PHOENIX -- The latest injury to center Alex Len enabled the Suns to take a longer look at free-agent-to-be Brandan Wright working with the first unit. That's hardly consideration as a long-range role -- if Wright returns next season -- but seeing what can be accomplished with him on the floor during crucial stages of games certainly can't hurt.
In four games as a starter, the 27-year-old lefty provided Phoenix with 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. That's an impressive jump from his averages of 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in a reserve role.
"I think we just mesh well together," Wright said of blending with the starters, after he supplyied 16 points, four blocks and three steals in Saturday's victory over the Utah Jazz. "I think we play well together. We know each other's talents and they go together pretty well."
With the 6-foot-10 Wright in the lineup, the Suns at least seem more capable of corralling opposing point guards in pick-and-roll situations. His length, lateral agility and quickness -- coupled with his recognition of when to show and speed to recover -- contributed to Phoenix's recent rise in team-defense metrics.
"I think it's just part of my game," Wright said. "It's what I bring to the table."
And it's handy to have a quick-leaping target on lobs in the Suns' ball-screen attack. Being available on dives or rolls to the hoop, Wright has converted 58 percent of his field-goal attempts as a starter, including a one-handed flush over 7-1 rim-protector Rudy Gobert.
"I get a couple of those every now and then," Wright said. "It always feels good to get those, especially on a shot blocker. But I feel like I'm going for everything, so you're going to get dunked on a couple times."
After a run of eye-opening productivity, rookie forward T.J. Warren had his three-game streak of double-digit scoring ended during the triumph over the Jazz. Warren's recent recital of spins, floaters and creative layups inspired questions regarding his lack of playing time while the Suns were still in playoff contention.
But, as coach Jeff Hornacek pointed out, the former North Carolina State star had a learning curve to negotiate on the defensive end first.
"We always thought he would be a pretty good one-on-one defender," Hornacek said. "You know, at the start of the year, he saw his man and that was it. So the team defensive concepts were a little lacking, but I think over the period of the year of practicing every day, you know, constantly going over things, I think he's picked up on that pretty well.
"There are still times that, you know, being a young guy, he's going to go back to some old habits, but he has gotten a lot better and a lot more comfortable when he's out there defensively as a team and he's not just going to be concerned about his man and forget to rotate or step over. So that's been a key for us having the confidence to play him."
With his rise on both ends, Warren is expected to have more opportunities as the season closes.
"He's shown that he's made strides since the beginning of the year," Hornacek said. "He's going to have some really good games and some games that are a little bit more of a struggle, but he's going to be a big part of the future."
The troublesome left ankle of guard Brandon Knight prevented his participation for eight full games ... then he reinjured the wheel in his first game back. As for his availability in the final five games, we'll see the restricted-free-agent-to-be when we see him.
Before Saturday's game, however, Knight spent considerable time shooting jumpers, adding a reasonable trot to midcourt and back after each rep.
