The Phoenix Suns have lost four straight games due to injuries to Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. However, the Suns’ final Big Three member, Devin Booker, has not delivered to expectations. He averages 24 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while playing 36.6 minutes. The figures on the surface may not appear to be tough, but his shooting percentages indicate otherwise. The two-time All-NBA guard’s shooting percentages of 43.4% from the field and 35.5% from three appear to be off.
Beal and Durant have been Phoenix’s most efficient scorers this season. Durant has shot 55/42/83 from the field, three-point range and the charity stripe. On the other hand, Beal has shot 47/38/80 from those three zones. While the other two Suns stars have maintained their efficiency, Booker has not.
However, Beal and Durant have missed time, whereas Booker has played every game. In the three games without the two stars, he’s been stymied in almost every possession. Although Booker dropped a bomb on the double-teams, it isn’t helping his efficiency.
He specialises in game closing. This season, however, it has been Durant’s show. He has the seventh highest number of clutch points in the NBA. He has 35 of them while shooting an astounding 12-of-19 from the field. Booker has been exactly the contrary. The shooting guard has 15 clutch points but shoots 33.3%. It’s unusual for Booker to not be clutch in those circumstances.
Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal returns will benefit Devin Booker, Suns
Both Beal and Durant bring a unique approach to putting the ball in the basket. Surprisingly, neither player follows Booker’s example. Beal is really skilled off the dribble and going downhill. His ability to stop on a dime and make a difficult shot is very impressive. While he can shoot from the midrange, he’s been more consistent from the three-point line this season.
Durant, on the other hand, has continued to do what he has done for so many years: capitalise on a mismatch. Whether scoring on isolation or off the dribble, the 6’10 Durant can shoot and score over anyone. Those two are great, but Booker’s scoring is similar but extremely different.
Booker is one of the NBA’s finest post-up guards. He derives a lot of inspiration from his idol, Kobe Bryant. In addition, his pick-and-roll skills have greatly improved since his rookie season. When the screen appears, he will either switch to the big and go into isolation or get his original defender on his hip. A foul is likely called, or he makes a fadeaway-mid-range shot.
Devin Booker’s slow start has highlighted positives for Suns
Despite the inefficiency and scoring slump, Booker’s confidence in his teammates is at an all-time high. The 6.5 assists per game and career-low 2.1 turnovers per game are noteworthy. That confidence has resulted in everyone having a piece of the Suns pie. Booker’s difficulties are made less worrying by the fact that his team has two dynamic scoring threats. Regardless, the longest-tenured Phoenix player’s scoring discrepancies were clearly visible.
He’s had games where he demonstrated his scoring talent. However, some of these have come at the expense of his teammates’ opportunities to shoot. Some teams have enabled others to beat them, while others have allowed Booker to score whenever he wants. For example, he scored 44 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday with impressive efficiency. Many of his shots were hotly debated, but he had the upper hand.
Booker has improved his scoring habits since returning for Phoenix’s six-game homestand. Despite struggling against the Orlando Magic, the NBA’s strongest defensive team, he caught fire against the New York Knicks. He scored 33 points while shooting 52%. Many of his shots came off the dribble, pick-and-rolls, and isolation plays.
While Booker will return to his former ways, the start of the season has not gone well for the all-star. Booker detailed what the Suns require during their five-day vacation. The majority of it involves rest. Hopefully, a rested Booker and company will flick the switch and resume their winning ways to begin the season.
