For Better Or Worse, Phoenix Suns Commit To Vision

Small-Ball Revolution

Buying into the small-ball revolution, the Phoenix Suns were the cinderella story of the 2013-14 NBA regular season. Under first-year head coach Jeff Hornacek, the Suns went 48-34 and missed the playoffs by just one game.

Phoenix was 25-57 the previous season. That’s a 23-win improvement.

The Suns achieved this glory by running an up-tempo offense that abandoned traditional lineups. With two points guards, a tweener at power forward and a cast of athletes placed elsewhere, Phoenix nearly perfected small-ball.

It hasn’t given up on that vision just yet.

Eric Bledsoe is a point guard by size and trade, but he’s also a powerful defensive presence. Throughout his career, he’s displayed the ability to lock down a two-guard.

The same can be said for Goran Dragic on the offensive end with his world-class scoring ability.

Add to the mix the 5’9″ Isaiah Thomas, who has overcome his size to emerge as one of the league’s leading scorers. His scoring average of 20.3 points per game was on a remarkably efficient slash line of .453/.349/.850.

That’s not a player who over-shoots his way to 20 points; that’s close to star-caliber play.

P.J. Tucker may not be a household name, but he’s one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA.

Down low, the Morris Twins provide the positional versatility to both space the floor and attack the glass. To help in the latter category is Miles Plumlee, who ranked in the Top 20 in offensive rebounds per game.

You can question that formula all you want, but a 23-win improvement is a 23-win improvement.

The pressure’s on Phoenix to go small again and continue winning.