Phoenix Suns’ Josh Jackson aims to remain aggressive without turnovers

When Suns coach Earl Watson compared rookie forward Josh Jackson to Russell Westbrook, when Westbrook was a rookie in Oklahoma City, he meant it as a compliment.

Like Westbrook, Jackson is an elite athlete who plays with great energy and can fill up a box score. Through three preseason games Jackson is averaging 13 points and five rebounds per game and, encouragingly, is shooting 60 percent from 3-point range.

But Jackson also is averaging 5.7 turnovers per contest, a result of, like Westbrook, sometimes playing too fast for his own good.

“It’s different from college because it’s more of a thinking game,” Jackson said. “A lot of things out there I see happening on the court it’s just read and react. As an offensive player you have to be able to know what you have to do off what they give you.”

Jackson’s turnover rate is not atypical. As he said: “It’s part of the process. It just takes time and maturity.”

Watson said Monday that he’d like to see Jackson “slow down and make good decisions.” But it’s a fine line. Phoenix doesn’t want Jackson playing cautiously. If he’s going to make a mistake, make it playing hard and then learn from it.

“A lot of my turnovers have come from not being able to read what the defense is doing and trying to force a play when it wasn’t there,” Jackson said. “You can still play fast while doing all those things at the same time.”

One of the attributes the Suns like most about Jackson is that he’s a quick learner. The mistakes he’s making in the preseason, they believe, will help him in the regular season.

“I think that’s the best way to learn,” Jackson said. “Get out there and be able to make the mistakes, get back out there and get another shot at it.”

Hinting at lineup?

Watson said that if everyone’s healthy – T.J. Warren sat out Wednesday’s game with a back contusion – he’ll likely go with his regular-season starting lineup in Friday’s preseason finale against the Brisbane Bullets.

Watson wouldn’t divulge what that lineup will look like but he seemed to give a hint that Tyson Chandler will be his starting center with this statement: 

“As we saw through preseason we need veteran leadership to start the game,” Watson said. “Our starts have been challenging. We need guys out there who have been there and done that.”

Outsiders’ view

TNT held a conference call with NBA analysts Reggie Miller and Chris Webber on  Wednesday to preview the season. Here’s what they had to say about the Suns:

Miller: “You build around Devin Booker. To me he is probably a top-five shooting guard at such a young age. You go out and draft a defensive specialist and all-around great player at Kansas in Josh Jackson. What are my expectations for the Phoenix Suns in the loaded Western Conference? They’re looking at a lottery pick again. It’s probably going to be hard knocks for the Phoenix Suns but they do have young talent in Booker and Jackson to build around.”

Webber: “Now is the time for Phoenix fans to earn their stripes so when success comes five, six, seven years down the road they can say don’t jump on the bandwagon. I think they’re building the right way. We’ve seen teams make a gamble after older players and maybe they handicap their franchise for the next two, three or four seasons. I think patience is something that can be appreciated. They’re going to need a lot of patience this year because it’s going to be trying times for a young team.”

Bennett, Jok waived

The Suns waived former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett and shooting guard Peter Jok Wednesday. Neither had played in the preseason and both are expected to join the NAZ Suns of the G-League. Phoenix has 18 players on its roster. Teams can carry up to 15 players in the regular season.

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