Ott says the second unit's energy.
“We talk a lot about possession game. Those guys, they just kind of feed off each other. Goodie loves to start it. It felt like the very first possession he was in, he air balled a shot, he gets the rebound, he scores, it's kind of just who he is and the way he brings to the team.”
Ott views Tobe Awaka's offensive rebounding against Khaman Maluach as valuable early reps showing the rookie what the NBA level demands.
“Wings come in, you can't double team the 5, he has one versus Man Man and he got the better of Man Man. So I think those reps are great for Man Man to get right now early in the preseason just to see exactly what it takes at this level. It's every possession and it's only going to increase.”
Phoenix will run some 1-5 switching lineups with Maluach guarding quick guards.
“So we'll go to some 15 switching lineups because he can guard him. He's unique. He has incredible intelligence and feel for that young. Most bigs aren't going to take the challenge of some of those small quick guards, they'll do it.”
Maluach will defend in space and in pick-and-roll with drop coverage still an option.
“We feel comfortable with Man-man all over the floor, up the floor, in pick-and-roll, and then obviously we can drop it back to protect the rim, but he's gonna get into some of those scenarios. In games, you get cross-match in transition. He's gonna have to know personnel, and he understands it, and the biggest piece, he wants to take the challenge to that.”
The Suns liked their pace and offensive rebounding in the first half.
“Love the way we played, especially there in that first half. We were playing fast, getting offensive rebounds, playing hard, competing, playing together.”
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