The Phoenix Suns have decided to put guard Bradley Beal back into the starting lineup, swapping him in for guard Tyus Jones for their recent matchup against the Chicago Bulls.
Before the game, head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed his continued confidence in Jones, emphasizing that he’ll still be a significant contributor off the bench. Budenholzer’s decision to shake up the lineup comes as the Suns find themselves in a challenging position, sitting 11th in the Western Conference. They are 1.5 games behind the Sacramento Kings for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament, which prompted the need for a fresh approach to boost the team’s performance.
“He organizes us. He brings leadership, stability,” Budenholzer noted, speaking of Jones’ qualities. “He’s a point guard. He’s that guy that’s looking to get everybody involved. Has a comfort level with that spot. He’s been good.”
Beal, previously performing from the bench, showed increased efficiency in that role, even though his overall stats dipped slightly with about two-and-a-half fewer minutes on the court each game.
