Phoenix Suns: Time To Start Alex Len
This has been a long time coming. Only a few weeks ago, I questioned whether or not it was time for the Phoenix Suns to make the switch from Miles Plumlee to Alex Len at starting center. Ultimately, I came to the same conclusion we’ve been drawing for the past year: unless it’s broken, don’t try to fix it.
Three weeks into the NBA season, we’re getting close to definitively saying that starting Miles Plumlee in the starting job is might be a broken concept. Most people figured the 26-year-old Plumlee wasn’t the long-term solution at center for the Suns, but the injury-prone Len still hadn’t shown he was capable of taking over the starting job.
Based on the rapid growth we’ve seen from Len so far this season, it might be time we accelerated our projections for the young Ukrainian.
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Sky Miles hasn’t been terrible, but he’s only averaging 6.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game. Len, on the other hand, is putting up 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in significantly less playing time — 19.3 minutes per game, to be exact. Before, Plumlee’s numbers were still significant enough to give him the edge, especially when taking a look at the Per 36 Minutes stats.
Now, that time has officially passed.
In his last two games, Len is averaging 18 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting a combined 15-for-21 from the floor (71.4 percent). He’s displayed an ability to knock down midrange jumpers and he’s cleaned up at the rim, receiving easy dump-off passes from the guards. He’s a much better shot blocker than Plumlee and Jeff Hornacek has noticed his two-way impact, giving him 55 minutes in the last two games.
As for Plumlee? He’s been given only 38 minutes and has totaled eight points, six rebounds and two blocks during that span. Is that a teeny tiny sample size? Yes. Does it matter? Not really.
Hornacek has been rewarded for testing the waters and seeing what Len can do in extended minutes. Against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, Len had a career high 17 points to go with 11 blocks, a steal and a block. Against the Boston Celtics last night, Alex was even more “slendid” with a new career high of 19 points, seven rebounds and one steal.
He also made eight of his 10 shots from the field and despite a really dumb foul to close the game out, Len was a huge reason the Suns squeaked out the road win. Basically, Lensanity is quickly becoming a thing in the Valley of the Sun.
If Hornacek is giving Len more minutes off the bench anyway, why continue to beat around the bush? When he’s given minutes, Len has proven he can make a difference on both ends of the floor. Plumlee is far more athletic, and after watching him start at center the past year or so, it’s hard to deny the appeal of watching Sky Miles streak down the court on a fast break and throw down a high-flying alley oop.
But plays like that feel few and far between now, leaving Suns fans to notice the glaring weaknesses in his game. Plumlee is still an excellent chase-down blocker, but his interior defense needs a ton of work. He’s not polished offensively, he can’t spread the floor whatsoever with a jump shot and he’s just not the defensive presence in the paint that this Suns team desperately needs.
A pair of 21 year olds had good games for Suns today. @alexlen had 19 and 7 in big mins. @TonyWarrenJr had 7 and 3 in limited minutes.
— Dave King (@DaveKingNBA) November 18, 2014
Len is still raw, but at 21 years old, his ceiling is much higher. Before, it was all about developing Len off the bench because Plumlee gave Phoenix the best chance to win games and make the playoffs right now. After watching Plumlee fade from the spotlight and enjoying Len excel in expanded minutes, what other conclusion can we draw except that the young Ukrainian deserves the starting spot?
Hornacek might not be ready to start Len, especially since it could hurt Plumlee’s confidence. The Suns can also continue to bring Len off the bench and simply give him more minutes. But bringing Plumlee’s athleticism off the bench could add to the Suns already impressive depth, and so far this season, Phoenix’s best center has absolutely been Alex Len.