Short-handed Suns fall short against Pistons in Detroit

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. –  Jarell Eddie got the call just a few hours after his Windy City developmental team had lost to Austin in a Chicago suburb. A 6-foot-7 forward, Eddie had posted 12 points and four assists in a four-point loss and he was preparing for the next night’s contest at Canton.

Lying in bed, Eddie first talked with his agent. Then Suns management. The next afternoon, he boarded a flight at O’Hare International Airport and flew to Detroit, joining the Suns at their Rochester, Mich., hotel around 9 p.m. Signed to a 10-day contract, Eddie needed to get up to speed, but he had a significant advantage.

He knew Suns coach Earl Watson.

BOX SCORE: Pistons 112, Suns 95

The two had spent the 2014-15 season in Austin. Eddie was a first-year pro. Watson was an assistant coach. With that background, Eddie had an idea of what to expect offensively. Before Sunday’s contest against the Detroit Pistons, Eddie was among the first on the court, shooting 3s from around the arc. Later he sat courtside with Phoenix assistant video coordinator Julian Mills, watching plays on an iPod.

Not much later, Watson was asked during his pregame media session about Eddie. He’s a phenomenal shooter, the coach said. The type who can hit three or four in a row. Watson promised there’d be no learning period. Eddie, 25, would play right away.

“If I had a jersey, we’d have to use me, too,” Watson said. “We need all the bodies we can get. Some players are pretty much done for the season, other players are sick and injured, so he’s going to have an opportunity.”

**

With 12 games left in the regular season, this is where the Suns are. Against the Pistons, they had eight available players, including the one who had just joined them.

Guard Devin Booker was out with a right ankle issue. Veterans Leandro Barbosa (illness) and Ronnie Price (leg contusion) also couldn’t play. Those three joined center Tyson Chandler, guard Brandon Knight and point guard Eric Bledsoe, all shut down by management for (take your pick) health reasons, youth evaluation or potential draft position.

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For the record, Booker expects to return soon, maybe for Tuesday’s contest at Miami. His ankle just needed a day or two to heal. “I’m too young to be shut down,” Booker said.

Booker’s absence led to a Phoenix starting five of fourth-year center Alex Len, third-year forward T.J. Warren and three rookies, Tyler Ulis, Marquese Chriss and Derrick Jones Jr. Combined scoring average of the group: 37.9 points.

Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy still had concern.

“All these guys are excited to play, getting great opportunity and they’re getting great opportunity with no pressure,” he said. “As a player it’s almost the ideal situation, you get to go out and play. You got no pressure on you, nobody’s pulling you out of the game. Nobody’s going to be terribly upset if you lose a game, you can just go play. It actually makes those kinds of teams really, really dangerous late in the year.”

**

Eddie was Phoenix’s first sub, entering with five minutes left in the first quarter. Watson’s instructions were simple: Hit shots and defend.

Eddie was short on his first shot, a transition 3. His second attempt was an air ball. In the second quarter, the Virginia Tech product looked more comfortable. He drilled a 3 and then scored off a baseline cut. At halftime, the Suns led 49-47. Eddie led them with 10 points.

The Suns stretched their lead to 12 in the third quarter, but Detroit – fighting for an Eastern Conference playoff spot – rallied as expected.The Pistons scored 15 of 19 to pull within one. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a short jumper to knot the contest at 75-75. In the fourth quarter, Detroit blitzed the Suns, outscoring them 35-20 en route to a 112-95 win.

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Ulis led the Suns with 15 points and 11 assists. Warren contributed 15 points and six rebounds. Len had 11 and seven. For his first game, Eddie wasn’t bad. In 29 minutes, he scored 13 points, hitting 3 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the foul line.

For his first contest, out of necessity, the Suns had thrown him into the fire.

“That’s the best way to do it,” he said.