New head coaches often take time to make their mark on a team, but for Mike Budenholzer, it was different. With a clear blueprint developed over years of experience, including as an assistant under Gregg Popovich and as a head coach in Atlanta and Milwaukee, Budenholzer has seen success. Now, with the Phoenix Suns, he is implementing his proven strategies, and it’s paying off with a 7-1 start to the season. The team is already taking on the characteristics of a typical Coach Bud team, especially on the defensive end. They are excelling in points allowed per possession and defensive rebounding, showcasing their commitment to Budenholzer’s defensive principles. The Suns are contesting shots, limiting opponents’ shooting percentages, and blocking shots effectively. With the team buying into his defensive philosophy, Budenholzer is seeing early success in Phoenix. Nurkić is mimicking Lopez’s defensive prowess, limiting shooters to a 50% mark at the basket. Durant, known for his offensive skills, has also been a defensive asset with 11 blocks. Booker, Beal, and newcomer Jones have been playing above their usual standards on defense.
O’Neale has been a solid 3-and-D player, guarding various positions effectively. Even Beal, known for his scoring, has been putting in the effort on defense. Dunn, a young player, has been impressive defensively, holding opponents to a low shooting percentage when he’s defending.
Dunn’s defensive impact has been significant, despite concerns about his shooting ability. Surprisingly, he has been making more three-pointers in Phoenix than he did in college. This improvement in shooting is attributed to the team’s emphasis on shooting more three-pointers.
The Suns have adopted a more three-point heavy offensive strategy under Coach Budenholzer. This change has been embraced by the team’s stars, including Durant. Durant has adjusted his shot selection to take more three-pointers and fewer midrange shots.
In order to compete in the tough Western Conference, the Suns are focusing on maximizing their offensive efficiency by prioritizing three-point shooting. This change in strategy has been beneficial for the team and its key players. To create a unique version of the provided article, you can rewrite it as follows:
The Suns’ shooting strategy has seen significant improvements this season, with players like Booker and Beal reducing their long 2-point attempts while increasing their 3-point shooting frequency. This shift has already proven successful, as the Suns have won five out of their first eight games by surpassing the league-average rate of field-goal attempts from beyond the arc. Owen Phillips highlighted in The F5 newsletter that the Suns went 26-9 last season when shooting 3-pointers at a league-average-or-better rate.
Despite the positive changes in shot selection and the contribution of players like Jones, who leads the team in touches and time of possession, the Suns still rank 16th in points scored per possession outside of garbage time. This can be attributed to subpar shooting percentages from key players like Booker, Jones, and Allen. Additionally, the team struggles to generate rim pressure and convert close-range shots.
Nevertheless, the Suns’ success without their offense fully clicking raises the question of how dominant they could become under Budenholzer’s guidance. Booker emphasized the team’s organization and ability to adapt, hinting at the potential for further improvement. With Coach Bud’s impact becoming evident early on, the Suns have the makings of a serious contender in the NBA.
This rewritten content maintains the key points of the original article while providing a fresh perspective on the Suns’ performance this season. It seamlessly integrates into a WordPress platform for easy publication. text using different words:
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