Jalen Green's stellar debut leads Suns past Clippers.

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00:00Welcome to a closer look at Jalen Green's stunning debut with the Phoenix Suns.

00:05The phrase second impression is a misnomer, as one typically only has the chance to make a first impression.

00:11Jalen Green certainly made a strong first impression during his debut with the Phoenix Suns,

00:16where he scored 29 points in a 115-102 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

00:22This performance marked the highest point total by any Suns player other than Devin Booker this season,

00:27highlighting Green's significant contribution to the team.

00:31Throughout the game, Green displayed composure and efficiency, seamlessly finding his rhythm during an outstanding debut.

00:37Despite having a reputation for being a bit unpredictable, he demonstrated a clear understanding of the game,

00:43allowing his remarkable skills to shine.

00:45His performance was underscored by a game-high plus-minus of plunderdy, which illustrated his clear impact on the team's success.

00:52In just 23 minutes of play, Green achieved a shooting record of 10-for-20 from the field and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc.

01:00Booker commented on Green's presence, stating,

01:02He takes a lot of pressure off anybody. He's just a high-level talent.

01:06With the opportunity, and space, he can pretty much do anything.

01:10It was expected that a player, who had not missed a game in over two years, would express difficulty sleeping,

01:16especially after having to sit out the first eight games of the season, which disrupted his usual pre-game routine.

01:22Green acknowledged the frustration that comes with being sidelined, stating,

01:26Any Hooper that wants to be on that floor, it's pretty frustrating to sit down and watch,

01:31but that's part of the mental game right there.

01:33Green's return will significantly enhance the Suns' offense in two key areas,

01:37and it is up to him to determine the extent of his influence in these aspects.

01:41On Thursday, he demonstrated impressive performance in both areas.

01:46The first area is his ability to handle the ball effectively at the beginning of a possession,

01:51acting as a primary playmaker.

01:53Green's playing style is reminiscent of the shooting guards I admired during my youth,

01:57such as Mitch Richmond, Allen Houston, Eddie Jones, and Nick Anderson.

02:01These players were primarily focused on scoring, with little emphasis on playmaking.

02:06For instance, Houston averaged three assists per game only once,

02:09while Richmond and Anderson averaged five and four assists, respectively.

02:13The game has evolved since then.

02:14The role of the secondary guard has evolved, requiring them to act as a secondary playmaker,

02:19particularly if they are taking as many shots as Green does.

02:22His career average of 3.4 assists per game falls short of the expectations in modern basketball.

02:28For instance, Reggie Miller in the 2020s is averaging between seven and eight assists per game,

02:34while Michael Jordan consistently reaches double figures.

02:37This aspect of Green's game needs significant improvement.

02:40The website Cleaning the Glass provides an assist-to-usage ratio

02:44that measures how effectively a player balances playmaking with their ball usage,

02:48and Green has consistently performed poorly in this area throughout his career.

02:52Last season, his ratio of 0.58 was far below that of players like Devin Booker,

02:58who had a ratio of 0.98.

03:00At times, Green's shot selection appears narrow-minded, reminiscent of earlier basketball eras.

03:07Additionally, his decision-making when taking shots off the dribble is an area that requires

03:11development.

03:12Relying solely on a scorer of his type is not a sustainable strategy for an offense.

03:18Even if Green manages to drive to the basket and apply pressure on the rim,

03:22it will be intriguing to observe whether he can develop and adapt,

03:25like a player who has been transported 25 years into the future.

03:29On Thursday, the player who raised these concerns was noticeably absent,

03:33although he attempted a few mid-range shots that seemed overly ambitious.

03:37These are the types of shots the Suns still require him to take occasionally,

03:41given the limited offensive creation from other players.

03:43As long as he continues to make simple passes,

03:46which he effectively executed by leveraging the extra attention he drew,

03:50he should feel free to take those shots.

03:52His total of three assists did not accurately reflect his overall playmaking ability.

03:56The amount of space Green had on the court was striking.

04:00A common question regarding exceptionally talented players like Green

04:03is whether a change in environment is all they need to thrive.

04:07During his time with the Rockets, Houston's offensive system was, to be frank,

04:11quite poor.

04:12When asked if he had ever experienced this level of space while in Houston,

04:16Green laughed and smiled, choosing not to provide further details simply saying,

04:20next question, the second area should be more conducive for him to establish a rhythm,

04:24particularly through his collaboration with Booker.

04:27Up to this point in Houston, Green has not had such a significant chance to demonstrate

04:31this aspect of his game.

04:33When pairing a key offensive player with a star ball handler,

04:36it is crucial to have someone reliable positioned on the second side of the defense.

04:41This refers to the area from which off-ball defenders will rotate to assist in containing

04:45the star player, whether through shooting or effective dribble drives.

04:48The player in this position carries substantial responsibility.

04:52This is where we observed Dylan Brooks getting many of his shots in previous games,

04:56and it is also where Green will find opportunities as we will discuss shortly.

05:00Green's presence with the ball allowed Booker to operate in that area as well.

05:04On Thursday, Green capitalized on numerous catch-and-shoot opportunities,

05:08taking eight of his 13 three-point attempts in that manner.

05:11This is where his shooting percentage thrived.

05:13The performance of the team has shown improvement, particularly with a 49% knockdown rate last

05:19season, compared to a 31.6% success rate on pull-up three-pointers.

05:24This increase in efficiency is expected to occur naturally within Jordanot's offensive system,

05:29which has already demonstrated its effectiveness early in the season,

05:32placing the Suns among the top teams in the league for three-point attempts.

05:38Green has taken note of this development, he remarked.

05:40I feel like our offense just has a lot of spacing, which allows us to take a lot of three-point shots

05:46and play at a fast pace.

05:49Those are the two things I love to do.

05:52The Phoenix Suns, currently holding a record of 4-5,

05:55face challenges in establishing an offensive rhythm during the first half.

06:00They were fortunate to compete against a depleted Los Angeles team,

06:03which had a record of 3-5 and was missing key players like James Harden,

06:07due to personal reasons, and Kawhi Leonard, who was dealing with a right ankle sprain,

06:12resulting in a relatively close score.

06:15However, the offense began to click, largely due to the consistent threats posed by Green and Booker.

06:20In the third quarter, Phoenix improved their three-point shooting,

06:23going 7-for-16 after only managing 7-of-20 in the first half.

06:27Overall, they recorded 8 assists on 12 baskets in the second half,

06:32compared to 11 assists on 19 baskets in the first half.

06:35In the early moments of the third quarter, a player made a swift move towards the basket,

06:40soaring through the air, to complete an impressive finish over a defender.

06:44On the subsequent possession, the defense was a bit too aggressive,

06:48allowing him to quickly pass the ball to Booker,

06:51who took a clean shot from beyond the arc, without hesitation.

06:54This play effectively illustrated how Green's ability to handle the ball could be beneficial for the Suns.

06:59Earlier in the game, Green had also received a setup from Booker,

07:02resulting in a three-pointer for himself. Will there be more of this synergy in the future?

07:08Absolutely. A lot more for sure.

07:10Green responded.

07:11The third quarter, which ended with a score of 40-23 in favor of the Suns,

07:15featured the best possession of the night with Booker on the court.

07:18Green found himself double-teamed off the ball at the right wing during a crucial moment.

07:23He made a wise decision by passing to Royce O'Neal at the top of the key,

07:26which allowed his teammates to take advantage of a four-on-three situation.

07:30O'Neal then passed the ball to Booker, who quickly drove towards the defense,

07:34setting up Grayson Allen for a three-pointer in the corner right beside him.

07:38It's a complete transformation.

07:40Booker commented on the impact of having Green on the court as an additional offensive option,

07:45stating,

07:45It's definitely a game-changer.

07:47When I'm off the court, he steps up and plays aggressively, which is crucial for our team.

07:52His presence contributes to our success in various ways.

07:55During his return to Phoenix, Bradley Beal managed to play for 20 minutes,

08:00which has been the duration of his appearances in previous games,

08:03reaching this mark in the middle of the third quarter.

08:05Meanwhile, Chris Paul had an impressive 10-minute stint in the first half,

08:09but did not return to the game.

08:11The Los Angeles team managed to reduce their deficit from 20 points to 12 at one point in

08:16the late third quarter, indicating a potential opportunity.

08:20But ultimately, they were too shorthanded to capitalize on it.

08:23For the Clippers, it was likely advantageous that Beal's time on the court was limited.

08:28You might have developed a negative perception of Beal during his tenure with the Suns,

08:32making it difficult to view his performance objectively.

08:35However, it was disheartening to see him play at such a diminished level.

08:39Despite this, he still possesses significant scoring talent and was able to create his own shots.

08:44Unfortunately, his typically exceptional shooting touch seemed to be lacking.

08:48In a recent game, a player struggled significantly,

08:50finishing with a shooting record of 2 for 14.

08:52His early attempts were notably off-target, and he faced a chorus of boos both before the game

08:59and whenever he touched the ball during play.

09:02After the game, he addressed the negative crowd reactions with the same grace that fans

09:07had come to appreciate during his time in Phoenix.

09:10In terms of contributions, Allen scored 18 points while O'Neal added 17,

09:15together accounting for 9 of the Suns' 19 three-pointers in a newly configured starting lineup,

09:20with Green now in the starting five, and Brooks' sideline due to a core muscle strain.

09:25The lineup still featured these two players.

09:28This change resulted in Ryan Dunn being moved to the bench, which disappointed some fans and

09:32analysts.

09:33Throughout the season, the Suns will face challenges in balancing the development of their program with

09:38nurturing young talent.

09:39If Dunn remains on the bench when Brooks returns, it will mark a significant shift in their approach,

09:45especially considering that, rookies Common Maluach and Rashear Fleming have not received

09:49any rotation minutes despite the team's injury struggles.

09:52The effectiveness of other reserves is noteworthy.

09:55Although Dunn managed to play for 25 minutes, it will be interesting to monitor his playing time

10:00once the team is at full strength.

10:02Dunn, it should be noted, performed exceptionally well at home once again.

10:05He recorded 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

10:12It is essential for him to continue receiving over 25 minutes of playing time.

10:16What impact do you believe Jalen Green will have on the Suns' performance for the rest of the season?

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