Paul Coro

azcentral sports

When the Suns and Warriors met last month, Golden State’s Draymond Green was waiting to check into the game when he told Suns coach Earl Watson that he liked what he was seeing in rookie Marquese Chriss.

Chriss’ edginess on the court reminded Green of himself.

Green was not so benevolent when the two faced off on a wing Saturday. With Chriss squared up defending and his hands low, Green ripped the ball through hoping to draw a foul. A whistle blew but it was an off-ball call against P.J. Tucker on Stephen Curry.

Thinking it was on him, Chriss pulled his hands back behind him and turned his body. As he is becoming known to do, Green kicked his leg in the air and his foot caught Chriss’ right pinky to where Chriss had to run to head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson to set it.

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“It’s kind of funny that it happens so much,” Chriss said of Green’s kicks, like Thursday’s boot to James Harden’s head. “I was frustrated at the time but just move on from it. It happens. It’s easy to avoid. In hindsight, you don’t have to kick your leg up in the air as frequently as it’s happening. It’s just something that needs to be addressed.”

In developing his own style, Chriss is showing a chip on his shoulder even as he gets experience against the NBA’s best, like Green, as a starter for the past 13 games. Chriss, 19, was the youngest NBA starter until Brandon Ingram moved into the Los Angeles Lakers’ first five recently.

The Suns are not overwhelming Chriss with responsibility in the role, keeping him to 17 minutes per game as a starter and asking him only to be an opportunistic scorer with pick-and-roll and fast-break slams or open perimeter shots. Chriss will offer a sneer, scowl or staredown in moments of success or conflict. He does not appear intimidated by stars he watched as a Sacramento high school senior two years ago.

“It’s not that we try to play like hard asses,” said Chriss, whose screen dropped Curry to the floor on the game’s opening play. “We just try to come into the game with a chip on our shoulder and just try to punch people in the mouth first.

“That’s the just the way I am. That’s the way Earl wants us to be. Play with a dog in us.”

Saturday’s blowout loss at Golden State afforded Chriss the chance to play a season-high 25 minutes. His best play came early when the Suns got off to a strong start, leading 14-10 when Chriss made a corner 3-pointer after he had come from the free-throw line for an earlier follow score.

But for a player whom Suns coach Earl Watson sets Defensive Player of the Year goals, the highlight play was when the Warriors were on a four-on-two fast break and Chriss used his left hand to block Green’s layup try. The Suns must live with moments like Chriss being late on Green’s previous roll off a screen to get the moments that propel his confidence.

“The biggest thing is hustling back. It gives me an opportunity to decide what I want to do and where I’m supposed to be at,” Chriss said of a block like that one on Green. “But if I’m stuck between running back and jogging, then I have to pick one. If I sprint back and can look at the offense coming at me, I have a choice on where I want to be at.”

Chriss remains a frequent fouler, like he was in college. He is averaging 6.8 fouls per 36 minutes and wants to avoid “and-one” calls like the ones he received Saturday on made baskets by Zaza Pachulia and Green. Watson takes a “next play” approach with Chriss to stop him from dwelling on mistakes or backing off in intensity.

Chriss has averaged 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds with 41.5 percent shooting since becoming a starter.

Chriss moves the ball crisply on offense, showing an understanding of how Watson wants it done. He has only five turnovers on passes this season.

“It’s a conscious effort I’m trying to make on the offensive end of spreading the ball,” Chriss said. “When I get the ball, don’t let it stick in my hand too long. I get my shot opportunities so just get the ball into our playmakers’ hands and let them go to work.”

Chriss and fellow rookies Dragan Bender and Tyler Ulis played the final 11 minutes Saturday together.

“They need all the time they can get when opportunity presents itself,” Watson said. “They played well. They played fearless. They hustle. They moved the ball. They shot the ball well. Dragan had a big play where he drove the ball to the basket and finished over KD (Kevin Durant). That’s a big step in his progression.

“Minutes will eventually go up. They’ll continue to play and put in the work and, over time, with them it’s just about development.”

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Warren increases activity

Suns forward T.J. Warren increased his activity recently with motion and drills added to his court work. Warren has been out since Nov. 18 with an unspecified minor head injury. The Suns are 2-5 in his absence.

“He’s working hard in individual workouts,” Watson said. “He looks great. Whenever he’s cleared to play, he’ll be ready to play.

“We need his energy. We need his presence. He’s having an amazing year. Getting him back into our lineup, I think will be big for us.”

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Watson on marijuana

After Golden State coach Steve Kerr admitted to trying marijuana to ease the painful side effects of a 2015 back surgery, Watson cautioned about acceptance of marijuana use being a “slippery slope” in an espn.com interview in Oakland.

“I think our rhetoric on it has to be very careful because you have a lot of kids where I'm from that's reading this, and they think (marijuana use is) cool,” Watson said. “It's not cool. Where I'm from, you don't get six fouls to foul out. You get three strikes. One strike leads to another.”

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

Tuesday’s game

Suns at Jazz

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City.

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

Jazz update: Utah had won five of six games entering Monday night’s game at the Los Angeles Lakers and boasted the top scoring defense (94.8 points allowed per game) and second-lowest opponent field-goal percentage (42.8) while ranking fourth in field-goal percentage (46.4). Gordon Hayward had consecutive games of 31, 32 and 32 points against Houston, Miami and Denver. George Hill is averaging 20.0 points on a 53.4 percent shooting but he did not travel to Los Angeles on Monday due to a toe sprain. Alec Burks (ankle) and Derrick Favors (knee) also have been out with injuries.