Suns forward P.J. Tucker scrimmages in practice, could play in opener

PHOENIX — P.J. Tucker is not used to missing any games.

Ever since signing with the Phoenix Suns in 2012, the 31-year-old small forward has missed eight games in four seasons, so when the news of Tucker missing 6-8 weeks after back surgery in mid-September broke, the timeline was adding up to the Suns potentially not having their most consistently healthy player for the start of the season.

Fortunately for the Suns, Tucker’s not the type of guy to just let that happen. Instead of taking his time and looking to land a return in that diagnosed date, Tucker always had only one date in mind.

“(Being) ready for the opener was the number one priority for me and now it’s looking like it’s going to be possible,” Tucker said.

“It’s crazy, I didn’t know at first how many games I was going to miss, so to be able to be in a position now to actually be able to maybe play in the opener, it’s awesome.”

After sitting out the entire preseason, Tucker scrimmaged in 5-on-5 for the first time Monday and spoke of getting his stamina back, something players can accomplish in the preseason.

“Felt good today, mixed in a lot of practice today and just felt good to run up and down and be with the guys (for) the first time.”

That’s great news for the Suns, who could always use Tucker’s energy.

Last season, Phoenix had eight lineup combinations play at least 25 minutes and have a positive net rating — the difference between a player’s offensive and defensive rating, an advanced statistic that calculates points scored or allowed per 100 possessions —  and Tucker was a part of all of them but one.

It’s worth a reminder that Tucker and center Tyson Chandler were at the head of the veteran group last year, and for the team to have as many injuries as they did, Tucker and Chandler are the guys on the roster who take the role of introducing the new players to every aspect of the team and making sure they are comfortable.

Tucker referenced that a large percentage of those players during an injury-plagued season last year were coming from the D-League and didn’t have NBA experience. It was on veterans like himself to show them the way, which was  incredibly taxing on Tucker’s energy while also playing for a 23-win team.

“I played every game last year and everybody got hurt, I mean, it was tough,” Tucker said, calling it “exhausting.”

Of the 15 players on the Suns’ opening night roster for the 2015-16 season, only seven finished the season either with the team or healthy, not counting players like Chandler and Ronnie Price, who had their own injuries during the regular season. The Suns had 23 total players play on the team last year and seven played in less than 25 games.

With a deeper and healthier team this year featuring three new draft picks and more veterans like Jared Dudley and Leandro Barbosa, that should be far less of a problem for the other veterans to worry about.

“(It’s a) breath of fresh air for sure,” Tucker said.

If Tucker does play against the Sacramento Kings on opening night Wednesday, fans would be foolish to expect anything less than the high-octane energy he brings to the floor, something that comes easy for him.

“It’s just natural, love the game, love being around the game,” Tucker said.

“Physically, he’s a beast,” head coach Earl Watson added. “He’s gonna play with his heart, give everything he has. He’s been an amazing vocal leader for us in practice.”

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