PHOENIX – The NBA season officially begins in 60 days – and now is the time to start really digging into what this version of the Phoenix Suns will/should look like heading into an absolutely crucial season.
One of the most intriguing topics surrounding this year’s team is how the offense will rebound from being arguably the league’s most underwhelming unit last season — when it finished just 10th in offensive rating and lost numerous games due to turnover-heavy fourth quarters.
They now have a first-year head coach in Mike Budenholzer who will look to get the offense back into shape with two new floor generals and a renewed youth presence on the fringes of the roster.
What is the most effective offensive combination in the roster? The truth is that not all formations are created equal: putting the five best offensive players on the field at the same time does not necessarily mean that the offense is the most effective.
For example, Royce O’Neale isn’t a top-five offensive player for the Suns, even though he’s a quality shooter and avoids high-volume turnovers.
This is the ultimate best programming Budenholzer can come up with.
This is obviously a formation that cannot be used frequently – as it is undersized and lacks real rebounding power.
Even so, it could be a deadly offensive combination in a vacuum.
Jones is a terrific playmaker, as crafty as he is accurate. He also shot over 40 percent from three-point range last season, proving he can punish loose defensive coverage.
Beal could do a number of things in this lineup, from attacking the basket to being a stationary shooter. He has the highest potential in this configuration.
Booker and Durant are already safe bets. Two of the most feared scorers in the modern NBA who will undoubtedly thrive alongside Jones.
Allen proved to be one of the most accurate three-point shooters and best floor spacers in the NBA last season — he should continue to be an unsung hero as a fourth scoring option.
This five-man formation is impeccable, has powerful offensive power and should not suffer from the same mistakes as those encountered last season.
