Three Suns Who Impressed in Preseason Opener
The Phoenix Suns and first-year head coach Frank Vogel played every available player in today's win against the Detroit Pistons.
As alluded to previously, Phoenix is gauging all potential lineup combinations and are giving each player their chance to make a case for playing time or even a roster spot.
There were several standout performances mixed with some not-so-great ones, but there were three players that stood above the rest. No Devin Booker, Kevin Durant or Bradley Beal as all three didn't play in the second half.
Yuta Watanabe
Yuta Watanabe was a personal favorite teammate of Durant during their time together in Brooklyn, and Durant was a huge factor in the sharpshooter deciding to play in Phoenix instead of taking a more lucrative offer.
Watanabe was clearly comfortable in the system from the start, knocking down a three-ball on his first shot of the day. The George Washington alum only knocked down two-of-six from behind the arc, but was also creating for himself and others with relative ease and was disruptive on defense.
Watanabe could end up being one of the steals of free agency and should quickly endear himself to Suns fans.
Chimezie Metu
Metu didn't play much until the fourth quarter, but was a spark plug for the offense from the moment he touched the floor
The former Sacramento King knocked down two three-balls, got to the free throw line six times, and grabbed three boards in 19 minutes.
Suns fans may not have thought much of the Metu signing when it came to be in July, but he gave the Suns trouble in previous matchups. Metu may or may not have a defined role on the team, but the power forward has a good feel for the game, is sneaky athletic, and is seemingly able to be utilized in a number of ways.
Metu is off to a good start in terms of making a case to get playing time in-season.
Grayson Allen
Grayson Allen is far and away the most conspicuous standout from today. The former Duke Blue Devil did a bit of everything on the floor for Phoenix today, scoring 18 points on 11 shots, playing inspired defense, and doing an admirable job in a a secondary playmaker role.
The sixth-year pro also showcased his beautiful jump shot, which is what he's become known for in the league.
The guard was just acquired from Milwaukee in the Deandre Ayton trade less than two weeks ago, but it feels as if he'll be a seamless fit on this very talented team.
The next chance to catch these new faces is Tuesday night at 7:00 PM Arizona time against the Denver Nuggets.
