The Phoenix Suns' four-game preseason preparation gave cause for optimism. While the preseason is typically uneventful and serves as a warm-up for the long and demanding season ahead, you won't see any complicated offensive sets or overwhelming defensive schemes here. The star players will not play any significant minutes either.

What you're really hoping for in the preseason, even though you know the results don't matter, is growth. Especially with a new head coach at the helm, you want to see progress. A stronger mastery of the fundamentals and a sharper implementation of the fundamentals. The goal is continuous improvement.

Phoenix beat Denver 118-114 on Sunday night, but it wasn't the final result that impressed. They were the ones who were given extra time as all starters competed in street clothes. Let's get into it.

Let's start with Ryan Dunn, shall we?

Ryan Dunn. With the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, we had every hope that he could contribute. But he's a newbie. This is a team in win now mode. James Jones has no time for development. Every minute of every game must contribute to the common goal: winning a championship in 2024 with the core of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal intact.

But Ryan Dunn was different.

Sure, it's just preseason. These games don't count. Still, what we see from Dunn is more than impressive, it's groundbreaking.

Dunn, who was touted as the potential top defensive prospect in the draft, had a major flaw. He couldn't shoot. In his two years at the University of Virginia, he averaged 23.5% shooting from three-point range. As a Cavalier, he scored a total of 12 goals – 12 of 51. If he can achieve a 33% shooting rate in the NBA, he could be the pick of the draft.

Oh, snap!

Ryan Dunn went 6 of 11 from deep last night and scored 20 points in the win that doesn't count. But shooting is important! Dunn has now hit 12 of 27 goals from distance this preseason – a rate of 44.4% – and has attempted the most three-pointers on the team in four games.

Let the salivation begin. If Dunn can carry this into the regular season, there's no telling what Phoenix could be. Certainly maintaining a 44.4% shooting clip would be unrealistic. However, becoming a legitimate threat from three-point range makes a big difference – forcing the opponent to respect your shot and preventing them from giving in defensively. Add that to the defensive performance he's already shown and it's a huge win for him and the Suns squad.

Making this pick was a priority given the Suns' salary cap situation this offseason. Early returns are positive.

Bol Bol looked better

Heading into Sunday night's game against the Denver Nuggets, Bol appeared to be a step behind. In the first three games, his development and his mastery of the fundamentals have not yet worked properly. He seemed one step slow and one step back.

That's what preseason is for, but when even newbies understand concepts quicker, execute them, and process the game quicker, it raises a bit of an eyebrow. Just a small one. Like the eyebrow of the people. I'm not throwing my hands up in panic just yet.

His first three games? In 46 minutes, Bol had 2 of 9 shots and 0 of 5 from distance. He seemed to lose his rhythm.

On Sunday evening, Bol seemed to be getting back into form, although it took a while to get going. He scored 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting, including 4 of 6 from long range.

Bol fights for minutes, so those chances count. After doing a little research, I found this: Bol Bol gets better the more time he plays in a game.

Here's a look at how Bol performed offensively last season relative to the minutes he had available:

• 0-5 MP: 45.8 FG% (11 of 24), 0 3PT% (0 of 9)
• 10-15 MP: 61.4 FG% (27 of 44), 44.4 3PT% (8 of 18)
• 11+ MP: 60 FG% (24 of 40), 46.2 3PT% (6 of 13)

You might be saying to yourself, “Well, duh, Voita.” The point I want to make here is that Bol is a player who initially lacks confidence. He is hesitant. We saw it last night. The game started and on the first defensive possession, Bol didn't know who he was protecting.

He really needs time to warm up, both physically and mentally. Will this be a challenge for him as the season progresses as he competes for minutes with players who are more committed early on? Time will tell. But it is something to keep and keep in mind.

Hello Monte!

Monte Morris got the start last night and looked impressive. He effectively facilitated the offense and carefully chose when to be aggressive with his own goal. He shot 7 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 7 from distance, and finished with 20 points, 7 assists and just one turnover. This puts his assist-to-turnover ratio this preseason at an excellent 18:1.

I think we were all excited when the Suns signed him this offseason. The team finally got a quality backup point guard. Someone who values ​​ball security and has a career 39.1% shooting percentage from distance. The addition of Tyus Jones, who seems to be cut from the same cloth as Monte Morris, felt like a game-changer.

Last night highlighted the depth Morris brings to the table. And let's be honest: injuries are inevitable this season. The players will run out of time. But having someone like Morris who can step in and perform like he did in Denver makes the Suns a dangerous sleeper in the West.

My biggest takeaway from the Denver game was not only that Phoenix got a win, but also the development we experienced. Preseason wins, while encouraging, are ultimately secondary to the process of building chemistry and refining skills. What stood out was how players adapted to new roles, embraced the fundamentals, and contributed in meaningful ways.

It's these subtle, often overlooked moments – like improved decision-making, sharper defensive rotations and more fluid ball movement – that speak volumes about the team's potential. Such development lays the foundation for a successful season in which the victories will really count.

I'm interested to read what observations you have below.