Jordan Ott’s early run with the Phoenix Suns has been defined by one thing: small-ball lineups that just aren’t working. For his first season and the first three games of this one, it’s been a rough ride, with the team compromising on rebounding to try and boost athleticism and flexibility. The idea is to play five out and shoot, but the Suns aren’t exactly lights out from deep. Here’s the wild part, though: the whole narrative around these lineups might be missing the full picture.
When Small Ball Goes to the Moon… and Then Some
Let’s be real, the starting five hasn’t exactly been clicking. That combo of Booker, Brooks, Bridges, Green, and Khaman Maluach has logged 37 minutes together, and get this: they’ve put up a net rating of -35.5 with an offensive rating of just 94.7. Ouch. But that’s not even the worst of it. Some of Ott’s small-ball groups have been absolutely blasted to the moon. Seriously. Take the lineup of Collin Gillespie, Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges. They’ve played a grand total of 6 minutes across two games, and their net rating? A mind-boggling -105.2. I didn’t even think that was mathematically possible, but here we are. This is the kind of early season struggle that makes you wonder what’s going on.
Necessity Is the Mother of… A Wildly Effective Lineup?
Here’s the thing: these small-ball lineups aren’t some grand strategic masterplan from Ott. They exist out of pure necessity. When you’ve got Mark Williams, a bona fide seven-footer, and Oso Ighodaro, a 6’10” big man, both injured and unavailable, what’s a coach supposed to do? Ott isn’t throwing Miles Bridges out there at the five because he thinks it’s some genius tactical advantage; he’s doing it because his options are completely slammed. And while some of those forced lineups have been disastrous, there’s a surprising twist in this early season drama. The five-man group with the second-most minutes this season , Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Luke Kennard, Miles Bridges, and Ryan Dunn , is definitely a small lineup. Yet, this group has been productive, boasting an offensive rating of 131.8, a defensive rating of 100.0, and a stunning net rating of +31.8. Talk about a hidden gem! So, all the hand-wringing about Ott’s small-ball choices needs a rethink. He’s stuck, but within that context, he’s stumbled onto a combination that actually works. And for anyone thinking Rasheer Fleming is the answer for size, remember he’s only 6’9″, still too small against most opposing centers.
So, as the Suns navigate these early regular season games, Ott is still figuring out how to make chicken salad out of chicken… well, you know. The key will be if they can find more combinations like that Gillespie-Goodwin-Kennard-Bridges-Dunn group. What’s next for Phoenix? It’s about more minutes for what works and hoping the big men get healthy, because this team needs a strategic choice, not a forced hand.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bright Side of the Sun.
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