Paul Coro

Arizona Republic

Marquese Chriss’ dunks are enthralling.

His shooting, ball-handling and passing ability are fascinating for a player in only his sixth year of organized basketball.

His defense, however, is the Suns’ primary focus for his future.

As a raw 19-year-old thrust into starting the past 18 games, that potential might not always be obvious for as often as he fouls or gets caught in the wrong spot. The front office saw it in scouting. The staff sees it in on-court flashes and work habits.

Chriss is intelligently unique and an athletic freak with a nasty streak and growing physique. Suns coach Earl Watson has seen enough to tell Chriss that his goal should be to become an NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“Marquese Chriss has to become our Draymond Green,” Watson said, referencing Golden State’s edgy, versatile defensive star. “And I think he gave you an example or a flash of what that can be, as far as getting the flagrant, protecting his teammate (Tuesday against New York when he shoved Kristaps Porzingis, who had knocked over Eric Bledsoe). I have no problems with that. We need a presence on the court that brings a fight to our team that is kind of contagious. It builds unity, it builds momentum.”

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Chriss left the game with five fouls only three minutes into the second half, but Watson went back to him with 8:54 left in regulation. Chriss played 11:13 of the game’s final 13:54, which included overtime, without fouling out. He already had posted his season’s first double-double in the first half and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“I’m glad he trusts me in that type of situation with five fouls and I followed through for him,” Chriss said.

Chriss does not have to look far for a Defensive Player of the Year example. Tyson Chandler, the award’s 2011-12 winner, is his locker-room neighbor and mentors him as much as he does Alex Len to the other side of him.

Chandler’s discussions go beyond defense because he recognizes the chip that Chriss carries on the court. Chriss’ sneers, stare downs and squabbles with officials look familiar for a guy who also came into the league as a teenager.

“I try to talk to him as much as possible,” Chandler said. “It’s almost daily. I was the same. I was so passionate. It’s like you’re either super over-the-edge or you’re too reserved because you don’t want to go there. It’s just about focusing and locking in on plays, just going hard on plays, not getting too caught up in the refs or not getting too caught up in another player on the other team or even a play that happened and didn’t go our way. You’ve got to lock in on each play because every play is going to be different and if you give the effort, it puts together a full game.”

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Chriss has been eased into the starting role, usually kept to fewer than 20 minutes. But on Tuesday, he played a season-high 31 minutes and took 12 shots, his second-highest total of the season.

His overtime chase-down block on Justin Holiday could have been a game-turner if the Knicks had not followed it with a go-ahead 3-pointer.

“We want him to be intimidating since he plays so high above the rim,” Watson said. “We don’t want to really reveal how he’s really nice. You talk to him in person, he’s a typical 19-year-old. He’s the nicest guy on our team. He has a big heart. On the court, we want him to turn into something else, which is just a beast in the lane. Control the lane, dominate the paint and kind of take on Tyson’s younger personality. Because as he gets going and reminds Tyson what it was like to play with that fire with young legs, it spreads throughout the team, and that’s when you see the change of events defensively for our team.”

Chriss said being around Chandler’s intensity has been infectious for him, and that Watson’s defensive award goal-setting is motivating.

“It’s something the team needs me to do – just try to play defense my best and let the offense come as it goes,” Chriss said. “That’s something that I embrace.”

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The Suns assigned point guard Tyler Ulis and center Alan Williams to D-League affiliate Northern Arizona for a one-game stay Wednesday night in Prescott Valley.

With Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough, coach Earl Watson and some players on hand, Ulis and Williams joined Suns roster teammate Derrick Jones Jr. for a game against Santa Cruz but will be back with the parent club for Thursday’s game against San Antonio.

Free throws

Suns forward T.J. Warren remains questionable for Thursday’s game. It is up to Warren to decide when he is ready to return after missing 12 games for a minor head injury. He has practiced with the team Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.

Suns center Alex Len (right hip bruise) and guard Brandon Knight (left hand sprain) also are listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. Len missed Tuesday’s game against New York after suffering the injury in Sunday’s game against New Orleans. Knight suffered his injury Tuesday, when he was four for 11 from the field for 14 points in 20 minutes.

Reach Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him atwww.twitter.com/paulcoro.

Thursday’s game

Spurs at Suns

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR-FM (98.7).

Spurs update: San Antonio (19-5) is 13-1 away from home after taking its first road loss of the season last week at Chicago. Kawhi Leonard is following up his MVP runner-up season with more outstanding two-way play. He is averaging 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. LaMarcus Aldridge is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range to help his 16.5 scoring average. The Spurs shoot 40 percent on 3s as a team and rank as the No. 4 scoring defense, allowing 97.8 points per game.