CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS P.J. Tucker on missed calls in Suns loss | 1:33 Suns forward P.J. Tucker talks about some calls he believes the refs missed, his rebounding numbers while playing the '4' spot and his team's close losses after a loss to the Pelicans on Monday. Doug Haller/azcentral sports 1 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Shot Clock: Should Suns trade Eric Bledsoe? | 1:48 azcentral sports' Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss the possibility of the Suns trading Eric Bledsoe, the Kings' DeMarcus Cousins coming to Phoenix and the reaction to Kevin Durant's return to Oklahoma City. 2 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Devin Booker on Suns loss against Rockets | 1:05 Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker comments on the loss to the Houston Rockets, Feb. 11, 2017. 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Doug Haller/azcentral sports 6 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS DeMarcus Cousins suspended after picking up 16th technical foul this season | 0:51 The NBA announced on Tuesday that Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended for one game following his 15th and 16th technical fouls of the season on Monday night. Time_Sports 7 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Raw: Thieves Steal Kobe Bryant Memorabilia | 1:33 Police in Pennsylvania are searching for the thieves who stole Kobe Bryant memorabilia from a display case at the former NBA star's high school near Philadelphia. (Feb. 8) AP 8 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS NBA Power Rankings: Wizards' dominant 2017 continues | 0:47 In this week's NBA Power Rankings, the Wizards' hot play continues, while the Nuggets are barely holding on to a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Time_Sports 9 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS The sad state of New York basketball | 2:09 Former NBA player Eddie Johnson discusses the rough times facing professional basketball in New York. USA TODAY Sports 10 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Devin Booker on Suns loss to Bucks | 1:22 Suns second-year guard Devin Booker discusses Phoenix's home loss to the Bucks and his scoring burst in the second quarter on Saturday. Doug Haller/azcentral sports 11 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Eric Bledsoe on Suns' loss to Clippers | 0:42 Suns guard Eric Bledsoe reacts to a 124-114 loss to the Clippers. 12 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Marquese Chriss on Suns loss to Memphis | 0:45 Rookie Marquese Chriss discusses Eric Bledsoe's performance and how the team will handle the four-game losing streak after Monday's loss. Doug Haller/azcentral sports 13 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS NBA sneakerhead P.J. Tucker ranks his all-time top five shoes | 1:09 Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker owns over 2200 pairs of sneakers, and ranked his top five all-time for The Crossover. Time_Sports 14 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS 2017 NBA All-Star Game uniforms revealed | 0:49 The NBA is keeping it simple for its All-Star Game uniforms this year in New Orleans. Time_Sports 15 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Alan Williams watching his mother's police chief ceremony | 1:04 Phoenix Suns center Alan Williams watches his mother, Jeri Williams, sworn in as Phoenix police chief in Chesapeake Energy Arena. (Paul Coro/azcentral sports) 16 of 17 CLOSE Skip in Skip x Embed x Share WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS Suns 'embrace youth' in WeArePHX 'Momentum' video | 2:55 Hosted by head coach Earl Watson, who says the Suns "embrace and celebrate our youth." Video: Phoenix Suns 17 of 17 Last VideoNext Video P.J. Tucker on missed calls in Suns loss
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Phoenix Suns' Marquese Chriss makes a reverse slam dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half on Jan. 24, 2017 in Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)
To Marquese Chriss, the best dunks don’t happen in contests. They come at you live, in the moment. Off lobs. In traffic. In transition.
The Suns rookie this season has had his share of such moments. He nearly had another in Monday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Consider:
Four minutes into the first quarter, point guard Eric Bledsoe spotted Chriss in transition and fired a pass toward the rim. The 6-foot-10 forward planted both feet and jumped, catching the ball with his back to the basket. He then turned in midair and tried to dunk with one hand.
He missed. The crowd grasped.
“That’s the best missed lob I’ve ever seen in my life,” coach Earl Watson said Tuesday. “If he would’ve made it, it would’ve been the best dunk in basketball history.”
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“If he would’ve made that,’’ said teammate Derrick Jones Jr., who will represent the Suns in Saturday's dunk contest during All-Star weekend, “they would’ve called him to replace me.”
Chriss is 19. An NBA pup. He has much to learn, especially defensively. But almost every contest he does something so athletic that jaws drop, even when he's not successful. It's why the Suns love his potential.
Chriss first dunked his freshman year of high school. It was the last day of basketball tryouts and while the coaches left to pick the roster, Chriss, then about 6-4, said what the heck, and tried to throw one down. He did it.
“And then I was so hyped, I just kept dunking the whole rest of the day," Chriss said.
Entering Wednesday’s game against the Lakers, Chriss has dunked 52 times, second most on the Suns, 20 behind team leader Tyson Chandler. During a recent trip, the rookie forward shared his top three dunks with azcentral sports.
MORE: Suns' 3-point defensive struggles continue
1. The one-handed lob in Toronto.
With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Bledsoe passed to T.J. Warren on the right wing. Chriss started to come up like he planned to set a ball screen. Instead, he reversed and spun toward the basket.
Toronto center Lucas Nogueira, defending Chriss, never had a chance. Warren’s pass, however, was high and to the left of the rim. No problem. Chriss used his 7-foot wingspan to reach back, catch the ball with his right hand (length: 9 inches) and slam the ball through. Upon landing, the play’s momentum knocked Chriss to the court.
2. The reverse lob vs. Minnesota.
Three minutes into the game, Bledsoe started the break. Just inside halfcourt, Chriss called for the ball, raising his right hand to get his point guard’s attention. A second later, Bledsoe threw the lob. Chriss did the rest, catching the pass with his back to the basket and throwing down a reverse dunk.
“I thought he was going to throw it earlier, so I jumped kind of early and my body was turned,’’ Chriss said. “So I was like, ‘I have to try and dunk it like this.' … I like (the Toronto dunk) a lot but the reverse was a little cooler just because not a lot of people do stuff like that. (Clippers center) DeAndre Jordan does it a lot and he does it pretty easily, but I hadn’t done it in a game ever.”
3. The power dunk in L.A.
No lob here. Just muscle. A minute into the third quarter against the Lakers, guard Devin Booker dribbled across the lane and flipped the ball back to a trailing Chriss. The forward took one step and dunked with one hand. Simple, but highlight-worthy all the same.
Last week in Memphis, Chriss had another impressive miss. In the third quarter, Bledsoe spotted Chriss cutting down the lane. This time the pass was on the money. Chriss was all alone, reaching back with his right hand – and slamming it off the back of the rim.
“I tried to dunk that too hard,’’ Chriss said. “I got anxious.”
His teammates let him know about it.
"I expect him to start finishing those," Booker said.
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Watson said it's a matter of time.
"He's going to get stronger, he's going to jump higher, he's going to get quicker,'' Watson said. "Every summer you will see an amazing growth in his athletic ability, and of course, his basketball capabilities."
It should be fun to watch.
Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.
Wednesday's game
Lakers at Suns
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.
TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR FM 98.7.
Lakers update: Entering Tuesday’s home game against Sacramento, the Lakers (19-37) had won two of three, both wins coming on the road. Their schedule of late hasn’t been kind – eight of their past 10 have come on the road. Like the Suns, the Lakers struggle defensively. They rank 27th in defensive scoring (110.5) and 29th in defensive field-goal percentage (47.8). G Lou Williams averages 18.4 points. The Lakers have split two games with the Suns this season, both played in Los Angeles.