azcentral sports Suns insider Scott Bordow breaks down the Suns' win over the Kings on Friday.
Suns guard Devin Booker discusses pushing through some shooting woes during the Suns' win over the Kings on Friday.
Suns coach Jay Triano discusses his team's win over the Kings in Sacramento on Friday.
The Phoenix Suns ran a trick play for the ages to beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Greg Moore and JJ Hensley from azcentral sports discuss in today's Shot Clock. Thomas Hawthorne/ azcentral sports
azcentral sports Suns insider Scott Bordow explains the crazy finish to the Suns' win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Suns interim coach Jay Triano explains how Tyson Chandler was allowed to score with 0.4 seconds left on an alley-oop dunk from an inbounds pass to beat the Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Suns center Tyson Chandler discusses his game-winning play to beat the Grizzlies on Tuesday.
Suns insider Scott Bordow discusses the difference between Phoenix's two halves in Saturday's loss to the Timberwolves.
T.J. Warren talks about the Suns' lack of energy and focus in their loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday.
Interim head coach Jay Triano discusses the lack of fight in his team's loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday.
azcentral sports Suns insider Scott Bordow discusses the sloppy nature of Phoenix's win over the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Suns interim coach Jay Triano discusses Phoenix's win over the Grizzlies on Thursday.
Suns insider Scott Bordow breaks down an ugly loss to the Clippers.
Suns interim coach Jay Triano discusses a loss to the Clippers in LA.
Suns rookie Josh Jackson on a loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.
Canaan: "They feed off all the positive energy I'm trying to give them." Scott Bordow/azcentral sports
Suns star Devin Booker talks about his injury prior to Thursday night's game against the Wizards.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe discusses his former team ahead of the Suns vs. Bucks game on Wednesday.
Devin Booker discusses an incident with a Lakers coach late in Monday's loss to Los Angeles.
azcentral sports' Chris Cole talks to Suns fans outside of Talking Stick Resort Arena before Phoenix's season opener on Wednesday. Yihyun Jeong/azcentral sports
- Scott Bordow recaps Suns' win at Kings
- Devin Booker on Suns' win
- Jay Triano on Suns' win at Kings
- The Suns trick play
- Scott Bordow recaps crazy finish to Suns' win
- Jay Triano on Suns' game-winning play
- Tyson Chandler on game-winning dunk
- Scott Bordow recaps Suns' loss to Timberwolves
- T.J. Warren on Suns' need for energy, focus
- Jay Triano on Suns' loss to Timberwolves
- Scott Bordow recaps Suns' win over Grizzlies
- Jay Triano on Suns' win over Grizzlies
- Bordow on Suns' loss to Clippers
- Triano on loss to Clippers
- Josh Jackson on loss to Clippers
- Isaiah Canaan on Suns win over Mavs
- Devin Booker talks about his injury
- Eric Bledsoe discusses trade from Suns
- Devin Booker on incident with Lakers coach
- Suns fans: What do they know? Do they know things?? Let's find out
The talent is there. The Suns always have known that about Marquese Chriss.
It’s why they made the draft-day trade in 2016 to acquire Chriss from the Sacramento Kings. They saw combustion in a 6-foot-10 frame, the ability to block shots at the rim on one end and bury 3-point shots at the other.
They were willing to wait for Chriss' basketball IQ to catch up to his pure physical gifts – Chriss has only been playing basketball since his freshman year in high school – because they knew the pay-off could be huge.
“I think he’s an elite athlete,” interim coach Jay Triano said. “We just haven’t seen it yet.”
That’s because Chriss often has been his own worst enemy, either when it comes to understanding the game or letting his emotions get the best of him. His body language can be a portrait of frustration, and his 11 technical fouls as a rookie revealed a young man who didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.
MORE SUNS: Devin Booker will have input in Suns' decisions going forward
But when Chriss plays like he has the last two games, it’s proof to the Suns that their patience eventually will be rewarded.
Chriss tied his career high with 13 rebounds in Phoenix’s win over Memphis on Wednesday and followed that up with arguably the best game of his NBA career in the Suns’ 111-101 victory over Sacramento on Friday, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists while limiting Zach Randolph to 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Chriss has 21 rebounds in the last two games after pulling down just 22 in the previous six games.
“That’s the way we like him to play,” Triano said.
One sequence early in the third quarter illustrated Chriss’ potential. He buried a 25-foot 3-point shot to give the Suns a six-point lead – he was 3 for 3 from 3-point range – and then stole a pass intended for Randolph and raced downcourt for an uncontested dunk.
“He had a huge night not only with his defense, but with his rebounding and activity,” center Tyson Chandler said. “I think his positive spirit brought a whole different element to the game.”
MORE: For first time in a long time, it's defense first for Suns
Positive spirit? Chriss?
As it turns out, the Suns’ coaching staff and veteran leaders like Chandler, Jared Dudley and Greg Monroe have been counseling Chriss about his tendency to let his natural competitiveness go down the wrong road.
“That’s something Jay told me last year and this year,” Chriss said. “He doesn’t think I’ve ever played better after I got upset and got a technical. Don’t let my emotions get the best of me.”
The messages – Chandler, in particular, has been a mentor to Chriss – may be getting through. Chriss has just three technicals in 37 games, his last one coming on December 7.
“It’s something I’ve tried to grow out of, and I think I’ve done a better job of it this year,” Chriss said. “I’m just trying to be a positive influence on my team as much as I can when I’m on the floor and on the bench.”
The Suns know Chriss will continue to bounce between games in which he’s vital and games in which he disappears. He’s 20 years old. Inconsistency happens. But they believe that if the attitude and effort continues to improve, he’ll start to put together more games like he did against Sacramento.
“His energy level has been very good and he’s in better shape,” Triano said. “And he’s playing much better because of it.”
NBA DRAFT: Where teams stand in lottery right now
Sunday's game
76ers at Suns
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.
TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR 98.7 FM
Update: The Suns are 5-2 in their last seven games after a 111-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday. A win over the Sixers would give Phoenix its first three-game winning streak of the season. Philadelphia was 15-19 heading into Saturday’s game at Denver. Center Joel Embiid, still not cleared to play in back-to-back games, did not make the trip to Denver but is expected to play against the Suns. Phoenix arguably had its best game of the season on December 4 when it went on the road and beat Philadelphia 115-101. Devin Booker had a season-high 46 points in the win.
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