According to Empire of the Sun's Kellan Olson Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov says forward T.J. Warren will be limited in the team's Monday night matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Additionally, Deandre Ayton will be in the starting lineup.
Ayton will start tonight, per Kokoskov. Warren will play limited minutes.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 10, 2018
Warren has experience coming off the bench as he's come off the bench in seven of his 20 games this season. His averages are down significantly as a bench player, but his efficiency on offense is about the same as when he's starting games.
Warren, the former 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft, is having an excellent season despite the poor effort put forth by the Suns as a whole. Warren is shooting a ridiculous 45 percent from three-point range, an increase of 13 percent over his career mark.
The five-year pro has missed the Suns last five games due to ankle soreness. Phoenix has lost all five of those games so Warren's presence in the lineup will be a welcome addition even if he isn't full-strength. Phoenix is riding an eight-game losing streak and they are the dubious owners of the worst record in the NBA.
Kokoskov has a difficult task in front of him. He needs to figure out a way to get his team back on track and end the brutal losing streak. There are no dreams of playoffs this season but the first-year head coach needs to start building a winning culture for the future. Warren's return to the lineup, albeit on a limited basis, will definitely help.
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