Phoenix Suns: Center Becoming Real Sore Spot
The Phoenix Suns are on a four-game losing streak and although there are plenty of areas we could point to, the center position has been the worst. The combination of Miles Plumlee and Alex Len have shown promise at times, but when they’re good, they’re decent and when they’re bad, they lose games.
For a team with playoff aspirations, that’s just not going to work. Unfortunately, the Suns are in a tough spot — do they consider making a trade to pick up a veteran big? If so, who do they let go? Do they make a change at the starting center position? How can they do that when Len has been equally terrible?
Coach Jeff Hornacek has a real issue on his hands and it seems the only realistic way to fix it (aside from trading Isaiah Thomas) is to adjust the scheme in order to protect the Suns’ underperforming bigs.
THE UGLY STATS
For the season, Suns centers are combining for 11.1 points per game, which is dead last in the NBA. They’re pulling down just 7.2 defensive rebounds, which is also dead last in the league. Their difference in efficiency is a horrific minus-13.5, worst in the NBA by far.
Take a look at Len and Plumlee’s averages, but don’t do it with both eyes (blindness can occur):
| Player | G | MP | FG% | 2P% | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles Plumlee | 24 | 22.7 | .545 | .545 | .467 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 5.4 |
| Alex Len | 24 | 18.2 | .531 | .532 | .781 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 5.3 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/13/2014.
Having two ineffective centers on the offensive end can still work, as long as they aren’t proving to hinder the offense. The Suns certainly have enough firepower on the perimeter to make things work. Although Plumlee has turned the ball over much too often and hasn’t looked in sync with his guards, he’s had positive moments. Same with Len, who had a nice stretch where he was making jumpers and looked confident going to the basket. The offense isn’t the real problem.
THE REAL PROBLEM
Defense has been the major issue for both Plumlee and Len. They’ve had the gross combination of being foul prone, being unable to defend the rim and being ineffective on the glass.
Let’s take a look at that one more time — the Suns centers foul too much, can’t defend the rim and aren’t ending defensive possessions by securing the defensive rebound.
Plumlee has been the worse of the two defensively. He’s allowing his opponent to shoot 50.2 percent, which is 2.1 percent better than their season average. Inside six feet, he’s allowing 58.6 percent, with opponents season percentage being 58.8 percent. On the glass, Plumlee ranks 107th in the NBA, with just 3.7 per game. For some reference, that’s the same as Kyle Lowry and is behind Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson, Chris Paul and Brandon Knight.
Len has been a different story. He’s been better challenging in open space, as he’s allowing just 26.3 percent from greater than 15 feet and 54.5 percent from less than 10 feet, both better than his opponent’s season averages. Inside six feet, he’s allowing SIXTY percent from the field. Len hasn’t been much better on the boards, either.
Where Len has really hurt himself is his propensity to foul. Among players who have played at least 150 minutes, Len is sixth worst in the league, committing 6.1 fouls per-36 minutes.
HOW IT AFFECTS THE TEAM
So we know what the big problem is with the Suns centers, but how does it change how the team plays? Look no further than last night’s loss to the Detroit Pistons for some concrete evidence of how it affects the team.
The Suns couldn’t contain Andre Drummond (nor can most of the league, but I digress) and they had a lot of issues closing out defensive possessions. Because of that, the wings and the point guards had to dip back into the paint to help secure the board. That stunts the Suns ability to get out in the open court, where they can dominate teams like the Pistons.
Phoenix was outrebounded 47-37 and the bench pulled down just four rebounds in 86 minutes of play. Drummond pulled down more offensive rebounds (7) than the Suns centers pulled down IN TOTAL (6). Len contributed zero of those six rebounds in his 12 minutes of action.
Even with how poorly the Suns played, they still had a chance to get out of the trap, yet they couldn’t secure a defensive rebound and instead of having the chance to tie, they fumbled the ball out of bounds and had to defend again. It’s a story we’ve heard (and seen) too many times in this young season and I don’t see it getting any better.
Play virtual GM for us — what should the Suns do? Make a change in the starting lineup? Move Gerald Green or Thomas for a veteran big? Or should they stay the course and continue to alter their schemes?