Alex Len is an interesting young prospect in Phoenix. But lately he’s been interesting while sitting on the bench. That’s not as interesting as being interesting on the court. You interested in this? Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting:
This was supposed to be the season Alex Len showed off.
When Len didn’t get the free-agent contract he wanted over the summer and had to sign a one-year, $4.2 million qualifying offer from the Suns, he re-dedicated himself, working on his body to become stronger and, at the suggestion of the front office and coaching staff, trimming the fat in his game.
Forget the low-post moves or jumpers from the elbow. Phoenix wanted Len to do three things: defend, rebound and finish at the rim on pick-and-rolls.
“Simplify things,” Len said.
That’s exactly what Len has done. He’s averaging nine points per game on 48-percent shooting and pulling down a career-best 9.3 rebounds per game. At 36 minutes a game, his averages would jump to 14.1 points and 14.6 rebounds.
But there’s the rub. Len is averaging 22.9 minutes instead of 36. Recently, he’s become the odd man out among the Suns’ three centers. Len has not played in two of Phoenix’s past three games, the 119-108 loss to Minnesota on Sunday and the 113-107 overtime loss to Milwaukee last Wednesday. He sandwiched those games around 19 minutes in a blowout loss to New Orleans.
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