Suns guard Grayson Allen ignited the team in the third quarter, helping to secure a victory over the Blazers on Saturday night.
Grayson Allen has returned, and it didn’t take long at all. The Phoenix Suns guard started the season slowly, causing a bit of concern. But after Saturday night’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, we all saw and confirmed that Allen is back to his old self.
Saturday’s game against the Blazers confirmed that not only are Ryan Dunn and Royce O’Neale solid contributors off the bench, but we’ve also got our Allen back.
Heading to the bench and only playing his fourth game out of six so far this year, the transition from a starting role to the bench was a topic heading into the season for Allen, but it looks like he might be ok with limited minutes in the new role.
The Suns started out slow on Saturday night, hitting only 10 total field goals in the first half and trailing the Blazers 47-43. After halftime, though, it was a different story. Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant combined for 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, bringing new energy to the team. Grayson Allen joined the momentum, making all four of his shots from the field, including two three-pointers.
The crowd’s roar showed their relief as Allen found his rhythm, using his strength to contribute on the boards and defend against driving guards in the paint, ending the game with a career-high three blocks.
“We did a great job contesting their shots at rim”
The #Suns held the #Blazers to 33.3% shooting tonight, which is lower than any opponent FG% allowed last season. Our @brendan_mau asked Grayson Allen, who had a career-high 3 blocks, what worked for Phoenix defensively. pic.twitter.com/popVbt8WrU
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) November 3, 2024
The Suns started the season 4-1, with Allen struggling or missing games due to the birth of his child. However, on Saturday night, Allen’s presence was much needed; he delivered a stellar performance in the third quarter, helping the Suns extend their lead to as much as 22 points over the Blazers.
The transition of joining the bench is a process and one that Allen acknowledged after the game Saturday night.
Grayson Allen on how he’s adjusting to coming off the bench after being a starter the last 4 years: “It’s just a little bit different. I think it’s a little bit harder, but it’s just something to get used to. Trying to get myself in that rhythm quicker by making some play” pic.twitter.com/4soSBsaS8D
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 3, 2024
Allen isn’t heartbroken about the change to a bench role; in fact, the hope is for him to become the Suns’ sixth man. Still, it will take some time to adjust. The fact that it took only his fourth game to put up 18 points in 18 minutes is both reassuring and realistic.
We can’t expect Allen to be on fire every night—it takes time to find rhythm, and starting roles naturally allows players more opportunities to get into the game’s flow and pick their spots. Now, the Suns are relying on him to immediately impact off the bench. It can happen but it will be an adjustment like we have seen.
In Allen’s last three years as a starter with the Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged 29 minutes per game. Coming off a career year, it might be a bit of a letdown to watch others take his minutes. But this team seems focused on sacrificing for the greater good, like Tyus Jones taking a one-year deal. Allen seems willing to do what it takes to position this team as a championship contender.
Are you comfortable with Allen in this role, or do you think it could become a concern as the season progresses?