Phx-Suns.Net

If there's been a positive for Phoenix in recent games, it's been the play of their three prized rookies -- Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender and Tyler Ulis.

Chriss had his best two-game sequence of the season last week, scoring 12 and 13 points in losses at Houston and San Antonio.

Bender recorded his first career double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds) last Monday at Houston, and followed that up with 10 points at San Antonio.

And Ulis has played so well the last two games (16 points on 7-for-13 shooting), he's been phasing veteran Brandon Knight out of the regular rotation.

Suns veteran P.J. Tucker has been impressed of late with Bender, the 19-year-old who had totaled only 59 points in the Suns' first 30 games after having been the No. 4 overall pick in the June draft.

"He's coming out and playing hard," Tucker told reporters after Saturday's loss at Utah. "He listens. As a rookie, that's all you can ask for."

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:Interested to see whether the recent reduction in minutes for Knight is a long-term trend. (Yes please?)

carey wrote:

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote:Interested to see whether the recent reduction in minutes for Knight is a long-term trend. (Yes please?)

I think that largely depends on Knight. Watson has had him on a short leash.

Gladiator wrote:I'm a little concerned that we might be tempted to lean heavily on the vets in an attempt to score a win against a team with a winning record

Cap wrote:

Gladiator wrote:I'm a little concerned that we might be tempted to lean heavily on the vets in an attempt to score a win against a team with a winning record

I'm concerned if we lean on Tucker, Chandler and Knight, because they're little better, if at all, than their younger counterparts. Bleds and Dudley are OK.