The preseason is simply across the nook, and the Phoenix Suns are making ready for his or her first pageant in 4 months. What a painful 4 months that used to be, wasn’t it? Summertime in Phoenix is already an insufferable remind that this land must be inhabitable, however sprinkle within the painful means by which the 2022 playoffs ended, and it used to be next-level miserable.
Hope springs everlasting, and teh crew is striking the previous in the back of them as they get ready for his or her Revenge II Tour. The Suns’ first recreation is Sunday as they kick in their preseason towards the NBL’s Adelaide 36ers.
Sure, it doesn’t rely, however that doesn’t imply that we received’t be looking at to see the brand new acquisitions for the Suns, and the way they carry out in crimson and orange.
The latest member of the Phoenix Suns to put on jersey quantity two, the nineteenth such participant to achieve this of their historical past, will likely be lacking a while during the preseason. News got here down that newly bought Josh Okogie has been restricted with a left hamstring pressure.
Josh Okogie has been restricted in coaching camp with a left hamstring pressure and will likely be reevaluated in 2 weeks, according to Suns
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) September 30, 2022
This is obviously disappointing information as he is without doubt one of the gamers that we have been taking a look ahead to seeing all over the preseason. Chances are we received’t see a lot of Okogie during the common season, except Monty Williams chooses to deploy spouts of defensively targeted basketball.
He hasn’t ever been a robust offensive participant, Shooting 40.3% from the sphere all over his profession, and 27.5% from past the arc. In his 4 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, even if he began 123 of 244 video games, he averaged an insignificant 6.4 issues.
His position? As a 6’4” capturing guard, the Georgia Tech alum carried the position of defensive lockdown participant. The preseason is a chance to acquire self belief, to paintings on low season coaching during an NBA-paced recreation, and to show expansion.
I’ve known as him a “high energy version of Elfrid Payton” earlier than, which a few of you weren’t essentially keen on. That being stated, I favor his form of power to that of Payton. Payton used to be an initiator. Okogie isn’t.
The former twentieth general pick out within the 2018 NBA Draft is 24 years outdated, and whilst he hasn’t ever displayed an affinity for an offensively productive form of basketball, there’s at all times hope. The preseason is a chance to make that hope fact.
Unfortunately, we will be able to now not see a lot of Okogie during the preseason as he makes an attempt to navigate the comfortable tissue factor that he’s dealing with in his left hamstring. As we all know, hamstring problems will also be tough in all sports activities, particularly the NBA. The athleticism wanted to be a productive participant will also be hampered by way of such an injury, and in case your purpose is to be anyone who makes your identify on protection, you are going to lack explosiveness, athleticism, and lateral quickness with such an injury.
We’ll have to wait to see how Okogie suits into Monty’s scheme, and it seems love it might now not be till the common season starts.