Suns Starters Play Limited Minutes Thanks To Bench

by Seth Pollack on Nov 17, 2009 1:57 PM MST in Phoenix Suns Commentary

The Suns bench has done more than cheer this season. Their play has allowed Phoenix to go 9 or 10 deep and has limited the minutes played by the starters leaving them fresh to close out games. (Photo by Max Simbron)

The wonderful play of the Suns bench has been well documented and has lead to the Suns regularly playing 4 reserves (Barbosa, Dudley, Amundson and Dragic). With the pending return of Robin Lopez and the continued development of Earl Clark Gentry will easily be able to go 11 deep.

We've marveled at Jared's "athletic hands" and Lou's volleyball rejections but it is interesting to note how the depth of the Suns has impacted the minutes of the Suns starters.

Through 11 games the Sun with the most minutes per game is Amare Stoudemire at 34.5mpg which ranks 43rd in the NBA.The "aging" vets are even lower with 32.7 for Steve Nash and 30 for Grant Hill. This is the first time since the 1999/00 season that Nash is averaging under 33 minutes.

All this for a team that is 9-2 that has only played four times at home and has only had one two-day break between games so far.

While the Suns have looked flat on the second game of their three back-to-backs they've also managed to overcome double digit deficits four times and are holding teams to 41.6% shooting in the fourth quarter of their nine wins.

As further evidence for the benefit of being fresh there's this little fun fact from Paul Coro,

When trailing after three quarters, the Suns went 4-30 last year. They are 4-2 in that situation this season. And this is a team already on its eighth road game tonight.

Those are all signs of a rested team. Not once has Steve Nash had to play an entire fourth quarter and I can't even recall him entering the game with more than 8 minutes to go. Compare that to last season when the Suns often were forced to play Steve for the entire final period leaving him too gassed to perform late game heroics.

The depth is no surprise to Suns fans who understood that the bench was a strength of the team going into the season but the numbers are a bit startling when your top guy in minutes is only 43rd in the league.

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Most definitely

the bench is the reason why we’ve seen Nash so explosive and dominating in the 4th quarter of nearly every game. He is playing at the same level or better than his MVP seasons and taking over games when your superstar is supposed to. All this thanks to the improved play of the bench and Alvin Gentry’s confidence in them.

I think the team chemistry has also contributed greatly to the improved contributions and effects of our bench’s play – it not only allows Nash and starting Co. to get the rest needed to stay fresh but it also keeps them mentally and emotionally engaged in the game when their bench buddies are on the floor – you can see how exited the starters like Amare and Nash get when the bench performs well.

This is a fun thing to watch!

They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...

by Eutychus on Nov 17, 2009 2:15 PM MST reply actions

i agree.

but i also think that while the reserves are going in and doing what they’re supposed to do, either hold or gain a small lead, i think they should be more assertive on the latter end of back to back nights.

it’s no secret that on those nights, grant hill just doesn’t have it. even nash looks a little sluggish at times on those nights. that’s when we need our bench most to come in, do its scrap-for-every-rebound-and-point thing.

Bright Side of the Sun, where Suns basketball never looked so good.

by Trevor Paxton on Nov 17, 2009 2:43 PM MST up reply actions

true

But it doesn’t help our cause that both of our b2b games so far this year have been against the 2 teams that made it to the NBA finals last year.

They say "don't swim with the sharks", but I'm faster than sharks so it's not a big deal...

by Eutychus on Nov 17, 2009 3:27 PM MST up reply actions

very true.

but still, i think the second night of back to back games can be where the second unit shines.

Bright Side of the Sun, where Suns basketball never looked so good.

by Trevor Paxton on Nov 17, 2009 4:36 PM MST up reply actions

You mean it doesn’t help that 2 of our back to backs have been against last year’s finals participants. The fact is that in ten games, the Suns have had four back-to-backs.

This team is looking like it has everything D’Antoni had, plus the benefit of a bench and some defense. I’ve even seen Steve Nash contesting shots, Amare boxing opposing players out, etc. Everyone on this team knows they’ll get a chance if they work hard, I think that is what is motivating the bench.
phxsunsnews

by JasonEllis on Nov 17, 2009 4:19 PM MST reply actions