For the Phoenix Suns, this year has been one wild ride. At the start of the season, they were 8-1 and set to be on a strong bounce-back season, but that fell apart before the Suns could even shout out a celebration. Due to the injury bug not wanting to leave Phoenix, it has been a difficult season for fans to grasp. the Suns main issue was the lack of a starting center.
This was shown when the Suns allowed centers Mark Williams and Onyeka Okongwu to dominate them in back-to-back games. Phoenix was in dire need of a reliable big man to start. That is why when Josh Okogie‘s contract became available for trade, they shipped him off for a big man. That is Nick Richards, who has only been present for two matchups for the Suns, but in those, he has made immediate impacts.
The Suns Missing Piece Is Making an Immediate Impact
Nick Richards Makes Huge Impact In His First Contest
Richards arrived and was ready to go for the Suns in his first game. The Suns center did not start the game, but played the crunch time minutes at the end with the team. He made his presence known on the court while putting on the purple and orange for the first time. He was fantastic and exactly what the fans were looking for in a center this year. Richards finished the game with 21 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 87.5% from the field. This impressed Phoenix’s fans and made them realize that Richards is a true upgrade in the middle. He had started in stints for the Hornets over his five-year career there, but for Phoenix, he will be their best center.
Richards does all the little things the Suns need. He is a rim protector, a shot blocker, and someone who can provide some defensive presence in the paint as a body. His average rebounds while with Phoenix could be around 10 per game. He can also provide the Suns with offensive rebounds and even more second-chance points. They lacked that with their previous centers, so they decided to often forego crashing the offensive glass. From looking at just one game, you can tell Richards will be a fan favorite by the end of the year. Even after seeing his impact though, the Suns should still pursue a big man that can shoot from outside to help diversify their frontcourt.
New Suns Center First Start?
In his second game with Phoenix, Richards received the start for the Suns. I anticipate this to continue, as he is their best center on the roster at this moment. Jusuf Nurkic is not useful anymore and holds negative value. Mason Plumlee is getting older. Oso Ighodaro is too raw of a prospect and isn’t physical enough to combat key starting centers. This pushes Richards to step up in a role he is familiar with.
In the game against the Cavaliers, the Suns and Richards had a rougher performance than in his debut. His early foul trouble limited the Suns from the start. The Cavs also ran some zone to silence the Suns’ offense in the second quarter, so Richards could not make a big impact. Even if he was not at his best, no other big on this roster could hold it down vs. the Cavaliers either. In his first start, he finished with four points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
The Final Scoop
Overall, Nick Richards has shown great glimpses of what he can be for this team. He can be exactly what this team needs at the center position while on an excellent contract of $5 million. Even if his first start was not ideal, it was against one of the best teams in the NBA and a top-tier big man. For Richards, getting used to this role will be a process. I do expect him to shine bright when the team need him most. The Suns center issues may be patched up for now.
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