Jalen Green out for Suns opener with hamstring

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00:00Welcome to this update on the Phoenix Suns' challenging start to the season, impacted

00:05by Jalen Green's injury. Jalen Green, the guard for the Phoenix Suns, has re-injured

00:10his hamstring strain and will be sidelined for at least the regular season opener on

00:14October 22, as announced by head coach Jordan Ott prior to Tuesday's preseason finale against

00:19the Los Angeles Lakers. Green was unable to participate in the opener on October 3 due

00:24to this injury and has struggled with his health throughout the month. Ott mentioned that the team

00:31expects to provide an update within the next 10 days. If the full 10 days are utilized,

00:38this update will coincide with the day of the Suns' second regular season game in Los Angeles

00:42against the Clippers. With Green out for the opener, it is likely that Grayson Allen will

00:49take his place in the starting lineup, similar to his role during the preseason. This adjustment

00:54will allow for a point-book strategy, where other players will assist in ball handling to support

00:58Devin Booker, who is expected to take on the majority of playmaking responsibilities.

01:03The effectiveness of Phoenix's offense will be significantly affected in any game that either

01:07Green or Booker misses. Both players exert considerable pressure on opposing defenses as

01:14ball handlers, a dynamic that is unmatched by anyone else on the team. If one of them is absent,

01:20the team's offensive capabilities will be compromised. One player is left to bear the

01:24entire burden, while Booker is the one who can manage this responsibility. However, he would

01:29greatly benefit from having support whenever possible. Furthermore, the lack of preseason practice

01:35together to develop their chemistry is an issue, especially since they do not have a traditional

01:40point guard to facilitate their play. This situation is unfamiliar for Green. He has not missed a game

01:47since late February 2023, completing 82 games in the last two seasons and participating in 76 games

01:54during the 2022-23 season. Clearly he's feeling frustrated, but this is part of the process,

02:01Odd explained. Fortunately, we identified the issue early, and it's not too serious. However,

02:07he is eager to be on the court, particularly with new teammates and a new system. We will need to find

02:12alternative ways to accelerate his integration, and that's just the reality we face. While,

02:18as Ott noted, tissue injuries can be sensitive, it is concerning that Green's start in Phoenix is

02:24marred by this setback with the training staff. The team is also evaluating the distinctive strategy

02:30involving Mark Williams, which necessitates a certain level of trust. Williams was absent from the

02:36final game on Tuesday, which means he has missed the entire preseason. This is part of a long-term

02:41strategy aimed at adjusting his approach for the upcoming season, with the goal of addressing his

02:46significant challenges in maintaining his health. Although he is not currently injured, Williams has

02:51not participated in full five-on-five games with the entire team. However, he has engaged in some

02:57full-court activities against coaches and staff at a moderate pace. Ott commented on the focus on

03:02building Williams' strength, stating, From day one, he's been unbelievable. He added that Williams is

03:11now prepared to compete, having practiced against coaches and participated in smaller player matchups.

03:17The upcoming week will serve as an important test for him, as he will have more opportunities to

03:22engage in player-versus-player scenarios. Ott mentioned that Williams is on pace, suggesting that he might be

03:28ready to play in the season opener. For now, the objective remains the same, to be ready for that

03:33game and to continue progressing. The recent five-on-five practice session with the coaching

03:38staff following Tuesday's shoot-around did not indicate that the player would be ready to return

03:42in a week. Oso Iguodaro took the starting position at center, filling in for Williams, which was somewhat

03:49unexpected. Many had anticipated that the more seasoned Nick Richards would assume that role,

03:55as he did last season, but Iguodaro aligns better with the team's strategic needs.

04:00The center rotation for Phoenix is quite extensive, yet it significantly lacks the presence of Williams.

04:06His size and ability to rebound, along with his effectiveness as a roller, create a dynamic that

04:12none of the other three centers can replicate. Additionally, on Tuesday, all key players from the upper half of

04:19the roster were absent. This group included Booker, Allen, Iguodaro, Richards, Dylan Brooks, Ryan Dunn,

04:26Royce O'Neal and Colin Gillespie. This situation is entirely understandable, considering the challenging

04:32schedule imposed on Phoenix by the league, especially after their recent return from a 14-hour trip to China,

04:38on Sunday evening. After a long travel day and nearly a week spent in China following a 16-hour flight on

04:46October 6th, the starters participated in the game with playing times mostly in the 20-minute range.

04:52This left the majority of the fourth quarter, as well as overtime in the first game, to the players

04:57who are further down the roster. Ott mentioned before the trip that this particular game would be the most

05:03challenging to manage, primarily due to the less than 48-hour turnaround after such extensive travel,

05:09which seemed necessary mainly for logistical purposes. Consequently, the Suns had limited

05:14options regarding player participation for the game on Tuesday. How do you think the Suns will

05:19adapt their offensive strategy without Green in the lineup?

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