National Basketball Association

Rebounding likely determines Suns' ceiling

Published Oct. 20, 2014 2:59 p.m. ET

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The Suns' commitment to playing faster -- which includes the companion subset of utilizing, on occasion, even smaller players -- seems to just beg for trouble.

That could be one notion for those disturbed by the team's inability to collect a rebound and finish a defensive possession last season. With the Suns 22nd among teams in defensive-rebounding percentage, their rank of 26th in points allowed in the paint isn't surprising.

So, with the addition of 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas to solidify a two-point-guards-at-once rotation, how do the Suns expect to gather enough fast-break-generating rebounds?

Phoenix's "big men" aren't exactly looking eye to eye with most opponents, either. This didn't prevent the Suns from leading the league in fast-break points a year ago.

Still, with Miles Plumlee, Markieff Morris and Anthony Tolliver required to battle the NBA behemoths, how do the Suns survive on the boards?

"Well, you know, the bigs have a tough job," Hornacek said. "They're going against, usually, a big guy that's in there trying to grab the board, and there's a lot of shoving and pushing and we're asking those bigs to hold those guys off the board and block out.

"And that's when the guards should have an easy run for it. You know, the ball's just bouncing up there and while everybody's down wrestling, you just go in there, jump up and get it."

The Suns were outrebounded in each of their three preseason victories and won the rebound stat in their only exhibition loss. Despite this quirk, cleaning up this aspect of defense will be important in their attempt to reach the playoffs.

It should be noted the Miami Heat were listed below the Suns in last year's rebound efficiency numbers, and the San Antonio Spurs were way up there at fourth in the league.

The importance in certain statistical categories often is influenced by the caliber of playmakers you have elsewhere. A healthy season for the Suns' point guards could lead to much higher efficiency on offense, but -- regardless of their offensive chops -- the little guys must pitch in on the glass.

"They got to get in there, too," Hornacek said, "because you don't have to be that tall, you don't have to jump that high, if you anticipate and you go after all of them, you know, you're playing 30, 35 minutes a game, you should get four or five rebounds as a point guard or two guard."

Suns center challenges the shot of San Antonio's Danny Green during Thursday's preseason game at US Airways Center.

The only player on the active roster who doesn't hold a guaranteed contract is center Earl Barron.

Barron, a 33-year-old 7-footer attempting to become a regular-season Sun for the second time, has taken 20 rebounds in his four preseason appearances.

It ties Barron with Markieff Morris and P.J. Tucker for the team lead; Marcus Morris has 19 and starting center Miles Plumlee has 16. Barron's bid for survival -- in what certainly seems like a competition with Shavlik Randolph -- was abetted by a 13-rebound effort during extended minutes in the loss to Houston.

When asked for the name of a player whose training camp/preseason showing has surprised him the most, Hornacek quickly went with Barron.

"The one guy that sticks out," Hornacek said, "and really fighting to make the team is Earl Barron."

But the Suns like Randolph, who has a guaranteed deal at $1.12 million, and are committed to their young centers Plumlee and Alex Len.

"If he's going to help us and we have to eat a contract," Hornacek said in reference to Barron's candidacy, "I think Robert (Sarver) will do that."

 Barron, who realizes playing well doesn't limit his options to Phoenix, is pragmatic about his situation.

"I know it's a business and that anything can happen," he said. "So it's just a matter of keeping a positive attitude and working hard every day in practice and hope that good things happen.

"I've got three more games to continue to prove that I deserve to be in this league and to be on this team."

A recent statistical revelation by a national NBA scribes informed us seven of the last eight league champions led all playoff teams in 3-point attempts and 3-point makes during that particular postseason.

That's nice, but it should be noted that any team that goes all the way through to the Finals is one of only two teams to work in four series. Their opportunity to accrue more of anything is obvious.

But since the San Antonio Spurs are a frequent model of playing the right way (something that usually can be said of any championship team), let's look at their use of the 3.

While also leading the NBA in regular-season victories, the Spurs were only 16th in attempts. But they were first in percentage (39.7), which reminds us that -- in addition to having knock-down shooters -- the Spurs are terrific at using the skills of their star players to create open looks for everyone else.

The Spurs, it should be noted, fired up an average of 21 3-pointers per game last season. The Suns, who were eighth in percentage (37.2) last season, squeezed off 25 per game last season.

Using different combinations of players and developing a somewhat-altered identity, the Suns are averaging 24 3-point attempts during the preseason.

Including a 5-of-25 performance in Houston, the Suns are shooting 38 percent from out there.

Follow Randy Hill on Twitter

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