Stay calm about Suns rookies' playing time.

FAN BOTS

Thank you for watching the video     Link:https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/khaman-maluach-playing/3600648/     Important warning⚠️⚠️   My friend, please check the accuracy of the information. The information I provide may be  incorrect, late, or outdated.   #SunsRookiesPlayingTime#TrustSunsRookies#SunsRookiesJourney#RookiesInTheMaking#SunsRookiesEra

Transcript

00:00Welcome everyone to a deep dive into the Phoenix Suns early season challenges.

00:05The Phoenix Suns have started the season with a record of 1-4, and within my Suns focus social

00:10media circle, many fans are expressing concern over first-year head coach Jordan Ott's reluctance

00:15to fully utilize rookies Kamen Malouak and Rashear Fleming. This concern is certainly

00:20understandable. The question now is not whether these rookies will play significant minutes,

00:25but rather, when that will happen. Ott is focused on establishing a strong team culture,

00:31and there is a methodical approach to this process. Veteran players like Royce O'Neal,

00:36Dylan Brooks, and even second-year players Ryan Dunn and Oso Iguodaro are likely to adhere to

00:41fundamental standards more consistently than the rookies at this stage. It is important to

00:46maintain clear, non-negotiable expectations, especially as the Suns work to rebuild their

00:50foundation this season. The first five games have provided some insight into the team's

00:55current status, even though Jalen Green has not yet participated, and Mark Williams is still in

01:00the process of getting fully up to speed. However, it will take time for the rookies to find their

01:05rhythm and contribute effectively. Strength is a crucial aspect of the overall situation,

01:09Ott expressed to the media on Thursday. They will have their opportunities to play.

01:13It will occur whether it's in the next game,

01:17in two weeks or a month from now, they will get their chance.

01:22We want their time on the court during their stay-ready games to be significant.

01:26They will be under observation during these games. We will approach it as if it were

01:30a high-level training camp or an early-season practice. Every repetition is important for

01:36these players. Even if they are not participating in the game that you see, they will be involved in

01:41the game the following day, and that holds value. We will continuously assess their performance in

01:47every situation we can. In summary, patience is key. The process of incorporating the rookies is

01:53expected to unfold as follows.

02:01On November 10, against New Orleans, after 15 games, the Suns will have addressed the challenges

02:08of the off-season and the adjustments of a new roster, ideally with a relatively healthy team,

02:13and may have started to secure victories. The team has continued to struggle with losses.

02:18Ott has identified which rotations and players he can depend on, as well as the strengths and

02:23weaknesses of the team. As Thanksgiving approaches with 19 games played, it appears they are on track

02:28for around 30 wins instead of the anticipated 40 or more. This situation calls for a more intentional

02:34approach to incorporating rookie players into the game. If the team needs an additional wing

02:39defender for instance, it would be beneficial to give Fleming a 10-minute opportunity, provided the

02:44matchup is favorable. With upcoming games against the Timberwolves, Spurs and Rockets before Thanksgiving,

02:50it would be wise to include Malewatch in the lineup to gain experience against formidable opponents

02:55like Rudy Gobert, Naz Reed, Victor Wembenyama, Alperin Sengen, and Steven Adams. By the halfway mark of

03:02the season on January 19, after 41 games, it will be evident whether the team is in contention for a

03:09lottery pick or fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament. Regardless of the situation, it is

03:14crucial to continue playing the veteran players to enhance their trade value, especially with the

03:18trade deadline approaching in less than a month. OTT has consistently stated that he will make

03:25adjustments based on each game an opponent, and these adjustments should be reflected in the team's

03:29strategy moving forward. The team is currently utilizing a combination of experienced players and

03:35younger talent, allowing the latter to learn from their mistakes. This strategy is crucial, as the

03:41team's offensive capabilities are severely limited without strong performances from Brooks O'Neal and

03:46Grayson Allen particularly in three-point shooting. As the trade deadline approaches on February 5 with

03:5150 games played, the team's record is disappointing. The ongoing losses have affected the morale of the

03:56veteran players, prompting other teams to take notice of O'Neal and Allen's shooting skills.

04:01This interest could lead to trades involving younger players or lower-tier draft picks being sent to

04:06Phoenix. Despite the fact that both players have two years remaining on their contracts, Allen's worth

04:11$37, $4 million and O'Neal's at $22.5 million. It is likely that one or both of these players will be

04:20traded, which would allow the Suns to adjust their strategy by incorporating larger players like Fleming

04:24and Dunn into their lineup. Additionally, Nick Richards has improved his value as a low-cost backup player on an

04:30expiring contract, making him a candidate for trade as well. This move would create more playing time

04:36for Malawak on the Suns. Should there be any injuries to Mark Williams, or if the starting center requires

04:41load management, the rookie will have even more responsibilities. The younger players are now fully

04:46integrated into the team, and with 30 games remaining, they have a significant opportunity to

04:51prove themselves to conclude the season. What is the reason behind the limited playing time for Suns

05:00rookies Common Malawak and Rasheer Fleming, despite many believing they should be getting more

05:05opportunities? Although Malawak was selected as the 10th overall pick, his drop in the NBA draft can

05:11likely be attributed to his stage of development rather than his potential, which is widely recognized as

05:17significant. To provide a clearer picture from our viewpoint in Arizona, Malawak, a product of Duke, was

05:23arguably one of the top two or three centers on the court during the Blue Devils' visit to Tucson last

05:28November, where they defeated Arizona. At that time, the Wildcats were dealing with injuries to

05:34Motiagis Krivas and had a developing backup in Henry Visar. When the two teams faced off again in the Sweet 16

05:40in late March, Malawak had shown improvement. In that matchup, he matched Visar's performance with 13

05:47points and 6 rebounds. It's worth noting that Visar was coming off the bench behind Toba Waka,

05:53highlighting the unusual dynamics of how college basketball manages the development of big men.

05:58Throughout the season, Malawak averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, showcasing his

06:04potential. Throughout the year, he has consistently achieved double-doubles. To provide some context,

06:11DeAndre Ayton, despite his imperfections, averaged 21 points and 11.6 rebounds when the Phoenix Suns

06:17selected him as the first overall pick from Arizona in 2018. In retrospect, the high level of his

06:24production may have led to an overestimation of his potential in the NBA, as he was chosen ahead of

06:29notable players like Luka Doncic and Trae Young, without much debate. Over the past year, Malawak's

06:36physical condition has significantly improved. He went from struggling to finish games due to

06:41exhaustion in January, to showing some sluggishness during the NBA Summer League and now, he seems to

06:47have adjusted well for an 18-year-old competing in the NBA. The next challenge for him is to navigate

06:53the steep learning curve of basketball, particularly in his role where effectively communicating with

06:58teammates from the paint is crucial. On the other hand, Fleming's route to gaining playing time seems

07:03clearer at this moment. His ability to catch and shoot has already been evident, and a strong

07:07performance in the preseason finale provided him with valuable experience, especially in defensive

07:13roles. Doncic's performance in one-on-one situations suggests that he is at least prepared

07:18to compete, even if the intricacies of weak side and off-ball defense may be challenging for him to

07:25manage. There are several challenges associated with increasing his playing time. Firstly, it will

07:30be difficult to reduce Brooks' minutes, as he embodies the qualities that this Suns front office aims to

07:36cultivate within the identity of their young team. Additionally, Dunn's presence and his experience in a

07:42similar wing position limit Fleming's opportunities as well. The Suns made significant efforts to acquire

07:48the Virginia player in the 2024 draft, and prioritizing his development is equally important as expanding

07:55Fleming's role. Lastly, O'Neal plays a crucial role as a smaller wing defender and a three-point shooter,

08:01making it difficult to remove him from the lineup without considering a trade.

08:05So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should get their chance to shine?

08:09So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:11So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:12So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:13So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:14So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:15So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:16So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:17So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:18So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:19So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:20So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

08:21So what are your thoughts on when the Suns' rookies should be?

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended