PHOENIX SUNS

Robert Sarver: Bubble Suns learned confidence, consistency

Aug 13, 2020, 5:03 PM | Updated: 9:32 pm

Owner of the Phoenix Suns, Robert Sarver during the NBA game against the Charlotte Bobcats at US Ai...

Owner of the Phoenix Suns, Robert Sarver during the NBA game against the Charlotte Bobcats at US Airways Center on December 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Suns owner Robert Sarver saw his team gain value from the NBA bubble experience in a number of ways, regardless of the outcome between the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night that will decide if Phoenix continues playing this season.

For the young Suns, it was an impactful experience for the players in two significant ways, Sarver told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo.

“They gave our players confidence they could compete with the best,” Sarver said after Phoenix beat the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday to finish an 8-0 performance in seeding games.

“They got a taste of and a feel for what type of focus and effort it takes to win consistently.”

Consistent the Suns were. They went into the 22-team bubble looking like the least-likely squad to be the talk of it. But as Devin Booker pushed the gas pedal even more, other teammates came with him.

Sarver saw Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson blossom with confidence on the wing. He watched head coach Monty Williams push all the right buttons, changing up his rotations that led to bench players Dario Saric, Cam Payne and Jevon Carter slide flawlessly into roles that impacted each game, especially pushing Phoenix over the top in the ugly wins.

“I knew we would compete hard and I knew we would take advantage of the opportunity,” Sarver said. “Playing against high-quality opponents really helped our team develop, I think.”

It also gave the coaching staff and front office eight more games to evaluate the roster, even though Kelly Oubre Jr. and Aron Baynes, two important pieces, did not play in the restart after coronavirus stopped the season in March.

And much is uncertain in the year ahead.

The extra eight games gave Phoenix confidence that its inner-looking focus on development is working. With a lot of unknowns this coming offseason, that gives the Suns the affirmation they can continue to improve with this core group even if financial constraints limit every NBA team.

“We don’t have a good handle on what the (salary) cap is going to be heading into next season,” Sarver said. “Relative to other teams, we will have some cap space. I think we’ll always look at ways to improve our roster. Our best way to get better is for our young core to get better.”

Sarver credited Williams’ communication skills for the buy-in and culture change that happened before everyone’s eyes. There’s a lot of value in that, and that’s why Sarver was not fretting the Blazers’ outcome against the Nets before they tipped Thursday.

“In some ways, my feeling is kind of the same,” he said of how that could change the Suns’ run. “We can’t be responsible for other teams and whether other teams win and lose other than us. I’m very happy with what we accomplished.”

Phoenix Suns

Isaiah Thomas...

Dan Bickley

Isaiah Thomas signing is a wild swing for Suns in desperate times

Isaiah Thomas is a born fighter. He’s beaten the odds. The chip on his shoulder is permanent. It’s easy to rally around a player like him.

7 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Are the Phoenix Suns superstars done with Frank Vogel?

On Monday's Bickley Blast, Dan Bickley asks the question if the Suns' superstars have had bad body language recently and if it's because they want Frank Vogel gone.

12 hours ago

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should be watching during March Madness

The Phoenix Suns are slated to have a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and they could select one of the stars of the NCAA Tournament.

1 day ago

Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix ...

Kellan Olson

Suns’ shocking lack of urgency continues in loss to Bucks without Giannis

The Phoenix Suns are playing like they have been afforded the luxury of time. But they are just about to run out of it.

1 day ago

Josh Okogie #2 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the second half of the NBA game at Footp...

David Veenstra

Suns’ Josh Okogie out for matchup vs. Bucks, Antetokounmpo also out

Phoenix Suns' Josh Okogie is out for Sunday's game against the Bucks. Okogie has missed the past seven games with a lower abdominal strain.

1 day ago

Isaiah Thomas...

Damon Allred

Isaiah Thomas to return to Suns on 10-day contract, per report

Nearly two years since his last NBA minutes, point guard Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns.

2 days ago

Robert Sarver: Bubble Suns learned confidence, consistency