Brad Rempel – USA TODAY Sports
The Phoenix Suns have traded away two of their top backcourt players in Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, even though they are in contention for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The two guards were important playmakers for the team and arguably their best creators. The Suns still have plenty of backcourt talent, but will need players such as Gerald Green to step up and fill the void.
Green had a breakout year last season, as he averaged career highs in points, minutes played and games started. He was an important piece of the Suns high-scoring attack, and seemed to finally find a comfortable spot in the league. Unfortunately, the team continued to add depth on the perimeter, and Green has seen his minutes decrease this year, along with his numbers. He is not nearly as efficient as he was last year, which is worrying to the organization.
With the Suns in a battle for the final playoff spot, Green will need to elevate his game to give the team a shot at winning as many games as possible. He is a talented offensive player who can score in bunches, but he needs to remember to not force the action as much. He still has several very good playmakers next to him who can create easier shots for him.
If Green can start to produce at a more consistent and efficient level, then it will greatly help the Suns down the stretch. Losing Dragic and Thomas will hurt, but those were two moves that the organization felt they needed to make. They have the players who can help fill the void, but they will need to prove themselves sooner rather than later.
