How good is Booker?

[BC867]

As a current upper-middle management in a call center, I am fine with my employees and their employees being online as long as it's not affecting their performance. If folks are doing their jobs, I don't care if they look at social media or sports sites. Happy employees will take care of your customers. Silly rules have negative effect on employees.

I know that is the case at incoming call centers, waiting for calls. But would you support it at an outgoing center (or incoming/outgoing)?

I completely understand your point of view. At the same time, I was posting during lunch at my desk...

'Sorry for jumping to the wrong conclusion, ASF. I was reflecting on my recent post-management, supplement-Social Security call center experience where the supervisor and her clique actually put incoming calls on hold for two or three minutes because they weren't done with their bull sessions. It was a small office -- only six of us.

That expedited my decision to retire once and for all. I was the enemy because I kept my nose to the grindstone. I can't tell you how many times I heard (from the supervisor), "What, are you trying to make everyone else look bad?" The first time, my jaw dropped. After that, my response was, "'Just doing my job."

Yes, call centers are made up of personalities with varying degrees of dedication, just as basketball teams. OK, guys, that's the segue back to the Suns.

 

[Ronin]

Chris Mannix‏Verified account@ChrisMannixYS 1m1 minute ago




Devin Booker is a legit franchise player. Suns need to spend every waking moment thinking about how to build the best team around him.

 

[Phrazbit]

He's incredible. Only 21, but his "vs others at same age" numbers put him on pace to be the best player we've ever drafted.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You want some real fun. Listen to Tommy Heinsohn comment on Booker. This guy has seen every player in the league in intimate detail for the last 45 years.

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[SirStefan32]

I found this very interesting:

“I’ll draw up a play sometimes in a timeout and I’ll say, ‘You’ll set a backscreen here and then we’re going to look for the lob and your guy will help a little bit and then we’re going to clean it up with the pindown.’ And (Booker will) look at the guy setting the pindown, and he’ll say, ‘That guy’s gonna show a little bit, so slip, I’ll find you on the weakside.’ Sure enough, he’s able to make plays for other people.”

http://arizonasports.com/story/1338381/suns-jay-triano-win-vs-76ers-devin-booker-46/

 

[JCSunsfan]

I love highlight vids with the other teams play by play guys. My favorite quote from this one:

"Really? Really? He was wearing JJ Redick!"

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[SirStefan32]

I love highlight vids with the other teams play by play guys. My favorite quote from this one:

"Really? Really? He was wearing JJ Redick!"

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I am pretty sure that was the same guy who said something like, "Stop it, just stop it already!"

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am pretty sure that was the same guy who said something like, "Stop it, just stop it already!"

How about that pass from Ulis at 1:33? It looks so simple, yet Ulis passed the ball to where he wanted Booker to be (not where Booker was) to take the shot.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I found this very interesting:

“I’ll draw up a play sometimes in a timeout and I’ll say, ‘You’ll set a backscreen here and then we’re going to look for the lob and your guy will help a little bit and then we’re going to clean it up with the pindown.’ And (Booker will) look at the guy setting the pindown, and he’ll say, ‘That guy’s gonna show a little bit, so slip, I’ll find you on the weakside.’ Sure enough, he’s able to make plays for other people.”

http://arizonasports.com/story/1338381/suns-jay-triano-win-vs-76ers-devin-booker-46/

That’s pretty awesome. Talk about b-ball IQ!

 

[JCSunsfan]

That’s pretty awesome. Talk about b-ball IQ!

Yep. Booker is just plain smart. I remember watching interviews with him when he was in high school. He was engaged, a good listener, gave very intelligent responses. Very mature. He will have a career in broadcasting, coaching or something when his career is over.

 

[Ronin]

Evan Sidery

@esidery

Devin Booker is excelling at scoring on all three levels of the floor. He’s shooting 62.8% in restricted area, 48.3% from mid-range, 38.0% from beyond the arc. Only two other guards are putting up similar shooting outputs on 50+ FGA’s per zone: Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Evan Sidery

@esidery

Devin Booker is excelling at scoring on all three levels of the floor. He’s shooting 62.8% in restricted area, 48.3% from mid-range, 38.0% from beyond the arc. Only two other guards are putting up similar shooting outputs on 50+ FGA’s per zone: Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Awesome! So we just need another player like Booker, plus a generational talent like Durant, and then we're a defensive POTY candidate away from being a contender!

 

[Haunting]

A lot better than Kobe at the same age.

Took Kobe 7 years in the league to average 26.0 per 36 and Kobe had a better TS% than Devin just barely in 2 seasons at age 28 and 29.

Devin at this point has 31 30+ scoring games. Kobe through his first 4 seasons had just 12.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kid is a superstar and will only get better.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Awesome! So we just need another player like Booker, plus a generational talent like Durant, and then we're a defensive POTY candidate away from being a contender!

Yep. Let's do this.

1. Trae Young
2. Free Agent
3. Josh Jackson

Of course, Golden State dominated without Durant, so that would be the frosting. The first step is the hardest.

Before you flame me. It's a wonderful thing to be an optimistic fan.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Kid is a superstar and will only get better.

Every game he seems to be more comfortable in the role. We just expect 30 from him now.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Yep. Let's do this.

1. Trae Young
2. Free Agent
3. Josh Jackson

Of course, Golden State dominated without Durant, so that would be the frosting. The first step is the hardest.

Before you flame me. It's a wonderful thing to be an optimistic fan.

While we're at it, let's just assume Bender develops into the next Durant.

Seriously though, what you put would be the path. Hope Jackson turns into something special. Hope we get a star in this stacked draft. Add a great free agent. Not an impossible result, but definitely a wonderful and optimistic one.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yep. Let's do this.

1. Trae Young
2. Free Agent
3. Josh Jackson

Of course, Golden State dominated without Durant, so that would be the frosting. The first step is the hardest.

Before you flame me. It's a wonderful thing to be an optimistic fan.

It is, indeed! I love seeing some optimism around here.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It is, indeed! I love seeing some optimism around here.

THIs at come as a surprise to everyone, but even wanting to and I’m optimistic. But my optimism is based on us getting a stud in this upcoming draft.

For instance, try as I might, I can’t be totally sour on bender and Chriss. I keep counting them as potentially being additions to a bright future.

 

[Chaplin]

THIs at come as a surprise to everyone, but even wanting to and I’m optimistic. But my optimism is based on us getting a stud in this upcoming draft.

For instance, try as I might, I can’t be totally sour on bender and Chriss. I keep counting them as potentially being additions to a bright future.

Ironic that I'm with you on Bender, but Chriss--he needs significant improvement (last game notwithstanding) to change my mind about him.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

The good thing about Chriss is a lot of his issues seem to be mental and he is relatively new to basketball. The light may never turn on for him, but there's a chance. One of the selling points on him coming out in the draft was his rapid improvement rate.

 

[SirStefan32]

The good thing about Chriss is a lot of his issues seem to be mental and he is relatively new to basketball. The light may never turn on for him, but there's a chance. One of the selling points on him coming out in the draft was his rapid improvement rate.

I would have agreed with you last year. This year, he has regressed significantly. I am not overly excited about Bender, but he's showing me some stuff- better shooting, fewer mistakes, better defense. Len (though gone from Phoenix after this year) is doing a better job rebounding and scoring. With Chriss, there is nothing that he is doing better than last year. Same applies to Ulis.

 

[Mainstreet]

In recent games I've seen improvement with Chriss' mental focus as well which has always been his weakness. He has the physical talent. If he continues to follow coaching, I see no reason why he cannot be a very good player.

With Bender, I'm baffled why he cannot block more shots other than he doesn't know when to jump.

Otherwise, I do not see why he cannot be very good as well.

Bender has good height, wingspan and standing reach. He should be blocking more shots.

During Adidas Eurocamp in June of 2015 Dragan Bender measured 6'11.5” barefoot with a 7'2” wingspan and 9'3” standing reach. Bender, who was 17 and a half at the time, weighed 216 pounds. Because Bender wasn't able to attend the 2016 NBA Draft Combine there aren't official measurements on him, but it's safe to say that he's added at least 10 pounds to his frame and may have grown a bit as well.

Even if he hasn't gotten taller, 7'1” in shoes with a 9'3” standing reach are elite measurements for either big man spot. Bender is nowhere near his peak physically, and while he doesn't have a ton of girth in his upper or lower body, he shouldn't have that big of an issue filling out given his strong work ethic and mentality.

Source: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Dragan-Bender-62877/ ©DraftExpress

 

[SirStefan32]

Well, I think there are a couple of factors there. First off, his vertical is not all that impressive. He moves well, but he is not an explosive jumper. That's why I hate the term "athleticism" when it comes to the NBA players. He is rather athletic when it comes to moving his feet, lateral quickness, or whatever you want to call it. But he can't really jump that well. Second element is that he opted to focus on staying in position with his arms straight up. That alters more shots than it blocks, so in my opinion it's the right decision to make. I'd rather he not fall for pump fakes, get out of position, and basically all the things Chriss does.

All that said, at 7'1 and long arms, he should be blocking more shots.

 

[Hoop Head]

Dirk is 7'1 and has never been a good shot blocker. It wasn't until his 3rd year that he averaged more than 1 a game.

TO BE CLEAR I'M NOT SAYING BENDER IS LIKE DIRK, ONLY THAT BEING 7+ FEET TALL DOESN'T MAKE ANYONE A GOOD SHOT BLOCKER.