Suns Hope Best of Landry Shamet Has Yet to Come
The Phoenix Suns have played some of the best basketball across the league in the last few seasons.
With Chris Paul and Devin Booker pairing to make one of the top backcourt duos in the league, strong pieces such as Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton solidify other spots throughout the lineup. Cam Johnson will hopefully be back soon to complete what many believe to be one of the best starting units in the NBA.
Yet Phoenix's downfall has never really been the typical five guys out on the floor, but rather the supplemental pieces that come off the bench. The Suns clearly did not have adequate help in their postseason collapse against Dallas, and that was one of the largest concerns surrounding Phoenix heading into the new season.
The Suns have dealt with plenty of injuries, and as a result bench players have seen regular minutes on the court. For now, Phoenix is just one game back from the Western Conference lead with everybody but Bridges in the starting unit missing multiple games.
The likes of Damion Lee, Bismack Biyombo, Jock Landale, Cameron Payne, Torrey Craig and Josh Okogie have stepped up at various times this season, yet it was Landry Shamet who stepped up in spite of Phoenix's loss to the Wizards on Tuesday.
Shamet scored a career high 31 points on 10-21 shooting, which included 9-13 from three. He also added five assists and two rebounds in place of Booker, who is currently out with a groin injury.
In spite of the loss, he impressed his teammates.
“Landry (Shamet) played his tail off on both ends. Just really gave us that confidence to run these big plays for a three. Every time he shot the ball, we almost stand up and are just like, ‘Go in.’ We know how he can shoot; at the same time, coach put him in that position and he did his thing," Ayton said to reporters.
"He works hard every day, whether it’s on some of the little injuries, he is taking care of it. He rehabs a lot and stays on top of his game. He takes care of his craft and it showed tonight.”
Shamet was more concerned with the loss rather than his own personal performance, which tied a franchise record for most three-pointers made with nine.
"We kind of lost our punch there defensively, we were getting hit first and not hitting first. Communication was a little late, quiet, or nonexistent at times. The encouraging part is that is all stuff you can change right away," Shamet said following the loss.
"Just by opening your mouth and talking, we can do that at a higher level. Especially down the stretch, second game of a back-to-back. You’re tired but we still have to find ways to keep talking and keep our defense at that level. Even if they do score, bounce back and get a stop the next possession. We will find it.”
Blowing a ten-point lead with minutes remaining on the clock is never a good thing, but such is life in the NBA. Teams are sure to go through some rough stretches in a journey they hope is worth it in the end.
Shamet, primarily playing behind Booker, won't get valuable minutes down the stretch. Payne's spot is secured as the sixth man in the rotation, and Okogie's recent play has been worthy of extended time on the court.
However, the Suns hope this is just the beginning of Shamet's evolution as another formidable piece to bring off the bench down the stretch of the season.
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