Dallas Mavericks striker Tim Hardaway Jr., left, defends against Phoenix Suns guard E’Twaun Moore (55) in the first half during an NBA basketball game, Monday, February 1, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo / Richard W. Rodriguez)
The Phoenix Suns were celebrated in the off-season, winning the position of Chris Paul and attracting the stubborn Jae Crowder as a free agent.
Before playing their 20th game of the season, it was clear that what General Manager James Jones did from that point forward, filling in the roster, is also important, especially as the NBA moves forward during the pandemic.
It was shown on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks.
When Mavs started to gain strength and opened an 11 point lead with five minutes to go until the end of the third quarter, Suns coach Monty Williams submitted his top three players: Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Paul.
Langston Galloway, E’Twaun Moore and Frank Kaminsky entered. In the last five minutes of the quarter, Phoenix scored less than five points, establishing a fourth quarter that ended with Booker hitting a winning shot and Luka Doncic missing his last second shot to complete a Suns victory.
With Phoenix already defeated by Dario Saric (health and safety protocols) and reserve guard Cam Payne (foot), it was an extreme example of how impacting the escalation construction process, often overlooked, had an effect.
Galloway followed Moore through this off-season, joining Suns on minimal contracts for veterans at the end of the free agency process. Perhaps that seemed redundant for a defense court that already included Jevon Carter rehired.
Now, that duo has played as a reserve of minutes in the last three games.
“They just know how to play. Whether it’s a defense zone or a man, I think they have experience, ”said Williams on Tuesday. “You can see those guys communicating on the floor, they know what to say and even though they’re not so quick on certain moves, they’re usually in the right place.
“They managed to organize us. The movement of the ball with that group and the movement of the player with Langston, E’Twaun and Frank (Kaminsky) … we want to continue to grow that. These guys give us a lot of help when they get into the game. They get great photos in the attack. “
Moore, who has been on the rotation for the past four games, has taken on the role of initiating the game and provides enough flexibility for the jump.
In Williams’ eyes, Moore, who has a floating game and can hit an open three, missed some shots because he is too focused on getting the attack in order.
Galloway, who joined the league six years ago, is evolving into a shooter totally off the ball.
He’s blasting his career shooting averages (40% overall and 37% in the three-point range) out of the water so far, connecting 49% of his shots and the same percentage of the bottom.
Abdel Nader, who joined the Suns in Paul’s exchange from Oklahoma City, gave Phoenix a final blow, and Williams made sure not to leave Kaminsky out on Tuesday when discussing his second unit, which carried more than his weight .
The great man that the Suns did not sign again this offseason and took after he was released by the Sacramento Kings before the start of the regular season is admittedly more comfortable now. Playing almost exclusively as a reserve center after finishing last season doing the same, he continued.
“Just being vocal in defense, I know where to be, I know our covers,” said Kaminsky. “This is something that I get better and better in my career. At first it was a little difficult, especially last year. It is a different set of covers. “
Three games ago against the Golden State Warriors, Kaminsky was two assists from a triple-double, a sign of his role as an offensive starter who swings the ball from the strong side to the weak.
He grew up in a role similar to what Saric forged in the bubble that ended last season.
Saric is likely to recover that role in the next few days as soon as he is released to play. It is possible that the same could happen with Payne, who was playing at a high level before an ankle and foot injury. This duo and Carter, who is healthy, give Suns options, at least.
Williams doesn’t care that Jones has given him so much depth.
Asked on Tuesday about Carter’s current role and how he could fight to return to the rotation, the coach said well: “It is very difficult to play with so many guys”.