Phoenix
Suns

This late-season stretch was defined by sheer, unadulterated offensive volume, as Booker carried a massive scoring burden while his efficiency wildly fluctuated. He reached his absolute peak during a 03/12 vs IND shootout, pouring in 43 points on 31 shot attempts to generate a staggering +40.0 Impact score. While taking 31 shots might seem reckless, his relentless downhill aggression kept the entire offense afloat. However, that same green light occasionally hurt his squad, as seen on 03/13 vs TOR. Despite dropping 31 points in that contest, his utter failure to involve teammates—finishing with zero assists—dragged his Impact down to a modest +6.3. Conversely, Booker found ways to salvage his value when his jumper abandoned him entirely. During an ugly 03/21 vs MIL matchup, he shot a miserable 4-for-17 from the floor but still scraped out a +1.7 Impact score by shifting into a pure facilitator role and dishing out seven assists.

Mark Williams defined this twenty-game stretch with extreme peaks of hyper-efficient interior dominance interrupted by brief bouts of passivity. On 01/28 vs BKN, he eviscerated the defense for 27 points on blistering 13-of-16 shooting, generating a massive +26.5 impact score purely through unstoppable rim finishing. Yet, the big man does not always need to fill the scoring column to alter a game's geometry. During an inefficient 11-point, 4-of-12 shooting night on 02/19 vs SAS, he still managed a +10.0 impact because his unrelenting effort on the glass secured 10 crucial rebounds. Conversely, when his motor stalls and he fails to anchor the paint, his overall value plummets. Just look at his outing on 02/11 vs OKC, where he grabbed a measly single rebound in 16 minutes, dragging his impact down to -3.9 despite missing only one shot all night.

A chaotic blend of blistering offensive eruptions and cringe-inducing shooting slumps defined this mid-season stretch for Dillon Brooks. He caught absolute fire on 01/29 vs DET, pouring in 40 points on a highly efficient 13-of-22 from the floor. Because he paired that deadly perimeter accuracy with relentless physical play, his impact score skyrocketed to a staggering +42.4. His shot selection, however, frequently devolved into outright chucking. Just look at 02/10 vs DAL. Despite logging 23 points, his impact was a muted +4.3 because he needed an absurd 26 field goal attempts to get there, including a brutal 1-of-10 from three-point range. The hidden costs of his erratic trigger finger were even more damaging on 02/03 vs POR, where he posted a dismal -7.0 impact score. His 3-of-16 shooting performance completely derailed the offense, offering zero secondary playmaking to salvage a disastrous night.

Grayson Allen’s mid-season stretch was defined by his jarring transition into a high-volume, erratic bench gunner. He operated with an absolute green light, which yielded wild fluctuations in his actual value on the floor. During the game on 02/21 vs ORL, he hoisted a staggering 14 three-point attempts, hitting just four of them en route to 27 points. Yet, he still managed a +16.1 Impact score because his aggressive floor-spacing and seven crucial rebounds kept possessions alive. That exact same trigger-happy approach severely backfired on 03/31 vs ORL. Allen tallied just 10 points on a dismal 4-for-14 from the floor, earning a -12.6 Impact score as his poor shot selection and lack of playmaking actively derailed the offense. He finally found a healthier balance on 04/05 vs CHI. Though he scored a meager six points, his +3.5 Impact score reflected a disciplined outing where he created non-scoring value by grabbing five rebounds and keeping the ball moving instead of forcing bad looks.

A volatile mix of blistering scoring outbursts and hollow volume defined Jalen Green's late-season stretch. When his jumper was falling, he looked utterly unstoppable, perfectly illustrated on 03/29 vs UTA. Green erupted for 31 points in a mere 22 minutes, converting 13 of his 22 attempts to post a staggering +29.9 Impact score driven by elite shot-making. However, his shot selection often betrayed him on nights when his touch faded. Look at the 04/05 vs CHI contest, where he poured in 25 points but actually registered a -0.9 Impact. That high-scoring illusion was dragged down by the hidden costs of needing 21 field goal attempts to get there, including a rough 2-for-7 mark from beyond the arc that stalled offensive momentum. Fortunately, he found his rhythm again on 04/17 vs GSW, torching the defense for 36 points on hyper-efficient 14-of-20 shooting to generate a massive +36.6 Impact.

A brutal, prolonged shooting slump defined Collin Gillespie's late-season stretch, eventually forcing his demotion to the bench. His perimeter inefficiency reached a terrifying nadir on Mar 29 vs UTA. During that catastrophic outing, an 0-for-8 nightmare from deep completely derailed the offense and earned him a disastrous -17.5 impact score. Even when his shot actually fell, hidden costs often dragged him into the red. He poured in 24 points on Mar 08 vs CHA, yet still posted a -1.8 impact score because his lackluster defensive metrics erased his scoring contributions. However, Gillespie occasionally managed to salvage his floor time through sheer grit. On Apr 10 vs LAL, he logged a +5.0 impact score despite scoring just five points, relying entirely on steady defensive positioning and high-level hustle plays to generate value. Ultimately, no amount of scrappy loose-ball recoveries could mask the fact that his erratic shot selection actively harmed the team's spacing.

Jordan Goodwin spent the back half of the season oscillating between the bench and the starting five, carving out a gritty niche as a rebounding guard who rarely needed a hot hand to swing a game. Look at the 03/19 vs SAS matchup. He managed an abysmal five points on 2-for-9 shooting, yet still posted a +6.5 Impact score by crashing the glass for eight rebounds and grinding out extra possessions. Conversely, empty offensive nights occasionally dragged down his overall effectiveness. During the 04/14 vs POR contest, Goodwin dropped an efficient 12 points but registered a -1.7 Impact score, a dip fueled by zero assists and a failure to elevate his teammates on the floor. When he finally married his signature hustle with a pure shooting stroke, the results were devastating. He capped off this stretch on 04/17 vs GSW with 19 points and nine rebounds, generating a staggering +34.4 Impact score to absolutely bury Golden State.

Royce O'Neale’s late-season stretch was defined by a late-March demotion to the bench and maddeningly erratic two-way execution. Even when his shot was falling, hidden costs routinely destroyed his overall value. Look at Mar 06 vs NOP, where he tallied 11 points but posted a disastrous -17.7 impact score due to invisible defense and a complete lack of secondary effort. Similarly, a scorching 5-for-8 shooting display from deep on Mar 12 vs IND still yielded a -5.2 impact because he bled points on the other end of the floor. Moving to the second unit eventually forced him to stop hunting shots and focus entirely on the dirty work. This shift peaked on Apr 14 vs POR, where he scored just seven points but generated a massive +13.8 impact. Instead of forcing offensive volume, he suffocated opponents with game-wrecking defensive execution that earned him a +10.2 defensive rating. When O'Neale accepts his identity as a defensive pest rather than a perimeter volume shooter, he remains a highly effective rotation piece.

Ighodaro's late-season stretch was defined by extreme offensive efficiency as a rim-runner, though his overall value fluctuated wildly based on his defensive engagement. He exploded out of the gate on Mar 03 vs SAC, posting a massive +17.3 impact score off the bench by dominating the painted area with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and superb screen-setting. Yet, raw scoring numbers frequently masked underlying defensive liabilities. During the Mar 24 vs DEN matchup, he poured in 15 points on near-perfect 6-for-7 shooting, but hidden negative values in the margins dragged him down to a -2.7 impact score. Conversely, he found ways to salvage his minutes when his offensive volume completely dried up. On Mar 16 vs BOS, Ighodaro managed just 4 points but still generated a +4.2 impact score because his tremendous defensive rotations and high-end hustle (+5.0) kept the unit afloat. When he anchors the defense and sets hard screens, he is a highly effective rotation big, but any lapse in positional awareness renders his flawless finishing entirely hollow.

Ryan Dunn's late-season stretch was an exercise in extreme volatility, fluctuating wildly between being a complete offensive zero and a dynamic, game-changing forward. During the 03/05 vs CHI matchup, he scored just six points but still posted a massive +11.5 Impact score. That stellar rating stemmed entirely from his relentless work on the glass, as he ripped down 11 rebounds and utilized high-energy defensive effort to compensate for a quiet shooting night. He finally put the entire package together during the 04/12 vs OKC contest, erupting for 20 points, 11 boards, and five assists. By pairing hyper-efficient 8-for-11 shooting from the floor with his usual hustle, he generated a staggering +16.0 Impact mark. Yet, even when his shot was falling, hidden costs occasionally dragged down his value, which happened on 02/26 vs LAL. Despite chipping in 10 points, severe defensive lapses and empty possessions saddled him with a -1.9 Impact score. To earn permanent starter minutes, Dunn must smooth out these wildly erratic swings.

Jamaree Bouyea’s late-season stretch was defined by weeks of offensive irrelevance buried at the end of the bench, abruptly interrupted by a single, out-of-nowhere marathon start. When given an extended look as a reserve on 04/10 vs LAL, he was actively detrimental to the offense. He logged 27 minutes but managed just 4 points on dismal 1-for-7 shooting. This resulted in a brutal -11.4 Impact score, as his poor shot selection completely stalled out possessions. Two days later on 04/12 vs OKC, Bouyea shocked everyone. Thrust into the starting lineup, he poured in 27 points and dished out 9 assists over 40 minutes to earn a +5.8 Impact score. That positive mark stemmed directly from his aggressive 12-for-23 shooting and sharp playmaking, which finally generated genuine offensive rhythm. Normalcy quickly returned, however, as he logged just a single scoreless minute on 04/17 vs GSW, yielding a -9.2 Impact score because his brief cameo offered zero offensive pressure.

Rasheer Fleming spent the twilight of the season trapped in a miserable shooting slump that repeatedly torpedoed his team's second unit. During an abysmal 04/10 vs LAL appearance, he dragged the offense into the mud by bricking five of his six three-point attempts, resulting in a disastrous -16.6 Impact score. He occasionally found his rhythm, logging a +11.7 Impact on 03/22 vs TOR by pairing 11 points with seven hard-nosed rebounds to anchor the bench. Yet, even when his raw scoring totals looked respectable, erratic decisions plagued his minutes. Look at his outing on 03/31 vs ORL. He managed 11 points in just 16 minutes, but still posted a -3.1 Impact because his trigger-happy 1-for-5 perimeter shooting killed crucial possessions. When a reserve bleeds this much value on a nightly basis, firing up contested jumpers is a quick ticket out of the rotation.

This stretch of the season was defined by Amir Coffey largely running empty cardio at the end of the rotation. During a dismal 02/19 vs SAS outing, he logged 12 minutes without scoring a single point, resulting in a brutal -10.7 Impact score because his total lack of offensive aggression allowed defenders to completely ignore him. He briefly found his footing off the bench on 02/22 vs POR. Though he only scored 8 points, Coffey generated a stellar +8.4 Impact score by actively crashing the glass for 4 rebounds and keeping the offense flowing with 4 assists. Unfortunately, that two-way energy quickly evaporated into a string of invisible, single-digit minute appearances where he was a total non-factor. Even when he finally earned a spot start on 04/12 vs OKC and poured in 17 points, his overall influence resulted in a surprisingly muted +2.3 Impact score. While the scoring burst looked nice on paper, his value was capped because he required 14 shot attempts to get there and failed to generate the defensive stops needed to truly swing the game.

Khaman Maluach’s late-season stretch was defined by extreme volatility, oscillating wildly between deep-bench irrelevance and dominant flashes on the glass. Earning a rare start during the 04/08 vs DAL matchup, the big man only managed four points but still generated a massive +8.2 Impact score. That lofty rating stemmed entirely from his sheer willpower in the paint, as he vacuumed up 14 rebounds and created crucial extra possessions through relentless hustle. He followed that up just a few days later with an absolute masterclass during the 04/12 vs OKC contest. Logging 29 minutes off the bench, Maluach exploded for 18 points and 14 boards, driving a staggering +14.9 Impact score by pairing his usual rebounding dominance with highly efficient shot selection. Yet, his floor time remained incredibly fickle. During the 03/24 vs DEN game, he was practically played off the court in just 11 minutes, posting a dismal -9.8 Impact score because he grabbed a single rebound and offered terrible defensive resistance inside.

Nick Richards spent this fifteen-game stretch devolving from a highly effective bench bruiser into an overexposed spot-starter. Operating primarily as a reserve early on, he routinely dominated the glass to generate immense value without demanding offensive touches. During a gritty tilt vs PHX on 03/05, Richards scored just 9 points but still posted a +3.8 impact score by swallowing up 11 rebounds and doing the necessary dirty work inside. Unfortunately, his overall effectiveness cratered whenever his scoring volume increased at the expense of his rebounding. Look no further than his outing vs LAL on 03/12. He tallied 15 points on highly efficient shooting, yet registered a dismal -5.4 impact score because he grabbed a meager four boards and gave up easy baskets on the other end. By the time he was thrust into the starting lineup in late March, the physical toll was obvious. A brutal start vs PHI on 03/25 yielded just two points and a disastrous -13.9 impact score, forcing an early hook after a mere nine minutes of action.

This twelve-game stretch was a masterclass in sheer on-court invisibility. Livers essentially operated as a ghost for the second unit, logging empty minutes without making a tangible dent in the box score. His staggering -14.4 impact score on 02/03 vs POR wasn't born from reckless turnovers, but rather from a total refusal to engage offensively, finishing with zero points and zero field goal attempts in nine minutes of pure cardio. Even when he finally decided to force the issue, the results were brutal. During a stretch-high 15-minute stint on 02/21 vs ORL, he bricked all four of his shot attempts and failed to record a single assist. That glaring offensive ineptitude dragged his impact down to an abysmal -11.1 for the night, as his inability to convert looks actively handicapped his team's spacing. By the time he jogged through a hollow one-minute cameo on 03/17 vs MIN, his rotation spot had completely evaporated into garbage-time irrelevance.

This nine-game stretch was defined by pure garbage-time irrelevance. Hayes-Davis simply could not find any rhythm off the end of the bench. During a six-minute stint on 12/24 vs LAL, he missed both of his field goal attempts and generated a dismal -11.2 impact score. Even when he managed to knock down a pair of shots for five points on 12/31 vs CLE, his overall impact score remained stuck in the red at -4.0. That negative rating despite perfect shooting stems from his absolute failure to anchor defensive rotations or facilitate for teammates during those fleeting appearances. The bottom fell out completely on 01/30 vs CLE. He logged three empty minutes with zero counting stats, suffering a brutal -11.9 impact score because his passive positioning actively bogged down the floor spacing. When a fringe forward cannot manage even a neutral impact during low-leverage mop-up duty, it becomes painfully obvious why his playing time is capped.