By Randy Hill
FOXSportsArizona.com
Before taking a look at how newcomer Aaron Brooks may help the Phoenix Suns reach late April, let's examine at least one secure variable.
We know the Suns have perfected their screen-the-screener, side out-of-bounds play leading to a save-the-day Channing Frye jumper. There are multiple versions of this slick maneuver, but the objective is the same -- have a 6-foot-11 jump shooter step back into lock-and-load mode before an opposing post player can close out and successfully contest the shot.
But if some deep-scouting, quick-thinking NBA opponent actually switches that back screen -- or if Celtics forward Kevin Garnett resorts to his junk defense on Wednesday night in Boston -- Phoenix could be in trouble.
Trouble ... really? As one of the league's hottest teams, the Suns have won eight of their last 10 games, 16 of 22, the first three on a six-game road trip, and have slipped past the Utah Jazz into the Western Conference's ninth position.
They're a half-game behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies (who are playing the Tony Parker-less San Antonio Spurs at home on Wednesday night) and a mere 2 1/2 games out of fifth place.
So, how could a team on this type of roll be perceived as just asking for trouble? Well, despite mixing in fits of smooth offense with their recent salvo of tough defense for vast stretches of these games, the Suns are working on another streak. A fourth-quarter streak.
This streak now spans seven games and is defined by the Suns losing the fourth quarter. That's right. Phoenix hasn't won a fourth quarter since pounding the Utah Jazz 24-14 on Feb. 11. This includes a combined minus-19 swing during these three road triumphs.
Suns Coach Alvin Gentry, who frequently reminds us the NBA is exempt from bad or ugly wins, said his team didn't deserve to prevail Monday night in New Jersey, where Phoenix was really creative in coughing up a lead.
"That's ridiculous, that's the worst basketball game I've seen down the stretch," Gentry said. "That was horrible. To play that way down the stretch, being up five with a minute to go having the ball with the way we executed, that was not a playoff team."
At least the Suns are finding multiple ways to surrender their fourth-quarter advantage. It can be a lousy run by Gentry's bench. Or savvy vets Steve Nash and Grant Hill (as they did against the Nets) can make bad plays in the final minute. Both roads led to overtime, requiring Frye to close the proceedings with side-out jumpers.
Here's where Brooks -- who was acquired for this purpose -- can assist in eliminating the need for overtime heroics.
The obvious potential upgrade occurs if Brooks can lead the second unit to at least break even for about six minutes of the fourth. That enables Gentry to have a relatively fresh Nash and Hill to close the game (the rest of the lineup generally depends on who's playing well that night).
Things didn't go swimmingly in the first couple of minutes of Brooks' debut in Indianapolis.
It wasn't all on him; after the bench went nuts (in a good way) during the second quarter, the bullpen Suns looked a bit flummoxed to begin the final stanza. Brooks seemed a bit tentative, and the starters didn't exactly turn up the execution meter after they returned.
Things were considerably better on Monday in Newark, where the Suns were plus-four in the fourth before Nash replaced Brooks with five minutes and change left ... in regulation. During his seven-plus-minute stretch, Brooks -- who seemed to be taking mental notes on Nash's patience in running middle screen-and-roll -- contributed eight points and three assists.
His scoring splurge featured a couple of 3-pointers and a runner that followed a quick move into the lane. In his first two second quarters as a Sun, Brooks had several dime opportunities foiled when Marcin Gortat and Hakim Warrick failed to convert point-blank looks.
Critics of the Brooks acquisition (I'm not thrilled about surrendering any first-round pick for a player on the last year of his contract, either) should be aware that the low assist totals that accompanied his otherwise break-out 2009-10 season can be lifted in the Suns' system. The screaming commitment to high pick-and-roll should enable Brooks to put up nice passing numbers -- especially if he continues to exercise patience in allowing the roll to develop.
Please note that Brooks isn't working with Frye, who's threat from beyond the arc opens the middle even more. Warrick is the power forward for the second unit, and his limited range allows the defense to pack the lane when Brooks is in the game.
Interestingly, the Suns' reliance on pick and roll against the fourth-quarter blitzing of Nash by the Indiana Pacers helped promote Sunday's down-the-stretch slip.
Gentry did attempt the adjustment of having Hill flash to the elbow, but Indiana was prepared for that, too.
Anyway, Brooks -- considered a potential liability on defense -- was required to check Deron Williams (a task assigned to Hill when Nash is in the game) in Jersey. After getting manhandled on a post-up, he did a decent job fronting the Nets' robust point guard while teammates provided lob help.
And that's important.
With Vince Carter (who did play during crunch time in New Jersey) typically riding the pine late in games and Jared Dudley working for long stretches, Brooks can come in handy playing alongside Nash. Right, he's a relative gnome compared to most point guards, and having both of these guys in the game creates ugly defensive mismatches.
But based on offensive inconsistency of the Suns' reserve perimeter players, Brooks' ability to makes 3s (let's pretend this season's bum ankle has a lot to do with his slide in percentage) or get into the lane and find others (including Nash) gives Gentry another option.
As for the defensive concerns, it also should be noted that posting up point guards often leads to asking a perimeter player to play with his back to the basket. Most of them can't. Fronting and providing lob help can make playing two little guys less risky.
A lot of successful teams do it.
Gentry may not be as daring (he rarely played Nash and Goran Dragic together this season), but a healthy Brooks can be a dangerous weapon the Suns may need.
If he demonstrates the ability to blend with his new teammates, it makes sense to get something out of the guy while he's still under contract.
