Phoenix Suns: 5 Takeaways From Season Opener

3. Watson Not Afraid To Make Changes

Speaking of the tale of two halves between two very different bench units, it appears as though Watson is not afraid to make changes when players earn their keep.

That Knight-Barbosa-Tucker-Chriss-Len lineup gave up an 18-1 run bridging the first and second quarters and put the Kings ahead for good. Surprisingly, a lineup of Tyler Ulis, Knight, Bender, Chriss and Len got the Suns back into the game with a 20-4 run spanning the third and fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 10 with nine minutes to play.

Phoenix was unable to chop down the deficit any further, but the effort from the youngsters was not lost on Watson.

“One thing that is visible is our second unit, and in the first quarter, that 16-1 run is unacceptable,” he said. “Mix in the young guys in the second half, it looks like that is our second unit. So now our rotation is down.”

This may seem like a drastic overcorrection based on the results of one game, but for a first-year head coach, it’s important to send a message. Laziness and lackluster effort won’t be tolerated, no matter who’s starting or coming off the bench.

And yet somehow, he continues to send that sterner message while still building an environment centered around positivity and family.

"“The first unit wasn’t giving us anything special. So you want to see if that second unit can kind of play their way in. They [Sacramento] make two quick threes, kind of separated them, put them back up 16, that kind of changed the game. “But those guys are so young, you have to give them a chance. You know when you watch the game and they play with their heart, to me they played with the most heart. Heart gets rewarded.”"

With the Suns focused on a budding youth movement, it’s encouraging to hear that Watson won’t hesitate to reward the young guys immediately for their hustle and production.