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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTyler Ulis on Suns' loss to Magic | 1:13

Suns point guard Tyler Ulis reacts to Friday's home loss to the Magic.

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Eric Bledsoe is out, maybe UCLA's Lonzo Ball is in? | 1:55

Kent Somers and Jay Dieffenbach discuss the Suns' decision to shut down Eric Bledsoe for the season and the possibility of them getting UCLA's Lonzo Ball? Video: azcentral sports

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWhy the Spurs desperately need the No. 1 seed | 2:03

USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick tells us why the Spurs will be hard-pressed to secure the top seed in the Western Conference.
USA TODAY Sports

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBig-name free agents this summer | 1:20

HoopsHype writer Alex Kennedy discusses some of the players who will be free agents this summer.
USA TODAY Sports

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSAlan Williams on why he was disappointed in loss to Kings | 0:36

Suns center Alan Williams, who scored 14 points and had 11 rebounds, explains why he thinks he should have played better.

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBlazers guards Lillard, McCollum on Suns coach Watson | 1:03

Portland Trail Blazers guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum discuss how they were affected by playing with Suns coach Earl Watson, following Sunday's Portland win over Phoenix. Doug Haller/azcentral sports

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSuns' Devin Booker on buzzer-beater to beat Mavericks | 1:25

Suns guard Devin Booker discusses his game-winning play to beat the Mavericks in Dallas on Saturday. Doug Haller/azcentral sports

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Suns-Lakers, tanking, Pac-12 picks | 1:54

azcentral sports' Sarah McLellan and Doug Haller discuss the Suns' loss to the Lakers, tanking for best possible draft pick and the Pac-12 basketball semifinals.

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSDevin Booker on loss to Lakers | 1:15

Suns guard Devin Booker reacts to Thursday night's loss to the Lakers.

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs | 1:59

azcentral sports' Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley break down the NBA MVP race and a possible reunion in the Cardinals defensive backfield.

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNBA player makes $415,000 for two hours | 0:27

Jose Calderon made 415K for two hours and he didn't even play. Veuer's Nick Cardona explains why.
Buzz60

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSAlan 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)

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WATCH THE LATEST SUNS AND NBA VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSuns '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

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  • Tyler Ulis on Suns' loss to Magic


    Tyler Ulis on Suns' loss to Magic

  • Shot Clock: Eric Bledsoe is out, maybe UCLA's Lonzo Ball is in?


    Shot Clock: Eric Bledsoe is out, maybe UCLA's Lonzo Ball is in?

  • Why the Spurs desperately need the No. 1 seed


    Why the Spurs desperately need the No. 1 seed

  • Big-name free agents this summer


    Big-name free agents this summer

  • Alan Williams on why he was disappointed in loss to Kings


    Alan Williams on why he was disappointed in loss to Kings

  • Blazers guards Lillard, McCollum on Suns coach Watson


    Blazers guards Lillard, McCollum on Suns coach Watson

  • Suns' Devin Booker on buzzer-beater to beat Mavericks


    Suns' Devin Booker on buzzer-beater to beat Mavericks

  • Shot Clock: Suns-Lakers, tanking, Pac-12 picks


    Shot Clock: Suns-Lakers, tanking, Pac-12 picks

  • Devin Booker on loss to Lakers


    Devin Booker on loss to Lakers

  • Shot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs


    Shot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs

  • NBA player makes $415,000 for two hours


    NBA player makes $415,000 for two hours

  • Alan Williams watching his mother's police chief ceremony


    Alan Williams watching his mother's police chief ceremony

  • Suns 'embrace youth' in WeArePHX 'Momentum' video


    Suns 'embrace youth' in WeArePHX 'Momentum' video

The Suns have shut down two-thirds of their starting five and their top guard off the bench. Even so, coach Earl Watson said there's still much to be gained over the season's final 14 games.

"There’s not a switch you just flip on,'' Watson said before Friday's game against Orlando in downtown Phoenix. "I don’t know how to even think that way. I don’t how that even works, but you can't say you have a young core and not try to teach them how to win every game. I can't come in next fall and say, 'It’s time to win.'"

With an eye on the future and the playoffs off the radar, the Suns shut down center Tyson Chandler and sixth man Brandon Knight at the All-Star break. This week, they did the same to Eric Bledsoe, their leading scorer and playmaker. This has made the development of rookie point guard Tyler Ulis, rookie forward Derrick Jones Jr. and second-year big man Alan Williams a top priority.

RELATED:Suns GM explains decision to shut down Bledsoe

An encouraging sign: After Wednesday's loss to Sacramento, guard Devin Booker got Ulis and rookie forward Marquese Chriss on the Talking Stick Resort Arena practice court, where they worked an extra hour.

"It’s refreshing, to be honest,'' Watson said. "It’s late in the season. (Development coach) Mehmet Okur came to me and we went down and just watched, giving them space and, at the same time, support. We watched them get their shots and routine going without interfering. Okur said, 'I wish I had a best friend like him.' I said, 'Who?' He said, 'Booker.' Because most guys would be like, 'Hey, man, let’s just go home,' or 'Let’s go eat.' That’s when you know there’s something special, and it’s good to see for our young guys."

Even with Bledsoe out, the Suns don't plan to move Knight back into the rotation. The backup guard was available Wednesday but said he couldn't go because of back spasms. Moving forward, it appears that option is off the table. Watson said Friday that the Suns would continue to play their young players and that Knight – under contract three more years – wouldn't play the rest of the season.

Watson's immediate focus is getting Ulis ready for extended minutes, an effort that stretches off the court.

"The test is truly, 'Can your body recover?'" Watson said.  "When you go home, how do you take care of your body? We all know we leave here kind of late. Do you stop and pick up a cheeseburger? Do you go home and try to refuel your body in the right way? With Tyler being smaller and being a rookie, he has to make sure he’s on point outside of basketball, resting icing, limiting a lot of social activity."

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Short-handed

In addition to Chandler, Knight and Bledsoe, the Suns played Friday without veteran guard Leandro Barbosa, out with illness. That gave the Suns just nine available players against the Magic.

Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller. 




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