Without Cameron Johnson (injured) or Jae Crowder (on the start), it was Torrey Craig who used to start the meetings of the Suns for a month now. Problem: The 31-year-old winger has been dealing with a groin injury for two games, forcing Monty Williams to rearrange his five again.
A chance for the ghost Dario Saricwho recovered the position of strong winger holder of phoenix alongside Deandre Ayton. A very large pair (2m08 for Saric, 2m11 for Ayton), which is quite unusual in today’s NBA.
” I think it can work », was judging nevertheless the person concerned, who is coming out of a blank year, concerning this association. ” The current NBA is generally made up of four exteriors with one interior and lots of ‘switches’. We are not going to change tactics all the time, but we need two interiors. Last season we played against New Orleans [en playoffs] which played with two interiors. Sometimes you have to adjust, but I know in any case that I do my best to be ready. »
But what exactly does the Suns coach think, Monty Williamsof this Dario Saric doublet — Deandre Ayton who knows himself well and whom he starts as in 2019/20?
” It’s more difficult, because of the current way of playing », he admitted first on this subject, before discussing the case of the Croatian. “ Playing with two interiors can handicap you in terms of game spacing, but when [Dario Saric] succeeds in his shots, plays as a ‘point-center’ and finds his preferred positions with the ball, he can score points and serve his teammates. So, in my opinion, we have to find the best way to involve him, because his talent is immense. Few insides can say they are as skilled, talented as Dario, but it just took him time to find his legs and we have other players who were playing better [que lui]. »
Out of the rotation, he goes up the slope after his injury to the crusaders
After a fairly discreet first outing on Friday evening (3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, 1/5 on shots, against Houston), Dario Saric in any case came out of his box during the second, Sunday evening : 17 points in 21 minutes, 6/8 on shots, including 4/5 at 3-pts, against San Antonio.
The proof that the Croatian knew how to stay ready and that he is gradually regaining his self-confidence, after having accumulated the “DNP” and played only eight small games during the first month of competition (2.6 points and 3.3 rebounds on average, at 31% on shots and 20% at 3-pts)…
“ Seeing him on the pitch, playing instinctively, gives us a lot of confidence that he’s on the right track. added Monty Williams. ” He’s not there yet, but he’s well on his way to becoming the Dario Saric we all knew and loved. »
Currently leading the Western Conference (16 wins, 7 losses), with seven wins in their last eight games, Phoenix would obviously welcome the return of Dario Saric to his best level. He who was, let’s remember, at 11.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists on average (44% on shots and 36% at 3-pts) during his first five seasons in the league…
| Dario Saric | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 81 | 26 | 41.1 | 31.1 | 78.2 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 78 | 30 | 45.3 | 39.3 | 86.0 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 14.6 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 81 | 25 | 43.7 | 36.5 | 88.0 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.6 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 68 | 24 | 45.4 | 38.3 | 87.5 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 10.5 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 13 | 31 | 36.4 | 30.0 | 90.0 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 11.1 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 66 | 25 | 47.6 | 35.7 | 84.4 | 1.5 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 10.7 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 50 | 17 | 44.7 | 34.8 | 84.8 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
| 2022-23 | PHX | 9 | 11 | 29.0 | 21.4 | 75.0 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.7 |
| Total | 364 | 25 | 44.0 | 35.6 | 83.8 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 11.5 | |
