Phoenix Suns: Will Going Small Make a Big Difference?

The Phoenix Suns had been grasping at straws, trying to find a magical combination to break what was a season-high six-game losing streak. They knew that center was a big issue, with Alex Len and Miles Plumlee combining to struggle more than any center duo this side of, well, the D-League (Suns C last in league in points, efficiency difference). So, head coach Jeff Hornacek went a different route.

On Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, Hornacek decided that if Len and Plumlee can’t produce for us, let’s just leave them on the bench — and the Suns went small. It didn’t seem like a great idea at the time, considering Hornets center Al Jefferson had obliterated the Suns for 18 points (on 8-for-10 shooting) in the first quarter. If Len and Plumlee couldn’t guard him, how on earth was P.J. Tucker or the Morris Twins going to do so?

Then something strange happened — Jefferson disappeared. Despite playing 18:54 in the fourth quarter, Jefferson went just 5-for-11 and didn’t get to the foul line. Big Al scored just ten points and was a minus-7 as the Suns outscored the Hornets 57-45 en route to their first win since a rousing road victory at Dallas on December 5th.

The Suns played three different lineups that were without Plumlee or Len during the game for a total of nine minutes. During those nine minutes, the Suns shot 10-for-16 (62.5 percent) for 26 points and a combined plus-7. Those same lineups harassed the Hornets into shooting just 6-for-16 (37.5 percent).

One of the hallmarks of the Miami Heat defenses over their four-year run with the “Big Three” was a positionless lineup that featured less size and more scheme-based rotations and ball denial. They made it more difficult for teams to get the ball into their center, where they would have a big advantage over the undersized Heat.

Have the Suns discovered that they have the instincts and the lateral quickness to make that kind of defense work for them? After getting thrashed in the paint to the tune of 45, 61, 46 and 51 points over a four-game stretch in early December (at HOU, at LAC, vs MIA, vs DET), the Suns knew they had to do something — anything to help protect the paint.

Playing man defense wasn’t working because Len and Plumlee were getting worked. Doubling wasn’t helping because rotations were slow and the Suns were allowing too many open shots or offensive rebounds. Although I suggested making a trade, it turned out the answer was right in front of our faces — a scheme change.

Going small isn’t something new to the Suns, but they’ve been very diplomatic in using those lineups. As of today, the top four lineups in terms of minutes played all include a center. Of lineups with more than 20 minutes of floor time, only two (Bledsoe/Dragic/Green/Markieff/Tucker and Bledsoe/Dragic/Marcus/Markieff/Tucker) of 12 are without a center. However, those lineups are a combined plus-29 in 68 minutes and are shooting 65-for-123 (52.8 percent) from the field.