Suns embrace NBA's positionless basketball.

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00:00Welcome to a breakdown of the evolving strategies in today's NBA.

00:04The differences in the style of play in the NBA over the past decade can be easily highlighted.

00:09Key elements such as pace, spacing, three-point shooting and player versatility have become

00:14central to the game. However, the interpretation of versatility and the utilization of space

00:19are continually evolving, representing a dynamic aspect of the game that the Phoenix Suns and

00:24their head coach Jordan Ott are adept at navigating.

00:28It's fascinating to witness the evolution of the game, remarked Suns center Mark Williams

00:32on Monday. Each year brings something new. Not long ago the trend leaned heavily towards

00:37small ball strategies, but some teams are now shifting back to a more traditional approach.

00:41On Monday the Houston Rockets revealed their decision to start two centers, Alperin Sengen

00:46and Steven Adams, alongside Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant, both of whom could be classified

00:51as power forwards, based on their size and skills from previous eras. The fifth starter,

00:56Eamon Thompson, stands at 6'7 with a 7' wingspan, filling the wing position. Meanwhile, Durant

01:04continues to play with the agility and style, typically associated with guards, despite his

01:09height. There are several strategies being considered, and both Sengen and Thompson are

01:13part of this discussion. It is intriguing that the Houston Rockets will be beginning games

01:17without one of their key players due to Fred Van Vliet's season-ending injury. Despite this setback,

01:22the Rockets plan to implement more conventional lineups, particularly at the start of games,

01:27which represents a significant gamble.

01:30It's not unexpected, given their success with it last year, to experiment with this approach early

01:35on, Ott remarked on Monday. This strategy aligns with what is best for our roster at the beginning

01:41of the season, and we intend to prioritize that. The Phoenix Suns find themselves in a unique situation

01:47regarding their roster, but they are also well-positioned to adapt to the constantly changing

01:52dynamics of the league. One of the Suns' main challenges is the lack of ball handlers, initiators

01:57and playmakers, terms that can be used interchangeably. Devin Booker stands out as an elite player in this

02:03role, while Jalen Green still needs to establish his consistency. Additionally, this season marks

02:09Colin Gillespie's first opportunity to take on a defined role within the team. However, they have the

02:14potential to compensate for this deficiency through various options. With players like Grayson Allen,

02:19Dylan Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Royce O'Neal, the Phoenix team can consistently utilize reliable

02:24perimeter players throughout a game, each bringing unique dynamics to various lineup combinations.

02:30Brooks will primarily focus on guarding lead ball handlers. But he's also expected to take on the

02:35responsibility of defending opposing teams' second centers, when they opt for a larger lineup.

02:40Allen's shooting ability creates spacing on the floor, making him a valuable asset, while O'Neal can

02:46shift to the four position, providing tough defense and contributing as a solid shooter and effective

02:52ball mover on the weak side. Dunn stands out for his versatility, possessing a physical build that

02:57allows him to excel as a defender and rebounder, and he is also adept at setting screens. Additionally,

03:03the team benefits from wings like Nigel Hayes Davis and Rasheer Fleming, who add their own strengths

03:08as small ball centers. On the other hand, the Suns have strong options available at the center

03:13position. When Mark Williams is healthy, he is your starting player. Following him, there are three

03:19other players, Oso Iguodaro, Kamen Malouac, and Nick Richards, who are all rightfully competing for

03:25playing time. While Richards shares similarities with Williams, he also brings his own distinct

03:29attributes, just like Iguodaro and Malouac. Ode is open to exploring different options, expressing,

03:35I believe we have sufficient depth to experiment with both approaches, he elaborated, we are

03:41continually adjusting, trying to determine the best solution on a nightly basis, while also

03:46considering what is most beneficial for our team. He is confident that they will identify some of

03:51these solutions as they progress. As he mentioned the previous weekend, Ode and his coaching staff are

03:56shifting their mindset so that suggestions turn into decisions, with the season opener approaching on

04:03Wednesday. Regarding the two-big lineup, Ode noted that they have not yet implemented it, but he does

04:08not exhibit any of the close-mindedness that some older, more seasoned head coaches might display.

04:14Ode expressed his willingness to achieve victory, stating, I'm open to winning, winning games out

04:20there, and playing the best that we can, whatever it takes that night to win the game, that's what

04:25will do. So, which strategic shift do you believe will most define the next era of basketball?

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