Phoenix Suns: 5 Positive Signs from the Team's First Week

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The NBA season is now finally underway and the Phoenix Suns have started off with a 2-3 record after the first five games.

It has been a very shaky start to say the least and all but one game so far has been decided by 10 points or more.

However, there have been a few little bright spots here and there showing that maybe there is still some hope that this could be a semi-successful season.

Markieff Morris

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Many criticized the Suns for taking the wrong Morris in the draft, but while one is spending time in the D-League, the other is putting up some nice numbers in the desert.

His shooting percentage is just a little under 60 and his averages of nine points and five rebounds are solid as well.

He has also shown a good shooting touch and is currently 6-of-12 from range.

As he receives more minutes, his production should increase and he could prove to be a solid draft pick.

Steve Nash Refuses to Age

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Steve Nash's numbers don't tell the whole story.

From the assist standpoint, he had a game in which he only put in 17 minutes and recorded one assist. This brought his average down significantly making it seem as though he is not the same as he was last year.

Also, it is fair to note that he had six turnovers in said game and four fouls.

It was one bad game, but overall, Nash has had a solid start to the year.

His point contribution is down, but he is still racking up the assists and running circles around defensive players.

He is doing all of this with some of the worst talent he has ever had around him and I look for him to rediscover his shooting stroke and put on one of the best seasons of his career.

Hakim Warrick Picking Up Slack

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The Suns have stumbled somewhat when it comes to player production this year.

Steve Nash is missing shots he can easily make, and the other shooters on the team cannot seem to find the net with any consistency.

Out of all of this mess the only real saving grace has been the efficient play of Hakim Warrick. His defense provides nothing spectacular, but his offense has provided the only real spark for this team.

He is averaging a team high in points and shooting 50 percent from the field.

I am not of course saying that he is a great scorer, but he seems to be picking up for the others on the team that are struggling right now.

He will not keep up his current level of play, but at least he has managed to contribute at a greater level when the team needs it most.

Channing Frye Chashing the Boards

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Channing Frye has a reputation of being "soft."

He would much rather sit outside and wait for Steve Nash to give him the ball to shoot than to go inside and contribute.

This year, his offense has been lacking, but he is currently leading the team in rebounds and averaging more than eight per game.

He has done a great job of recognizing that his shooting touch is simply not there and has gone in and tried to help the team in other ways.

The most surprising thing has been that it has actually worked and his production is good. I would not be shocked to see more instances in which Frye is down low grabbing boards instead of on the outside waiting.

Marcin Gortat Showing Solid Defensive Presence

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The Suns are not a defensive presence if you did not know that already.

Nonetheless, it is nice to know that there is someone on the team at least trying to contribute on the other end of the floor.

Gortat has been a great presence for the Suns on the defensive end and has established himself as the best defensive player on the team by far.

Part of that could be just because he actually tries to do something unlike the rest of the roster, but the point still remains that he is the only threat the Suns have on that end.

Hopefully this play continues and when the offense finally starts going, his defensive stops will matter much more.

 

That is all folks!

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