Five to-do items for new Suns coach Igor Kokoskov
Igor Kokoskov will be introduced as the Suns’ new head coach Monday morning.
Once he gets settled in and exchanges his Utah Jazz gear for Suns colors, here are five to-do items on his list:
Establish a positive working relationship with Devin Booker
To quote “Star Trek,” this is Kokoskov’s prime directive. Booker is the centerpiece
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That shouldn’t be a problem. Booker has said on many occasions that he’s gotten along with every coach he’s played for, and Kokoskov has been a “guard whisperer” throughout his coaching career, helping players like Steve Nash, Ricky Rubio, Donovan Mitchell and, yes, Luka Doncic.
Also, the Suns sought Booker’s input throughout the coaching search and Booker reportedly was enthused about Kokoskov’s offensive style, which emphasizes ball and player movement.
Convince T.J. Warren to accept 6th-man role
This one likely will be more difficult than winning over Booker. Warren averaged 19.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season and did nothing to warrant a move to the bench. But Josh Jackson’s emergence the second half of last season, as well as his potential to become a better all-around player, means the Suns might be better off with Warren becoming the sixth man and primary scorer for the second unit.
In fact, that was part of the Suns’ thought process when they drafted Jackson.
Warren, however, has a lot of pride and one source said he blanched at the idea when it was brought up last season. Kokoskov will have to convince Warren that he’ll still have an important and prominent role, much like Andre Iguodala with Golden State. If Warren buys in, the Suns can then build their bench around him, knowing that the vital role of a second-unit scorer is filled.
Unlock consistent play from Marquese Chriss and/or Dragan Bender
There’s no guarantee Chriss and Bender both will be on the Suns’ roster next season. If General Manager Ryan McDonough wants to acquire a veteran stretch forward via either a trade or in free agency, it’s likely one of the two players is wearing a different uniform in 2018-19.
If one or both do stay, however, Kokoskov has to figure out a way to get them to play at a higher level for longer stretches. For example, Bender shot 45.5 percent from 3-point range in February and 29.8 percent in March. Chriss averaged 4.3 points in February and 10.1 in March.
Kokoskov’s international coaching experience and preference for a freeflowing, multiple-option offense should ideally suit Bender. Chriss’ struggles often were internal; he often gets down on himself when he’s not playing well and, as former interim coach Jay Triano repeatedly said, Chriss wasn’t in great shape much of this season.
Kokoskov, then, must find a way to encourage Chriss while also holding him accountable. That’s not an easy balancing act for a rookie NBA coach.
Install some semblance of a defensive mindset
No one expects the Suns to turn into the Utah Jazz overnight. For one thing, Utah has center Rudy Gobert and Phoenix doesn’t. But Kokoskov can install some of the Jazz’s defensive principles and, more importantly, get Phoenix’s players to buy into the idea that they can win games even on nights they’re not scoring 110 points.
The Suns ranked last in the league in defensive rating (110.6). Utah was second (101.6). If Kokoskov can get Phoenix to just split the difference, it would rank in the top 15, a place the Suns haven’t been since 2013-14, when it ranked 13th. The Suns’ record that season: 48-34.
Turn Josh Jackson into defensive stopper
Jackson put up big numbers the second half of the season but the Suns at times thought he was too focused on his offense. Phoenix took Jackson with the No. 4 pick last summer not because they thought he would turn into a 20point scorer but because he had the capability of stopping 20-point scorers.
Jackson has the athleticism to cover three different positions and as he puts on more weight he'll also be able to cover some power forwards. But his focus defensively has to be as sharp as his desire to improve his offensive game.
That's where Kokoskov comes in. If he can convince Jackson to be a defensive stopper first and a scorer second, the Suns take an important first step in improving their overall defense.