Alright, let’s talk about the Suns lineup. Been messing around with different combinations trying to figure out what works best, so here’s the lowdown on what I’ve been up to.
First things first, gotta start with the core. Booker and Durant are obviously locked in. No brainer there. Then it’s about figuring out who complements them best. I started by thinking about spacing and defense. Gotta have guys who can knock down shots and not be total liabilities on the other end.
Initially, I was all about going big. Ayton at center, of course. But then I started thinking, is that really the best way to maximize Durant and Booker? Maybe not. So I started experimenting with smaller lineups.
One lineup I tried was:
- Booker (PG)
- Beal (SG)
- Durant (SF)
- Craig (PF)
- Eubanks (C)
The idea here was to get as much shooting on the floor as possible. Craig brings some toughness and decent shooting, and Eubanks is a solid rim protector and rebounder. The downside? Rebounding takes a hit and some size disadvantage
Then I went back to a more traditional look:
- Booker (PG)
- Beal (SG)
- Durant (SF)
- Okogie (PF)
- Ayton (C)
Okogie’s defensive hustle and Ayton’s size help, but the spacing gets a little cramped. I mean we have enough talent that it won’t be awful but still
I even messed around with some crazy small ball stuff:
- Booker (PG)
- Goodwin/Wainright (SG)
- Durant (SF)
- Craig(PF)
- Bates-Diop (C)
Purely for fun, to be honest. This is when down by 30.
What I’ve learned so far? There’s no one perfect lineup. It’s all about matchups. Against a bigger team, you gotta go with Ayton and probably Okogie for some muscle. Against a quicker team, you might need to downsize and get more shooters on the floor.
Still a work in progress, but that’s where I’m at with the Suns lineup experiments. Gotta keep tinkering and see what sticks!
