Depth and Experience

[boisesuns]

Will these be the keys that push the Suns back to the finals? They seem to be playing well and are usually clutch down the stretch.

What I like is this team is more versatile than last years version. We needed monster individual games in the playoffs to get through some of the rounds. We know we can still get that but there’s more guys we can count on in the ugly games. We can have a few guys in rotation with 8-10 points on any given night. We seem better suited to adjust to individual teams with different lineups.

I’m just glad our main concerns are about being contenders instead of a draft pick we stashed in Europe!!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The biggest key to me is rebounding. When we lose, it is because we are getting killed on the offensive boards. The Suns are 19th in Defensive Rebounding Percentage and 21st in offensive rebounding.

Ayton consistently doesn't put forth effort on the boards as a man of his size should. His Box Outs are the same as a guy like Porzingis and Markieef down in the 30s of NBA players.

It's my only concern at this point.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd add 3-point shooting as a concern.

It really shows on some nights when the Suns fall in love with it and it's not dropping.

 

[SirStefan32]

I really think the lack of experience was the key to the Suns failing in the finals. Injuries played a part as well, but I really think the Bucks won because they had far more experience than the Suns. Crowder was the only guy who had played in the finals, and CP3 was the only other guy who has gone deep into the playoffs.

Theoretically, they should be much more experienced this year, having gone through the entire run last year.

The biggest question mark for me is the health. It's hard to win when CP3 can't dribble or shoot.
Next biggest question mark is the consistancy of intensity, particularly on the defensive end. I just don't know that you can screw around for three and a half quarters and still win against the Warriors, Bucks, and other elite teams. I understand that no team is going to be locked in every minute of every game, but they have to be more consistent.