Dillon Brooks sees a Suns team that can be more flexible, and he’s already zeroing in on the pieces that could make that happen.
Phoenix added Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard this offseason, and Brooks believes those moves give the team more options on both ends. He pointed to Bridges’ size, athleticism and defensive versatility, while Kennard brings another elite perimeter threat after leading the NBA in 3-point percentage last season.
“I think we added some shooting, some spacing with both of those guys, and then some athleticism as well,” Brooks said, via Brendan Mau of NBA on SI. “We can interchange lineups.”
Brooks said he’s especially interested in what he and Bridges can do together defensively, with the possibility of switching assignments depending on the matchup. He also mentioned rookie Koa Peat, whom Phoenix moved up to draft, and said he sees similarities between their games. Brooks even joked that he can teach Peat everything except “the crazy.”
Phoenix finished 45-37 in Jordan Ott’s first season, then got swept in the opening round of the playoffs.
In Denver, the big-picture belief hasn’t changed even after a season defined by missed games. The Nuggets won 54 times despite rarely having their preferred lineup intact.
Nikola Jokic missed 18 games, Aaron Gordon 46, Christian Braun 38, Cameron Johnson 28 and Peyton Watson 28. Logan Struck of Nuggets on SI noted that Denver’s preferred starting five went 18-5 when healthy.
That record helps explain why owner Josh Kroenke still sees a team with a much higher ceiling.
“I thought that if this group was healthy, that this could be a 60-65 win team,” Kroenke said after last season.
The concern for Denver now is what comes after the starters. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown are gone, and the Nuggets look thinner behind a core that will once again carry most of the load.
Milwaukee’s situation is turning quickly, and the schedule isn’t doing the Bucks any favors. After trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami and starting a rebuild around a revamped roster that includes Tyler Herro, the team is staring at a brutal early run.
From Oct. 24 through Nov. 23, Milwaukee is set to play 16 games against teams that reached the playoffs in either of the previous two seasons, Tre Allen of Bucks on SI noted.
One especially tough stretch comes in November: Toronto on Nov. 6, Boston on Nov. 8, at defending champion New York on Nov. 10, the Lakers on Nov. 11 and at Orlando on Nov.
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