The Phoenix Suns aren’t winning games by simply outshooting opponents - they’re winning by outworking them. It’s a subtle but important distinction, and it’s central to what head coach Jordan Ott is building.
This isn’t a team that leans on elite shooting to put points on the board. In fact, they’re sitting middle of the pack in shooting efficiency this season (15th in the league).
But what they lack in shooting touch, they make up for in sheer volume - more possessions, more chances, more pressure.
Let’s break it down.
Possessions: The Suns’ Hidden Weapon
In basketball, every possession is a currency. The more you have, the more you can spend - and the Suns are finding ways to earn extra trips down the floor in ways that often go unnoticed in the box score.
There are three primary ways to gain or preserve a possession: offensive rebounds, forcing turnovers, and limiting your own turnovers. Phoenix is excelling in the first two.
They’re pulling down nearly 13 offensive boards per game, with an Offensive Rebound Percentage of 31%. That’s elite territory - near the top of the league.
It’s not just about effort; it’s about system. The Suns are built to crash the glass, and they do it with purpose.
Defensively, they’re just as aggressive. Phoenix ranks top three in both steals per game (10.4) and opponent turnover percentage (17.1%).
That’s a clear signal of a defense that’s not just reactive - it’s disruptive. They jump passing lanes, pressure ball-handlers, and force mistakes.
It’s a defense designed to generate chaos, and it’s working.
But here’s the catch: while the Suns are excellent at generating extra possessions, they’re not always capitalizing on them. They’re 19th in offensive turnover percentage, coughing the ball up 15.4 times per game.
That’s a big number for a team that creates so many “free” opportunities. It’s like winning the lottery and then misplacing the ticket.
A Simple Formula, A Big Impact
To get a clearer picture of just how well Phoenix is maximizing possessions, let’s look at a simple formula:
(Offensive Rebounds per game + Steals per game) - Turnovers per game
Again, it’s not perfect science, but it gives us a strong indicator of possession margin.
Using that formula, the Suns come out at +7.8 possessions per game.
For context:
- Oklahoma City, one of the best defensive teams in the league, sits at +6.3.
- Houston, the league’s top offensive rebounding squad, is at +9.8.
- Boston, the best at protecting the ball, is at +8.2.
- Detroit, known for their balance in this area, also lands at +7.8.
So Phoenix is right there with the best in the league when it comes to creating extra opportunities. That’s a big deal - and it’s a reason why, despite inconsistency in shot-making, they’re still hanging around the playoff picture.
How the Suns Do It
The Suns’ system is built around physicality and presence, especially in the dunker spot. They often commit multiple players to crashing the glass, which is a calculated risk - it can leave them vulnerable in transition, but when it works, it pays off.
Take a typical possession: a pick-and-roll between Mark and Devin swings the ball to Dillon in the corner. Meanwhile, Booker camps out in the dunker spot, drawing a defender like Embiid into a tough decision.
That opens the door for someone like Mark Williams to crash the glass or clean up a miss. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart basketball.
Defensively, the Suns are relentless. They play with a chip, constantly poking at the ball, jumping passing lanes, and applying pressure without overcommitting. It’s a high-risk, high-reward style, but it suits their personnel - and it’s producing results.
Jordan Goodwin: The Unsung Hero
If there’s one player who embodies the Suns’ possession-first identity, it’s Jordan Goodwin. He’s not a household name, but among players with 250+ minutes this season, he’s doing things that put him in rare company.
Per 100 possessions, Goodwin is generating +5.2 extra possessions. That’s a massive impact for a role player.
And when you dig deeper into the numbers, it gets even more impressive: he’s the only player in the league with both an Offensive Rebound Percentage above 7% and a Turnover Percentage below 2%. That’s elite efficiency in the dirty work - crashing the glass and taking care of the ball.
Goodwin’s value might not show up in traditional stats, but the Suns know what they’ve got. When it’s time to talk contracts, he should be near the top of the priority list.
The Bottom Line
Phoenix isn’t dominating with star power or highlight-reel offense. They’re grinding out wins by controlling the margins - winning the battle for possessions, outworking opponents, and playing with a relentless edge.
They don’t need to be perfect. With a system that consistently generates 6-10 extra possessions a night, they just need to be efficient enough to make those chances count.
And if the shooting ever catches up to the effort? This team won’t be hovering in the Play-In mix - they’ll be climbing the standings fast.
The Suns are playing the long game. And when volume meets efficiency, they’re going to be a problem.