Phoenix Suns: Encouraging Signs From The Bench

Alex Len

2014-15 Stat Line: 18.7 MPG, 3.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 0.6 APG, 42.9 FG%, 88.9 FT%

A quick glance at Len’s numbers would give the impression that he hasn’t had much of an impact, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Though he’s coming off the bench behind Miles Plumlee, who’s largely struggled through his first seven games, Len is on the verge of being a bigger contributor. You can see how the two centers stack up per 36 minutes, per Basketball-Reference.com:

Plumlee is a slightly superior rebounder and scorer, but with both centers’ minutes down, Hornacek clearly likes to go small. When he does so, the importance of rim protection becomes paramount, and that’s exactly where Len has the opportunity to step up.

The Suns are currently giving up 103.3 points per game, a bottom-five mark in the league. Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic are capable perimeter defenders, but the offensive end is where this team really makes its money. Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris are willing defenders, but they’re a tad undersized to guard bigger small forwards and power forwards.

Plumlee will get his highlight reel chase-down block every now and then, but he’s not a good interior defender. That leaves the Suns with the injury-prone Len, who has looked terrific in flashes despite his impact not always showing up in the box score. Since he put up 10 points, 11 rebounds and one block in 32 minutes against the Spurs, Hornacek has strayed from using the big Ukranian.

Len still has a splint on his finger, which prevents him cleanly catching the ball and grabbing rebounds. But it won’t be long before Hornacek is forced to seriously consider giving Len an extended look as a rim protecting center who will help the Suns play that micro ball lineup to close games out.

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