Suns bet on Green to transform into point guard! Is it an antidote or a new hidden danger to partner with Booker?

Recently, Jaylen Green's updates have been quite lively. On the one hand, he posted a long article on social media to say goodbye to the Rockets, and the lines were full of reluctance to Houston: "If I were the management, I might choose to trade myself." This sounds really sad. On the other hand, according to reporters with the Suns, Jaylen Green is expected to play as the starting point guard in the new season. This is so surprising. After all, he has always been a scorer who is known for his violent style of play. There are too many unknowns in this transformation. Then the question is, why does the Sun have to transform Jaylen Green? Can the combination of him and Booker really work?

Let's first talk about Green's four years with the Rockets.

At the beginning, he was called "Gong Qiaoxia Ke" to enter the league. As a result, after four years, the data looked OK (average 21 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season), but his efficiency was really bad: 42% shooting percentage, 35% three-point shooting percentage, and 54.4% real shooting percentage, ranking 263rd among the league's more than 300 guards, almost at the bottom. What's even more heartbreaking is that as a core ball holder, his assist-and-turnover ratio is only 1.4, which is the countdown to the same position; the defensive end is not enough in a defensive team like the Rockets. To put it bluntly, the Rockets want a "tough attacker" who can shoulder the core, but except for the occasional violent dunks and inspiring scores, Greene either makes a fuss or makes mistakes at other times, and he really doesn't prove that he can be the core of the team building.

So it is reasonable for the Rockets to make up their minds to trade him. But the Suns took over was quite fascinating at first - Booker was still in the team, and the two overlapped positions, and their playing styles were both "scoring the ball". Bill's example was still in front of him, so why did the Suns dare to bet again?

After careful consideration, the sun had no choice.

They originally wanted to make up for point guards in the offseason, but Paul did not get the target, Westbrook is uncertain, Brogdon has a potential for injury, and the rest of the free market either has no experience or no immediate combat power. At this time, let Booker play point guard? Last season, Booker averaged 5.2 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game, and his passing ability was only "once occasionally" and letting him be a point guard for a long time is equivalent to letting the scorer forcefully be an "engine", and his efficiency may not be high. What should I do? Only let Green try to transform into point guard.

But Green plays point guard, isn't this going to drive the duck to put it on the shelves?

He has hardly played point guard in four years with the Rockets. When he was a pick-and-roll starter last season, he averaged 9.3 pick-and-roll ball attacks per game, and he could only exchange 0.92 points at a time - why? Because his first reaction after pick-and-roll is always to attack by himself, and he doesn't even look at the chance of his teammates passing the game. For example, before, Shin Kyoto cut to the basket with Shin Kyo, but he still made a jump shot with a pick-and-roll. This "stubborn" style of playing can make a living by the feel of a scorer, and being a point guard can become a big problem.

But the sun is not a blind bet. What they are interested in is Green's athletic ability - running and jumping top, being able to hit the basket and cutting empty space. Last season's empty space score is 1.29, and it is not vague to be the fast break arrow in the conversion offense. If he can learn to "pass the ball first and then attack" and use breakthroughs to attract defense and then split into the basket or outside, he may be able to be a qualified "deputy offensive point guard". In other words, the Suns want to reshape Green's playing habits: less personal heroic shots and more patiently deal with the ball.

What about compatibility with Booker?

Bill and Booker were both partners, and they were both "can play if they have a ball or no ball". The mid-range distance after holding the ball and the pick-and-roll is a common strength, which directly leads to the ball fighting. But Green is different - he has a greater threat to cut without the ball. When Booker holds the ball, Green can be "running weapon"; when Booker needs to rest, Green can be pushed up and hold the ball again. And now the Sun is "dual-core driver", Booker is the clear big brother, and Green is the "deputy attacker", and the conflicts in the locker room should be much less than those in the Big Three period.

Of course, the risk is not small. If Green's three-year contract of 105 million yuan fails, the Sun will lose his hands. Referring to Bill's example, the Suns also wanted to "run in the dual cores" at that time, but the lineup was dispersed as they ran in. But the difference between Green and Bill is that Bill was the "second leader" at that time, and the demand for ball rights was high; Green is now the "third leader" position, with a much less pressure, and his mentality may be more stable.

Let's talk about other operations of the sun.

In the summer league, No. 10 pick Maruac performed poorly, averaging 10 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shooting 36% of three-pointers and 23% of all, and having a weak body and poor hand. He is likely to have to level up in the Development League in the rookie season. But Fleming, who ranked first in the second round, was a surprise - he was 207 cm tall and 227 cm wingspan, had strong single defense, good running without the ball, and high ending efficiency of receiving the ball. He had the chance to become an Anunobi-level 3D forward in the future. In addition, if the Suns are still chasing the Warriors, the depth of the front line can be improved.

In summary, the Sun's operation is "de-giant" + "rejuvenating". Send Durant away, buy out Bill, focus on Booker and Green, and scrape the young lottery tickets by the way. Green's transformation is essentially the Suns' bet for the future - if they succeed, they will be stable for several years in the backcourt; if they lose, they may have to adjust their lineup again.

But for Green, isn't this a turning point in his career? In the Rockets, he is the "core that cannot be helped"; when he reaches the Suns, he becomes the "newcomer who needs transformation". Whether he can go from a "scoring machine" to a "tactical engine" depends on whether he can let go of his obsession with "I want to attack" and learn to "see his teammates first and then take action."

The Suns in the new season may not be like the Big Three period, but they are definitely more energetic than before.. The running-in between Green and Booker will be one of the most noteworthy "small experiments" in the West - after all, isn't the charm of basketball lies in the "uncertain possibility"?