The largest questions dealing with the Suns over their first 10 video games

I felt it for the primary time after I went exterior final night time to play with the canine. For the primary time in months, I may stroll exterior with out getting blasted within the face by the oven-like air that the Phoenix metropolitan space has to supply. Yes, for the primary time, it felt like fall. And which means Phoenix Suns basketball is correct across the nook.

With Media Day this upcoming Monday and coaching camp beginning Tuesday, we’re about to rev up the engine and begin getting solutions to the questions we’ve been asking ourselves all summer season lengthy about this staff.

Which brings me to a different Bright Side Roundtable alternative for our writers to reply a easy query: What is the largest query you want answered throughout the first 10 video games of the Suns’ season?

Of course, we’re not going to get solutions to every part. The season is 82 video games lengthy, and pondering that the primary 10 video games will inform us every part we have to learn about this staff is considerably obtuse. Still, these first 10 video games will present perception into what we are able to count on, whether or not that’s schematically, how the rotations take form, or how the brand new items match into the puzzle.

And for me, that’s what I primarily wish to see. How does this puzzle match collectively from a rotational standpoint? Rotations will proceed to evolve all through the season. Injuries will current themselves, gamers will exceed expectations, others will fall brief, and changes can be made primarily based on opponents and manufacturing.

But these first 10 video games ought to start answering one query I desperately need answered: How does this group understand the progress Rasheer Fleming made this offseason?

Sure, he was a second-round choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, however he’s someone the Suns moved as much as purchase. They spent property to get him as a result of they believed in what he may change into. And in his restricted alternatives final season, Fleming flashed the potential to supply dimension, athleticism, protection, and three-point capturing off the bench. For a staff that has desperately wanted a top quality energy ahead since Amar’e Stoudemire performed for the group, Fleming may start filling that position this season. That’s why I wish to see how and when he’s utilized all through the primary 10 video games.

In Year 1, he was a rookie studying to regulate to the velocity of the NBA whereas growing his basketball IQ. Year 2 ought to be about constructing upon that basis and demonstrating whether or not he’s made the developmental leaps all of us hope he has. How a lot does the teaching employees belief him? Where does he match into the rotation? And how a lot alternative will he obtain to showcase that development? We ought to know fairly a bit extra after these first 10 video games.

So what does the remainder of our Bright Side Roundtable panel should say about it? Let’s get into their solutions.

Kevin Humphreys: Will we get to see the Suns’ core 4 gamers play collectively to start the season?

Last season, we solely acquired to see the Big 3 play 10 regular-season video games collectively, and now Miles Bridges is getting thrown into the combination. If we are able to simply get all 4 of these guys wholesome by way of 10 video games, that can be an enormous win. If that occurs, then what sort of hierarchy, if any in any respect, is growing between Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges?

Bruce Veliz: The largest query I would like answered within the first ten video games is how Jordan Ott’s play type will evolve into 12 months two?

Last season, they have been a scrappy and bodily staff that by no means gave up on the defensive finish, and on offense, it was primarily three-point centered, targeted on the drive and kick. Without Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, the staff has misplaced a part of that identification, so how will he alter and profit that to suit this staff? Will there be any modifications, or will they follow what labored final season?

Holden Sherman: At least two wins in opposition to one of many Thunder, Nuggets, Spurs, or Rockets. Phoenix went 4-12 in opposition to these groups final 12 months, together with going 0-7 in opposition to Houston and Denver. These groups have been 4 of the 5 high seeds within the West and are ones the Suns must compete with if they’re critical about being top-six within the Conference. The staff wants to complete video games in opposition to these groups stronger; it’s not nearly enjoying them shut. All of those groups Phoenix suffered shut losses to, and Denver ought to be worse this 12 months, contemplating they traded Peyton Watson, a important contributor from a season in the past, and solely obtained draft compensation in return. The Suns must play their finest in opposition to the perfect.

SoSaysJ: How a lot are the Suns going to take the child gloves off Khaman Maluach? During the primary 5 months of final season, Maluach averaged 5.5 MPG. That ticked as much as 13.9 MPG during the last two months of the season. During NBA Summer League, he (not surprisingly) performed 27.4 MPG – and thrived, averaging 19.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and a couple of.0 BPG, whereas capturing 40.0% from three and 53.2% total.

Considering his manufacturing throughout Summer League, the truth that he has one 12 months within the NBA underneath his belt, and the damage to Mark Williams, prolonged minutes definitely appear warranted throughout the common season, however to what diploma? Will he begin? Will he play 20+ minutes? 25+ minutes? Regardless of whether or not Khaman or Oso is the beginning middle when the common season begins, I can be significantly occupied with Maluach’s enjoying time throughout these first 10 video games and the sport conditions by which he’s on the ground.

For the Suns to get pleasure from any near-term success past what we noticed final season, Maluach must develop and play a major position on either side of the ball. I believe the primary 10 video games of the season ought to give us an thought as to how prepared the teaching employees thinks he’s to step into that position.

Brandon Duenas: The first 10 video games are all about experimentation and seeing what you will have as a bunch. That being mentioned, I’m wanting ahead to seeing how every particular person participant, particularly these within the beginning lineup, adjusts their sport to this group. The potential obtrusive concern with this staff is the shortage of playmaking/flooring spacing within the beginning unit. I can be paying very shut consideration to the shot distribution and the roles that Green, Brooks, and Bridges naturally take.

I excluded Booker as a result of I consider he can slot in any atmosphere, so I’m extra curious as to how these different three play off one another (and Book) and if there’s extra “team ball” than “me ball.” Will Brooks and Bridges sacrifice shot makes an attempt and make fast reads? Does Jalen Green tackle extra of a downhill playmaking menace this 12 months? There are loads of options to combine and match the appropriate items on the Suns’ bench, so it will likely be an attention-grabbing dynamic to observe. Green and Brooks didn’t share the courtroom a ton final 12 months, and Bridges is the newcomer. This is why they pay Jordan Ott the massive bucks.

Mark Bowser: I agree with Brandon’s particular dynamics above and the way that ends in the move of the general offense. My important query is within the intangibles class. Last 12 months, the Suns have been gritty as a rule. They dove for free balls, scrapped on protection, and crashed the offensive glass. With new elements added and a number of other high-effort gamers signing new contracts, will the trouble dip? Or will it go up a notch? The prolonged gamers (Brooks, Goodwin, Gillespie) all have this of their DNA. The new acquisition, Miles Bridges, is the wildcard. Reviews of his effort fluctuate, usually constructive when his staff is doing nicely. Can he improve the Suns’ popularity on this regard, or will his addition disrupt the chemistry?

Tom Mildenberger: In the 2024-25 season, the Suns began 8-2 earlier than Budenholtzering their technique to a 36-win season, so I’m not getting caught up in wins and losses. The Suns will carry the identical coach again for a (gasp) second 12 months in a row, so regardless of swapping Allen and Royce for Bridges, I believe we largely understand how the staff will look, stylistically and culturally.

What I’m going to be awaiting within the first ten video games is which Devin Booker we get. Are we going to get the make-the-right-play, Devin Booker? Or are we going to get the flame-throwing Booker who units area factors data? There are causes to suppose that the previous model of the Book could be higher fitted to the Suns’ present roster than the latter, but when I’m being trustworthy, I don’t wish to see Devin Booker pile up hockey assists or get to the free-throw line thirty occasions a sport this season. I wish to see the Booker that the protection is aware of goes to shoot, however nonetheless can’t do something to cease. Can he nonetheless be that Booker? I’m undecided, however I believe we’ll know within the first ten video games.

There’s no scarcity of issues to look at when the Suns lastly take the ground, which is strictly what makes these first 10 video games so useful. We received’t have the solutions but, however we should always have sufficient proof to begin forming higher questions. How a lot has the roster advanced? Who has earned belief? Which mixtures work? And maybe most significantly, what does this staff appear like when the experimentation begins to present technique to an identification? After spending the summer season imagining the chances, we’ll lastly get to see which of them survive contact with precise basketball.