Devin Booker scores franchise-record 70 points in loss to Celtics

[CardsSunsDbacks]

This is stupid. He talks about giving the young man his due, but then talks about the 70 being "gimmicked" in the same tweet. How hypocritical.

Again. It was down to a 10 point lead with 1:05 to go. I know Celts fans say the outcome was never in doubt, but two defensive stops and it would have gotten very uncomfortable for them. The David Robinson and David Thompson games were more gimmicked.

I think the "gimmicked" part of the tweet was referring to what other people were saying about it. I assume that is why it was in quotes.

 

[Yuma]

They did not go exclusively to Booker all the time during the second half, I can tell you that. In fact, there were many trips down the floor he did not even touch the ball at all. It was not until the last few minutes of the game that they ran some plays for him. Funny, he got fouled on purpose by some Celtics who did not want Booker to score on him. IT fouled him behind the three point line pretty hard, when Booker was falling backwards for a difficult three. From the body language, it looked like IT was like, no way you are gonna make this three on me. A gimmicked 70, to me, would have been if the Suns went exclusively to Booker on every play regardless the score, which if you watch the game is not what happened. They dumped the ball into Big Sauce for attempts, and Barbosa kept shooting it like he did not know what was going on in the game. Like I said, in the second half there were plenty of trips up the court where Booker did not even get a touch on the ball.

 

[Bert]

Guys it's a non issue. If it weren't for Isaiah Thomas and the other guy being salty little batches after the game, nobody would have called it gimmicked. Celtics fans didn't have a problem with it, they were going nuts for Dbook.

This is why I don't lament letting IT go, he was a whiney little wimp and nothing has changed.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Guys it's a non issue. If it weren't for Isaiah Thomas and the other guy being salty little batches after the game, nobody would have called it gimmicked. Celtics fans didn't have a problem with it, they were going nuts for Dbook.

This is why I don't lament letting IT go, he was a whiney little wimp and nothing has changed.

Yeah. I never was a huge fan of IT's outlook. He's incredibly talented, but he needs to be the focus of a team's offense to be most effective, and that gives a team a ceiling. He's in the perfect situation for his talents and it has made him an MVP candidate, but you still get the feeling (for me, it's reading articles and listening to Celtics fan Bill Simmons) that the Celtics still want to "upgrade" to Fultz or Ball and are a little hesitant to give him a huge contract.

 

[Bert]

Yeah. I never was a huge fan of IT's outlook. He's incredibly talented, but he needs to be the focus of a team's offense to be most effective, and that gives a team a ceiling. He's in the perfect situation for his talents and it has made him an MVP candidate, but you still get the feeling (for me, it's reading articles and listening to Celtics fan Bill Simmons) that the Celtics still want to "upgrade" to Fultz or Ball and are a little hesitant to give him a huge contract.

Ya they'll probably get through the first round, maybe even the 2nd but the tiny ball hog will get destroyed eventually.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah. I never was a huge fan of IT's outlook. He's incredibly talented, but he needs to be the focus of a team's offense to be most effective, and that gives a team a ceiling. He's in the perfect situation for his talents and it has made him an MVP candidate, but you still get the feeling (for me, it's reading articles and listening to Celtics fan Bill Simmons) that the Celtics still want to "upgrade" to Fultz or Ball and are a little hesitant to give him a huge contract.

IT is a little bit of a deal with the Devil. Like Carmelo and many other players before. He is good enough to make you good, but his liabilities limit the team's overall prospects. His huge liability is defense.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

IT is a little bit of a deal with the Devil. Like Carmelo and many other players before. He is good enough to make you good, but his liabilities limit the team's overall prospects. His huge liability is defense.

The Marty Schottenheimer of point guards?

I agree with this general concept. It's why I struggle on Tatum vs. Isaac for the Suns (if we don't get a top 3 pick).

I think it is very likely that Tatum will be a very productive NBA player. But will his skill set ever put the Suns over the top? I strongly question it.

Meanwhile, if Isaac develops to his potential he could be a real difference maker. Imagine Chriss, Isaac and Bender rotating in and out on defense, all capable of hitting the three! But I also think Isaac has a pretty good chance of never developing. (Same with Bender.)

Fultz and Jackson are the two prospects I see that offer the best of both worlds. Ball has some question marks, but the basketball purist in me would take him top 3 and ask questions later.

 

[Yuma]

Devin Booker is the first NBA player ever to finish a game with at least 70 points before he finished a game with at least 40 points.

 

[Yuma]

Devin Booker created, assisted or scored 83 of the @Suns 120 points in 44 minutes tonight against the Celtics.

7:40 PM - 24 Mar 2017

 

[Yuma]

Hey guys, I am having a hard time finding this stat, "How many NBA Players have scored 50 points in a half?" There are lists for complete games with 50, and the stat that Wilt had 59 in a half. There is a ton of information on most points in a quarter, lists of who have scored over 30 in a quarter, etc. Funny that it is hard to find this out about who has scored 50 in a half. It might be a more exclusive club than the 6 scoring over 70. Who can I email to get to find out where Devin Booker ranks on 50 points in a half?

 

[Mainstreet]

The Marty Schottenheimer of point guards?

I agree with this general concept. It's why I struggle on Tatum vs. Isaac for the Suns (if we don't get a top 3 pick).

I think it is very likely that Tatum will be a very productive NBA player. But will his skill set ever put the Suns over the top? I strongly question it.

Meanwhile, if Isaac develops to his potential he could be a real difference maker. Imagine Chriss, Isaac and Bender rotating in and out on defense, all capable of hitting the three! But I also think Isaac has a pretty good chance of never developing. (Same with Bender.)

Fultz and Jackson are the two prospects I see that offer the best of both worlds. Ball has some question marks, but the basketball purist in me would take him top 3 and ask questions later.

I've added De'Aaron Fox to my radar. He has all the tools plus he is a PG. Fox is a very good athlete as well.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Hey guys, I am having a hard time finding this stat, "How many NBA Players have scored 50 points in a half?" There are lists for complete games with 50, and the stat that Wilt had 59 in a half. There is a ton of information on most points in a quarter, lists of who have scored over 30 in a quarter, etc. Funny that it is hard to find this out about who has scored 50 in a half. It might be a more exclusive club than the 6 scoring over 70. Who can I email to get to find out where Devin Booker ranks on 50 points in a half?

Most points, one half

59 Wilt Chamberlain Mar 2, 1962 2nd Half
55 Kobe Bryant Jan 22, 2006 2nd Half
53 David Thompson Apr 9, 1978 1st Half
53 George Gervin Apr 9, 1978 1st Half


Booker had 51. This list doesn't go beyond this, but searching through the list of everyone who scored 60 in a game, it seems these are the only 4 other recorded instances.

The stat is complicated though because many of the earlier high-scoring games aren't broken down by quarter, so it may have happened more times than this. Most of Wilt's highest scores, for instance, aren't broken down by quarter or half.

 

[Yuma]

Most points, one half

59 Wilt Chamberlain Mar 2, 1962 2nd Half
55 Kobe Bryant Jan 22, 2006 2nd Half
53 David Thompson Apr 9, 1978 1st Half
53 George Gervin Apr 9, 1978 1st Half


Booker had 51. This list doesn't go beyond this, but searching through the list of everyone who scored 60 in a game, it seems these are the only 4 other recorded instances.

The stat is complicated though because many of the earlier high-scoring games aren't broken down by quarter, so it may have happened more times than this. Most of Wilt's highest scores, for instance, aren't broken down by quarter or half.

I am just looking at players who did it. I get what you are saying, but Wilt doing it multiple times is OK because he only counts as one player.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

In that case, the only other player with a good chance would have been Elgin Baylor, who scored 71 in 1960. I don't see a breakdown on that game by quarter or half.

Joe Fulks, Baylor and Jerry West each scored 63 before the stats were kept as well, but it is highly unlikely they put up 50+ of those 63 in one half.

 

[Yuma]

I am thinking the 50 points in a half is even a more elite stat. I just need to find someone with access to Elias to run this stat.

 

[Yuma]

I put the question to Suns.com.

 

[GatorAZ]

Kobe once scored 62 vs Dallas in 32 minutes. That might be the GOAT scoring performance considering it came against against a 60-win team.

 

[Dan H]

Cowherd throwing shade on Booker and many other Kentucky players. "Who cares if you score 70? Who cares if you dominate an All Star game? Let's talk about winning. Calipari's guys don't win."

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Cowherd throwing shade on Booker and many other Kentucky players. "Who cares if you score 70? Who cares if you dominate an All Star game? Let's talk about winning. Calipari's guys don't win."

Is that because they're usually picked high and go to not-so-great teams?

 

[Dan H]

He mentioned Boogie and Wall by name. The Wizards are solid now, right? He has a point about Boogie but not sure why that's Calipari's problem.

 

[devilalum]

The craziest thing about Booker's 70 was that he was never really in the zone. I've watched a lot of guys get 50 because they were on fire. Booker didn't fling up 4 thirty footers in a row or anything like that. He had to work for all of it. This is evidenced by the number of free throws he made. He was like 4-11 from 3.

 

[devilalum]

Is that because they're usually picked high and go to not-so-great teams?

Exactly. If any of them had been drafted by SA they'd be winning.
Once a team becomes a perennial loser it is really hard to get out.
One player from any school won't convert a loser like the Suns or Sixers into a winner unless your name is Lebron.

 

[GatorAZ]

Cowherd throwing shade on Booker and many other Kentucky players. "Who cares if you score 70? Who cares if you dominate an All Star game? Let's talk about winning. Calipari's guys don't win."

I'm one of the few that like Cowherd but he's made this argument before and it's stupid.

Okafor
Winslow
Ingram
Rivers
Jones
Parker (hurt)

Several one & done players that came from Duke within the last few years aren't exactly tearing it up the league....

 

[slinslin]

Cowerd is a clown with no bball knowledge.

People trying to discredit Booker because he scored 70 in a loss are forgetting something here.

1. The Raptors were a worse team (27 wins and on the road) than the Celtics(#1 seed in the East and at home).
2. The Lakers were down by 20 too.
3. To win the game the Lakers did not just need the 81 from Kobe, they also needed the Raptors to stop scoring. The Raptors scored 63 in the first half and then in the 2nd half where Kobe brought back the Lakers they scored just 41, the Celtics scored 64 in the 2nd half while Booker brought the game back within like 10 a few times. If the Raptors kept making plays like the Celtics did everytime Booker brought the game back within reach than Kobe would have lost also. The Raptors scored only 104 points, the Celtics scored 130.
4. Booker had 6 assists, including in the last quarter. He "only" scored 28 of the Suns 40 in the quarter so it is not like he was hogging or like his teammates pushed him all the way to 70. (Kobe scored 28 of the Lakers 31)

The next thing is the silly claim of stat padding. Booker had 65 points before the Suns intentionally fouled twice. with about 50 seconds to go and the game being within 11 or so. Booker make a 3 on a potential 4 point play tat got waved off shortly before that.

The Kings just recently came back from down 15 with 2 minutes left or so against the Clippers.

You better believe when your star is going for a record breaking performance that you can still see a miraculous performance to close out the game if the Celtics choke on the line.

Plus finally the Suns and Celtics let the last 40 seconds run off the clock. Overall the game was not really extended due to fouling at all.

The Suns lost to the Celtics by 10, The Lakers beat the Raptors by 18 and Kobe scored his last 7 from the line with 2 minutes left and up 14, and left the game with 4 seconds left. So don't tell me Booker stat-padded in a blowout and then bring up Kobe or even worse the Admiral or David Thompson who were playing the whole game with a concentrated effort by their teammates to get them the scoring title.

 

[pokerface]

I've added De'Aaron Fox to my radar. He has all the tools plus he is a PG. Fox is a very good athlete as well.

I guess you weren't full of it because Fox has been shooting up the mock drafts. So much for my tunnel vision with Fultz or Ball.

I guess if we get #1 pick the case for trading down is getting stronger and stronger. The top five spots now are very fluid.