Ferguson shows potential,
Forward getting crash-course lesson on defense
PHOENIX — Devin Booker had a mind to post up. The Suns guard turned his back to Thunder rookie Terrance Ferguson and put his legs into a back-down.
He was met with deceptive resistance.
That first-quarter play in the Thunder’s game Sunday at Talking Stick Resort Arena spoke to something Billy Donovan talked about before tipoff.
Ferguson’s slight, but he puts up a fight.
It’s one of the first things Donovan noticed about the rookie — who on Sunday started his third straight game in place of the injured Andre Roberson — when he watched video of his games in Australia’s NBL last season.
“He was not afraid to go in there,” Donovan said. “He put his body in between plays. He holds his ground. He’s physical. You wouldn’t think that the way he’s built, but he throws his body around. I think he’s a lot stronger than people give him credit for.”
In the Thunder’s back-toback wins last week against the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles, Ferguson opened eyes with his scoring, posting 35 points in the two games, 24 of those against the Lakers.
But the Thunder always was drawn to Ferguson as a defender, where it likes the 19-year-old’s potential.
He still has plenty of room to grow.
Ferguson plays out of position at times. On a second-quarter play Sunday night, he was a step late on a backdoor cut by the Suns’ T.J. Warren, who made a layup as Ferguson fouled him.
“I think the biggest thing for him is just getting out of position, jumping around too much, lunging around,” Donovan said. “He’s so energetic and hyped up. He’s all over the place.”
But Ferguson’s willingness to battle even at 6-foot-7 and a lean 184 pounds gives Donovan confidence that “as he learns the league,” he’ll be physical enough to get through screens, a key component of defending on the perimeter.
“If you have great feet, but you don’t have the physical part, it’s really hard to become a great defender,” Donovan said. “If you have the physical part but not great feet, it’s still hard. He’s got both.”
Abrines available
After missing two games with a right groin strain, Thunder guard Alex Abrines was available to play in Sunday’s game. Donovan didn’t use him in the first half.
Roberson missed his fourth straight game with left patellar tendinitis. He’s due to be evaluated this week, and his status for Tuesday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers is to be determined.
Canaan sticks with Suns
Though he missed Sunday’s game with a left adductor strain and is out for seven to 10 days, guard Isaiah Canaan has found a home with the Suns. The team on Sunday guaranteed his contract for the remainder of the season after initially signing him to a deal in mid-December.
Canaan was in camp with the Thunder in preseason. OKC waived him on Oct. 14.
In 10 games with the Suns this season, Canaan has averaged 10 points and 4.9 assists.
Quotable
“Yes. Another lost one. Anytime guys (were) not at Florida and you ask me if I recruited them, you know that that means? We lost them.” — Donovan on whether he recruited Suns star Booker when Donovan was the head coach at Florida.