Dallas Mavericks forward 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 by swinging the Chris Paul trade and hiring a hard-hitting Jae Crowder in free agency.
Before they play their 20th game of the season, it has become clear that what general manager James Jones did from then on by filling out the roster also matters, especially as the NBA continues through the pandemic.
It showed against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
When the Mavs got going and opened an 11-point lead with five minutes to play in the third quarter, Suns coach Monty Williams eliminated his top three players: Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Paul.
Substitutes are Langston Galloway, E’Twaun Moore and Frank Kaminsky. In the last five minutes of the quarter, Phoenix hit within five points, setting up a fourth quarter that ended with Booker and Luka Doncic missing his final second of swell to complete a Suns win.
With Phoenix already beating big man Dario Saric (health and safety protocols) and backup point guard Cam Payne (foot), it was an extreme example of how impactful the usually overlooked roster building process was.
Galloway followed Moore out of season by joining the Suns late in the free agency process with minimum veteran contracts. Maybe that felt unnecessary for a backcourt that already included the re-signed Jevon Carter.
Now that duo has played the last three games as backup minutes.
‘They just know how to play. Whether it’s a zone defense or a man, I think they have experience, ”Williams said on Tuesday. “You can see those guys on the floor communicating, they know what to say and even if they are not that quick on certain plays, they are usually in the right place.
‘They organized us. The ball movement with that group and the player movement with Langston, E’Twaun and Frank (Kaminsky)… we want to grow that further. Those guys give us a great boost when they come into play. They get great photos on violation. “
Moore, who has come into the rotation for the past four games, has taken on the task of initiating play and ensuring plenty of fickle bounce.
In Williams eyes, Moore, who has a floater game and can hit an open three, has passed a few shots too many because he’s so focused on getting the attack in order.
Galloway, who entered the competition six years ago, is evolving into a pure off-ball shooter.
He blows his average shootings (40% in total and 37% from three-point range) out of the water so far by connecting 49% of his shots and the same percentage from deep.
Abdel Nader, who joined the Suns in the Paul business out of Oklahoma City, has recently chopped Phoenix off the wing, and Williams made sure on Tuesday that he did not leave Kaminsky behind in discussing his second unit that has more has carried its weight.
The big man the Suns didn’t re-sign and picked up this off-season after being waived by the Sacramento Kings before the regular season started is feeling more comfortable at the moment. Playing almost exclusively as a backup center after doing the same last season has given him continuity.
“I’m just talking about the defense, I know where to be, I know our coverage,” Kaminsky said. “That’s something I’ve gotten better at in my career. It was a bit difficult at first, especially last year. It’s a different set of coverages. “
Three games back against the Golden State Warriors, Kaminsky was two assists short of a triple-double, a sign of his role as an offensive initiator swinging the ball from strong to weak.
He has grown into a similar role that Saric forged in the bubble that ended last season.
It’s likely that Saric will regain that role in the coming days once he’s free to play. It’s possible the same is true of Payne, who played at a high level for an ankle and foot injury. That duo and Carter, being healthy, at least gives the Suns options.
Williams doesn’t mind that Jones has given him so much depth.
When asked on Tuesday about Carter’s current role and how he would fight his way back in the rotation, the head coach put it right, “It’s really hard to play so many guys.”