{"id":318521,"date":"2025-10-20T12:23:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/318521\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T12:23:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:23:15","slug":"why-phoenix-suns-prefer-support-over-help-when-playing-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/318521\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Phoenix Suns prefer ‘support’ over ‘help’ when playing defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phoenix Suns<\/a> forward Nigel Hayes-Davis fully understands the power of words.<\/p>\n

Anyone who spends five minutes having a conversation with him immediately notices his intelligence and ability to articulate and communicate.<\/p>\n

So, when Suns coach Jordan Ott and his staff made a point to tell the team they prefer the word \u201csupport\u201d over \u201chelp\u201d when it comes to defending, Hayes-Davis got it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s huge for us to be as mobile as we are on defense that has similar, fit this body type, defensive-minded mentality and to be able to switch throughout,\u201d Hayes said during training camp. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t allow us to be \u2018picked on,\u2019 calling guys out. We\u2019re able to with our athleticism, our IQ of playing, we\u2019re able to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oops. Sorry. My bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoach doesn\u2019t like to say \u2018help,\u2019\u201d Hayes-Davis continued. \u201cWe want to support, as (Suns assistant Brian Randle) says. We want to support and make sure that everyone is flying around and helping.\u201d<\/p>\n

This may seem simple, perhaps small in the overall scheme of how Phoenix wants to defend, but it’s huge for the Suns in helping create a mindset of playing together and for each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cWords are important,\u201d Hayes-Davis said. \u201cNot to go too deep, but when you go deep is when you find important things, but the things you say are important in the world. The way you speak, the things you say. What you say is what you create. Saying the word \u2018help\u2019 indicates something is wrong. We don\u2019t want someone to feel like something is wrong out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ott isn\u2019t surprised Hayes-Davis took deep root in using \u201csupport\u201d over \u201chelp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf all people to probably bring it up, I probably could\u2019ve guessed that would stick with Nigel,\u201d Ott said. \u201cThe way he thinks. Help is like throwing someone a life raft. When they\u2019re out there, they\u2019re in the middle of the ocean. Help. You need something. Here, we have your back. You don\u2019t have to say anything. We have your back, no matter what, at all times on both ends. No matter what time of the game. Up 20, down 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Suns are looking to improve on being ranked 27th in defensive rating last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cImperfect game,\u201d Hayes-Davis said. \u201cBeautiful, but imperfect game. There are going to be times when you get beat or you slip, you fall, make a bad read and you need to be supported for that. Using the verbiage of support is indicative that we\u2019re all in this together and that we\u2019re all a unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hayes-Davis said placing a high value on words goes beyond the court for the Suns.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe coaching staff and organization have done a great job,\u201d Hayes-Davis added. \u201cIt may seem corny or unimportant, but the things you say are extremely important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phoenix opens the 2025-26 season Oct. 22 against the Sacramento Kings<\/a> at Mortgage Matchup Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to support you on the court and also here with our staff,\u201d Ott said. \u201cWe\u2019re around here to support August, September. Hopefully, they\u2019ve been able to feel that. October. January. February. March. All the way through. We\u2019re all here to support our guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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