How Jalen Green’s return adds another layer to the Suns’ dangerous offense

It took almost two months to Jalen Green to come back from his hamstring injury. Through plenty of rehab, good cheer and undoing, the Suns have the dynamic backcourt of him and Booker they’ve been waiting for.

However, it’s more than just adding a future star to the mix. Green’s return unlocks so much more for the team that they only had to see a game and a quarter.

But let’s look at a small sample, shall we?

In his 23 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers in early November, he scored 29 points and was an ideal complement to Booker.

His athleticism shone through as he weaved and made acrobatic finish after acrobatic finish. The biggest surprise came from the 3-point shot, where he knocked down five of his 11 attempts.

Most were off the dribble, leaning to one side and disappearing. Granted, it may have been one of the more efficient plays, but it explains why the Suns were so high on Green during the Kevin Durant trade.

On the contrary, Booker’s game is the antithesis of Green’s. He is extremely methodical, gets to his spot and knows how to slow down the game if things get out of hand.

The team’s pace is down, but its offensive efficiency and points per possession are among the best in the league. Adding to Green’s explosiveness can bring some balance to an offense that sometimes struggles without Booker.

He’ll likely be the leading scorer on that second unit, even with guys like Collin Gillespie stepping up in that department. Having a dynamic shooter like Green is changing the culture of the Sunit gives them more cushion and something that defenses have to really game plan for.

What really matters to Jalen Green’s return to the Suns?

Perhaps the most important factor, he is only 23 years old. As a result, the organization, and head coach Jordan Ott in particular, have been adamant about his long-term recovery from the injury.

In his second game back, in the second quarter of the Suns’ game against the Clippers, he aggravated his hamstring problem. It may have been too soon for Green to return, hence the reluctance to wait until he’s fully up to game speed and making in-game moves during scrimmages or practice.

The old saying goes, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Phoenix doesn’t want to look like fools if it isn’t meticulous with Green’s recovery.

Even with the latter growing impatient for his return, they are in a good place. Without Green, they are within a game of the seventh seed.

In the two games he played, both were victories. A small sample size isn’t ideal, but it’s all there is.

Will the Suns have trouble integrating Jalen Green into the offense?

It’s not ideal for him to miss as much time as he has, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t actively participated in anything. Game plans, being active on the bench and giving your insight are valuable.

Still, there will be some rust on the gears ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. After Monday’s game, Ott knows there could be an adjustment period, but nothing too extreme.

“I think there will be some of that,” Ott said, via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin . “I think it’s with anybody coming back from any kind of injury, especially this long, or if you add a player at this time of year.

“We know who he is. He knows what we want to do. We’re a top-five defense. That’s where he’s going to start. Offensively, we need his speed. We need his speed, his play, his ability to drop.”

Time is on the Suns’ side, and the difference between a playoff spot and a certified playoff spot is slim. Green’s return — barring any injury — will show just how dynamic Phoenix’s offense could be.