NBA 30 Teams/30 Days Preview: With Bledsoe back, Suns could shine yet again
Editor's note: This is the 11th of Sam Amico's 30 NBA team previews entering the 2014-15 season.
Projected Starters
C Miles Plumlee; PF Markieff Morris; SF P.J. Tucker; SG Eric Bledsoe; PG Goran Dragic.
Key Reserves
SG Gerald Green; PG Isaiah Thomas; SF Marcus Morris; F TJ Warren; SG Zoran Dragic; PF Anthony Tolliver; PG Tyler Ennis; C Alex Len; SG Archie Goodwin; PF Shavlik Randolph;
Coach
Jeff Hornacek, second year. The Suns were the league's most surprising team last season, and it's hard to do anything but give Hornacek the bulk of the credit. Everyone expected the Suns to be bad, to play for a high draft pick. Hornacek told the Suns to forget all that noise -- to keep the ball moving and good things would follow. He was right. The Suns overachieved. And now they believe. Their coach was quite a find.
Strengths
Hornacek's philosophy is based largely on strong guard play, and that being the case, the Suns are set (and maybe even stacked). Bledsoe and Goran Dragic were borderline All-Stars, with each capable of playing either guard spot equally well. They should only get better together, too. ... Thomas was quite a steal in free agency, acting as yet a third point guard who can act as a dangerous scorer as well. ...Markieff Morris has become of the league's truly underrated forwards, a hustler with skills and a great attitude. ... Tucker loves to defend and make energy plays, and Green has become instant offense off the bench. ... Rookies Warren, Ennis and Zoran Dragic come with high hopes.
Weaknesses
Aside from Tucker, no one here is really viewed as anything close to a lockdown defender. That's OK, except for the fact the Suns don't really frighten anyone much as a team defensively, either. ... Their lack of an ability to stop people cost them some games (and perhaps a playoff spot) near the end of season. ... Oh, and for all their effort in the passing department, the Suns finished next-to-last in the league in assists. That stat is a little deceiving, but the bottom line is guys have to do a better job of finishing.
Outlook
After a lengthy contract tiff, Bledsoe is back and all is likely forgotten, if not entirely forgiven. That's good news, because familiarity is a huge key to the Suns' success. Adding the likes of Thomas and the other newcomers should only assist with another postseason push. The Suns should be right there, hovering around the Nos. 7-9 seeds, once again.
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