There is a perception within the Phoenix Suns organization that Kevin Durant will be able to learn the team’s offensive system easily. Head coach Monty Williams stated that he is not worried about the team’s offense as his system is based on the best players skill sets.
“Most of what we do is based on what (Paul and Booker) can do, so it makes it easier — especially from an offensive standpoint — to fit somebody in like Kevin,” Williams told reporters Thursday. “Kevin can play with anybody. Book can play with anybody and Chris can play with anybody.
The Phoenix Suns Offense
Although Williams’ comments are correct, there is one role for Kevin Durant within the offense as a spot-up shooter. Since the arrival of Chris Paul in 2020, the Phoenix Suns favorite offensive set has been the pick-and-roll. The offensive set has accounted for 18.1% of their possessions, as Phoenix averages 20 per game.
When Phoenix runs a pick and roll, they like to have three players stand behind the arc as floor spacers trying to spread the defense out as much as possible to give the ball handler and roll man more room to get a good shot. For example, Damion Lee, Mikal Bridges, and Torrey Craig stood behind the arc as floor spacers early in the first quarter of a road game against the Boston Celtics. They remained the entire possession as DeAndre Ayton set a screen for Paul on the right wing.
Paul went over the screen and took a couple of steps toward the basket before stopping because Ayton’s defender Al Horford was in front of him. Horford’s decision to focus on Paul gave Ayton an open path to the basket. Consequently, Paul threw a bounce pass to Ayton who ended the possession with an open layup as Horford couldn’t rotate back in time to stop him. Phoenix’s alignment has helped them shoot 45.9% in the pick and roll on 15.7 attempts per game, 9th in the league. The Suns’ efficiency has allowed them to score 18.4 points per game.
How the Phoenix Suns should use Kevin Durant
At first glance, it appears Kevin Durant will improve the team’s pick-and-roll production even more due to his track record in the play type. Kevin Durant is shooting 49.3% as a pick-and-roll ball handler since 2015 on three attempts per game. Kevin Durant’s efficiency has allowed him to score 4.1 points per game.
However, if Phoenix makes Kevin Durant the primary pick and roll ball handler, it will force Chris Paul into the floor spacer role. Paul is going to be ineffective in the role as he rarely takes a shot that another teammate creates. Chris Paul has only attempted a catch-and-shoot field goal 8.9% of the time since 2015 averaging 1.1 shots per game.
Consequently, Paul’s defender will sag off him whenever he is in floor spacer, increasing the likelihood of a double team on the ball handler. The Suns would be more productive with Kevin Durant as the floor spacer because he is more comfortable with taking a shot that another teammate creates.
Why the Suns should use Durant as a spot up shooter
Kevin Durant has attempted a catch-and-shoot field goal 23.4% of the time since 2015 averaging 4.2 shots per game. He has been effective on the catch-and-shoot field goals shooting 46.1% during this time. Once Paul goes to the bench, the Suns can give Kevin Durant some possessions as the primary ball handler.
The potential counterpoint to this argument would be to use Kevin Durant as a screener in the pick-and-roll to get more involved in the offense. Unfortunately, he has only been a screener in the pick and roll 2.4% of the time averaging 0.6 possessions per game since 2015.
Durant’s unfamiliarity with the role isn’t the only downside to this argument because using him as a screener would diminish Ayton’s offensive value. Ayton has been the roll man in the pick and roll 24.6% of the time averaging 3.7 per game since 2020. Ayton is shooting 65.6% on 3.2 attempts which has helped him average 4.6 points per game.
If Phoenix removes Ayton from the screener role, it would be harder for the team to get a good shot as he would have to stand near the dunker spot or behind the arc. Putting Ayton near the dunker spot increases the likelihood of extra bodies being close to the basket.
On the other hand, if Ayton stands behind the arc, the defender will sag off him as he rarely attempts a three-pointer. Ayton has averaged 0.3 per game during his career. In conclusion, the Suns should use Kevin Durant as a spot-up shooter due to the team’s roster.
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