Phoenix Suns: The Battle For Backup Bigs

In the Phoenix Suns 102-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings, the battle for minutes amongst the big men intensified

Depth is never a problem from an organizational standpoint, as injuries are inevitable and the ability for a coaching staff to adjust based on matchups is a wonderful asset. From a player’s standpoint, it’s not as simple — everyone wants minutes and they claw and scrape for the opportunity to seize the moment.

Markieff Morris and Tyson Chandler will be the starters at the power forward and center spot, barring injury. That leaves Mirza Teletovic, Jon Leuer and Alex Len as the backup bigs. It’s a blessing in that Teletovic (shooting), Leuer (hustle/energy) and Len (defense) all have their strengths, but it’s a curse because they all have glaring weaknesses that have relegated them to backup status.

Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek loves to play matchups and hasn’t been afraid to dust off a player that hasn’t seen time when the situation calls for it. Considering the team has five big men and only four regular spots in the rotation, that’s a positive. Let’s take a look specifically at the three men fighting for the two main backup spots.

In their first preseason game, Leuer was the star, scoring 17 points with 13 rebounds in 19 minutes of play, including an emphatic dunk on Kings star DeMarcus Cousins:

Len had a solid showing as well, scoring six points with seven rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes, including a fantastic duck-in move in which he sealed the defender with a drop step going to his right and laid the ball in softly.

Teletovic got the most opportunity of the three bigs, playing just under 20 minutes. Unfortunately, he also couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn, going just 1-for-10 from the field (1-for-5 from three), finishing with five points and five rebounds.

ONE GAME DOES NOT MAKE THE DECISION

It would be foolish to think that Teletovic will continue to shoot so poorly, and coach Hornacek acknowledged it in the post-game press conference, noting that Teletovic had been sick and wasn’t in great shape just yet. It’s also foolish to believe that Leuer is going to punk NBA All-Star Cousins on a regular basis.

WHO’S IN THE LEAD FOR NOW

Baseball is more famous for their platoon system, allowing for two players to split time at a position depending on matchups. I think as long as everyone is healthy, that’s what we’re going to see here. I’m just not sure it’s the right move.

When the team is struggling to create space on the second unit and wants to spread the floor, the combination of Teletovic at PF and Len at C should suffice.

Teletovic is a career 36.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc, with a high of 39 percent during the 2013-14 season. His role as a shooter is clear, as evidenced by his 8.4 3-point attempts per-36 minutes. He’s about the same rebounder as Markieff, in that he’ll pull down the uncontested defensive rebound if he’s in the area, but Dennis Rodman he ain’t.

Combine him with Len, who has shown a growing ability to handle himself in the paint on both ends of the court. Len can help makeup for Teletovic’s defensive deficiencies and would also benefit from having space with which to work in the post. Len’s 67.7 percent success rate inside three feet paired with 10.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per-36 minutes can attest to those claims.

WHAT ABOUT LEUER

Leuer is a different sort, in that he’s a hot commodity right this second because of his big game, but he hasn’t shown the ability to regularly contribute in any specific area. As with most hustle/energy guys, his true benefit lies off of the box score. He’ll make plays for his teammates by being in the right spot, by keeping balls alive and by working hard, but looking closer tells us something Leuer fans don’t want to see.

Oct 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Jon Leuer (30) is congratulated by teammates after dunking against the Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeat the Kings 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

First, he’s not a good defender. Despite his 6-foot-10 frame, he’s blocked just 39 shots in 2,208 career minutes. Add to that his 17.2 PER allowed by PF and 22.8 PER allowed by C last year and you’re left struggling to find positives. But last night his offense was pretty good, right?

Leuer racked up eight points and six rebounds in the fourth quarter — where Cousins didn’t hit the floor and Willie Cauley-Stein played just five minutes. That means he was largely matching up with the Eric Moreland‘s of the world. Unless it’s garbage time, he’s not going to get those favorable situations.

While he’s the only player who could play either the four or the five, he’s also the one that doesn’t have a standout trait that will keep him on the court. For now, Leuer should bask in the glory of his triumphant smash on Boogie, because he is the odd man out.

Next: Ranking All 30 Starting Power Forwards In The NBA

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