Oct 7, 2026 2:00 AM
Jordan Ott’s high-volume offensive system flashed potential through aggressive rim pressure and hustle, but sloppy ball security and mounting fouls ultimately derailed the Suns' preseason opener.
The Phoenix Suns (0-1) are now 25% of the way through preseason play after Monday night's 109-107 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
While Phoenix let a large lead slip away in the second half, there were numerous stats and observations that point to a fruitful season ahead.
Suns' Offense is Producing in Interesting Ways
Second-year head coach Jordan Ott is obviously intending to run an offensive system similar to last season - with a few tweaks at-hand.
This reflected on the final box score Monday, as Phoenix attempted 33 free-throws and 35 three-point looks. Neither figure outdid the Pistons in terms of the "numbers" game, but it still matters. Ott is leveraging the added athleticism on the roster (Miles Bridges) to pressure the rim more.
Expect the Suns to make more trips to the free-throw line this season. Alos expect the three-point volume concern to be just that. The losses of Royce O'Neale and Grayson Allen raised concerns about the output in the season ahead, but the 40% clip on solid volume satisfies those questions for the moment,.
Perhaps the most important stat is the 15 offensive rebounds generated by the Suns on Monday. Guard Jordan Goodwin was the leader of the pack (3), while numerous other players put valiant efforts up in compliment. The extra possessions generated by sheer hustle, timing, and having sure hands will be invaluable to this offense in the year ahead.
Suns Must Smooth Over Turnovers, Foul Torubles
Phoenix's starting unit did an admirable job when it comes to ball security, but the bench left much to be desired. Haywood Highsmith (5), Jamaree Bouyea (4), Ryan Dunn (3), and Collin Gillespie (3) were all culprits when it comes to contributing towards the 29 Suns turnovers.
This is unacceptable under any circumstance, as this would likely cost the Suns a regular season contest. The positive is that the bench won't be relied upon this much in late-game situations moving forward, while it's unreasonable to expect any of the aforementioned players to cough up the ball to that degree anyways.
Foul trouble is another area to monitor, as forward Rasheer Fleming led the way with five of the team's 29 on the night. Ceding crucial seconds to the opponent, while also allowing for opportunities to collect free points is something that isn't ideal for any coach - especially one such as Ott, who values each and every possession.
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