Phoenix Suns' Robin Lopez falls short of expectations this season

The Suns can't help but wonder where their athletic starting center went.

Entering the season, there was no bigger X-factor for the Suns than Robin Lopez, especially after he improved late last season before suffering a back injury.

The Suns hoped that would carry over, but it has not come close to happening, to the point that his continued starting role is ceremonial before Marcin Gortat plays the bulk of center minutes.

Lopez averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game last season and is playing and producing less this season, getting 7.2 points and 3.5 rebounds entering Tuesday night. His shooting percentage dipped from 59 percent to 51 percent, but that is because he has taken more mid-range shots, an area of improvement in his game.

"That's probably been the biggest mystery for our team," coach Alvin Gentry said when asked why Lopez's progression has stopped. "In actuality, we really thought that he would probably be the second-most-important guy on our team, especially if he took a big leap. I'm not real sure if it's the injury or what, but he hasn't been able to give us the consistent play that we thought we'd be able to get from him.

"We could use it. It's something that has hurt us a bit. We haven't really had much inside play. Gortat gives us some. Other than that, we've been pretty much resigned to the fact that we're a perimeter team. That hurts you when you're going to rely on jump shots night in and night out, even as good of a shooting team as we are."

Lopez, who turns 23 on April 1, began Tuesday's game with an offensive rebound that he could not put back on two tries, failing to rise and getting his shot blocked for the fourth time in the past three games. His vertical leap has decreased.

"It's progressing along," Lopez said of his health. "It's feeling better than it was before."

Gentry said Lopez maintains he is fine physically.

"One of the things that I thought had been a great thing was he was one of the big men that had great athleticism," Gentry said.

"He's struggled in that department a bit. I'm not sure if he's completely healthy and not saying that. It's not the type of year he anticipated or we anticipated."

Lopez said he has adjusted to his role of starting the game for about six minutes and coming off the bench for about six minutes in the third quarter.

"I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable with everything that's gone down," Lopez said. "It's great for the team. I think I bring a boost of energy wherever I need to, the beginning or the middle.

"I go out there, get my hits in, get my shots up and try to wear people down and (Gortat) goes in to do his thing."