

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 20, 2018

That’s the winning formula for the Suns and an identity they can ride with from this point on into winning basketball.

They quietly killed off their demons of collapsing in crunch time the last time they played the Celtics in Phoenix too.

Three of the Suns’ four wins on this streak have forced the Suns to close out the game in the fourth quarter. So not only are the Suns figuring out who they are as a team, they are learning how to end games and win at the same time.

That, plus the obvious improvement of the younger players and being healthy, is a recipe for major growth over the next four months.

Follow @KellanOlson