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Phoenix Suns: Assessing The Power Forward Situation

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (right) and P.J. Tucker react on the bench against the Golden State Warriors at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (right) and P.J. Tucker react on the bench against the Golden State Warriors at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Nov 29, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Phoenix Suns forward Mirza Teletovic (35) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Suns beat the Raptors 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Mirza Is Money

Jon Leuer’s been great this season, and his ability to play the 4 and even the 5 in small-ball lineups has made him a tremendous addition, but he hasn’t made Markieff Morris expendable by himself. Mirza Teletovic is a big part of that AND the Suns’ jump from dead last in three-point shooting percentage after the All-Star break last year to third so far this year (38.1 percent).

Teletovic got off to a slow start this season, scoring just five points in his first four games with the team on an abysmal 2-for-12 shooting (1-for-7 from deep). But now that he’s fully healthy and back in proper shape after missing most of last season due to blood clots in his lungs, Teletovic has earned regular minutes off the bench and has the ultimate green light.

The results, as Devin Booker shows us with his best Drake impression, have been encouraging.

“Well we knew Mirza could shoot, I think what happened was he came into the season and he was sick coming back here,” Hornacek said. “And then in training camp he missed all of training camp with illness, so he lost his conditioning. And then all of a sudden you jump into these games and he put extra work in on the side.

“Those first bunch of games he wasn’t shooting the ball very well because he looked like — you know, when you’re tired, you can’t shoot. He worked hard to get himself in that good shape and now he’s playing like he always plays.”

On the season, Teletovic is only averaging 9.0 points in 18.3 minutes per game, but he has made a career high 45.5 percent of his 5.0 three-point attempts per game and is averaging 13.9 points per game on 49.2 percent three-point shooting over his last 10 contests. In fact, his 55 made threes on the season leads all bench players in the NBA.

Teletovic is not much of a defender, and lineups featuring Leuer playing with Teletovic have posted a horrendous defensive rating of 111.0 points allowed per 100 possessions. But Mirza’s off-balance game-winner against the Chicago Bulls was a perfect indicator of the season he’s having in Phoenix: maybe not conventional or aesthetically pleasing, but the ball’s going in the hole.

Next: Keef A Chief Concern

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