3 targets for Jalen Suggs this season as he returns from injury

Tighten up his handle

Much of Jalen Suggs’ struggles have been with the ball in his hands.

The young guard has not looked assured or calm enough to be the lead offensive initiator during the games he has played and was often too predictable for opposing defenses to read.

A lot of this is because of his handle.

Suggs is not a bad ball-handler by any means, but if he is to get to the level that he is capable of and wants to become the Orlando Magic’s lead guard, it has to get considerably better.

Across 21 games, Suggs has averaged 3.2 turnovers per game and has had multiple four or five turnover games already this year. The team needs him to take better care of the ball, and improving his handle is the biggest way he can do that.

High turnover rates are not unusual for rookies. They often make the wrong decision or try to do things they are not yet capable of.

But Suggs is different in that he looks to be a very smart player. He knows where to be, does not make a ton of bad shots or passes, and it looks like he knows his role on the team. The thing that has let him down is his dribbling ability.

Not only does it lead to turnovers, but it makes it more difficult to get to the spots he wants to get to on the court. Suggs has the potential to be a very good shot creator and is better than simply being a catch-and-shoot guard or defensive specialist.

It will take plenty of practice, but the former Gonzaga guard has the time to get his handle to the level it needs to be at.