It’s time to quit babying Booker

[95pro]

Booker will never get the Super Max. Thats a good thing people because Ayton will get that.

I hope that's true, but if the NBA continues its course then the Suns will have to pay both Ayton and Booker.

 

[sunsfan88]

His offense should be fine because he’s too good of a scorer for it to keep being an issue.

But his defense is what’s horrific. Even when healthy (before his hamstring injury) he was awful defensively. Teams were game planning to keep good after him over and over again and were getting easy baskets far too often.

He doesn’t have to be an elite defender or even a good one but he has to stop being a complete liability on that end. Some effort needs to be shown.

 

[Covert Rain]

His offense should be fine because he’s too good of a scorer for it to keep being an issue.

But his defense is what’s horrific. Even when healthy (before his hamstring injury) he was awful defensively. Teams were game planning to keep good after him over and over again and were getting easy baskets far too often.

He doesn’t have to be an elite defender or even a good one but he has to stop being a complete liability on that end. Some effort needs to be shown.

This. Nobody is expecting him to be a lock down defender. He just needs to be competent. Also, I noticed they switch him sometimes on the opposing PG. If we can get a good PG on this team, Booker isn't going to be asked to switch on PG's as much as he is now. However, he needs to step up here and on his efficiency. He needs to show some evolution as a player at this point.

 

[gimpy]

I want to preface this with i don't watch too much of the Suns games (not as much as i would like) , just a little here and there.

But, everytime, it seems that Booker makes unnecessary turnovers a lot (bad passes, ball gets stolen when dribbling) and misses fairly easy looking shots.

 

[Western Font]

No, let’s baby him — by getting him some help. The guy is devastating when he’s on.

 

[Finito]

Booker is what Booker is people forget he's still really young. He's not a PG or primary ball handler. He's not a great defender either

But what he does do is put the ball in the basket like a mother, he has "it" that clutch gene you just can't teach. Everybody here is perfectly comfortable with the ball in his hands at the end of the game.

So what do you do? Get him a damn defensive minded PG to play next to him. James Harden and Steph are not good defenders but they both have a backcourt mate who's a stud defender in Klay and Paul.

Plenty of problems on this team Booker ain't one.

This reminds me of the cardinals and David Johnson you got this amazing stud and instead of focusing on what he does great your trying to make him something else. Mike McCoy got fired because of it...

 

[JCSunsfan]

No. He is not a pg, but he does not have to throw the ball away.

No he will never be a great defender, but he has physical abilities. He does not try on defense. His defense is embarrassing. It’s a choice.

 

[Chaplin]

This. Nobody is expecting him to be a lock down defender. He just needs to be competent. Also, I noticed they switch him sometimes on the opposing PG. If we can get a good PG on this team, Booker isn't going to be asked to switch on PG's as much as he is now. However, he needs to step up here and on his efficiency. He needs to show some evolution as a player at this point.

Look he has a lot to work on, sure. But stop with the “he has to show some evolution” crap. He has evolved over the past 4 years more than most players do, sometimes EVER do. The disappointing thing is that he hasn’t continued the trend this season.

 

[Covert Rain]

Look he has a lot to work on, sure. But stop with the “he has to show some evolution” crap. He has evolved over the past 4 years more than most players do, sometimes EVER do. The disappointing thing is that he hasn’t continued the trend this season.

Huh? So stop the evolution crap.....he has evolved over the past 4 seasons and he hasn't continued to the trend.....of evolving? What?!

The point I think is he needs to continue to get better on defense and efficiency.

 

[1Sun]

Igor Kokoskov makes Jeff Hornacek look tough as nails as a head coach. Ayton, Booker and the rest of the team will only get softer and softer, and mentally weaker and weaker, with him at the helm.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I started this thread recognizing what would be necessary for Booker to be truly worth that extension that he signed. There were three key things.

1. Improve his efficiency.
2. Do better at making others around him better (passing).
3. Make more effort on defense and do it somewhat intelligently.

Remarkably, since "point Book" he has been making clear strides in at least two of the three categories. Those would be passing and defense. Credit where credit is due. This development in Devin Booker is so very important to this team. It is one of the main reasons why they are playing more competitively now. Kudos to Book.

I suppose I should take all the credit since he must have read this thread and made the changes.

 

[1Sun]

I started this thread recognizing what would be necessary for Booker to be truly worth that extension that he signed. There were three key things.

1. Improve his efficiency.
2. Do better at making others around him better (passing).
3. Make more effort on defense and do it somewhat intelligently.

Remarkably, since "point Book" he has been making clear strides in at least two of the three categories. Those would be passing and defense. Credit where credit is due. This development in Devin Booker is so very important to this team. It is one of the main reasons why they are playing more competitively now. Kudos to Book.

I suppose I should take all the credit since he must have read this thread and made the changes.

Too bad Igor Kokoskov is still giving half of the minutes at the point to Isaiah freaking Canaan, though part of why Booker isn't playing more there is that he still has a lot of moments, like last night, where his passing and decision making are just awful, and his efficiency (also as illustrated last night) has gone into the tank.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I started this thread recognizing what would be necessary for Booker to be truly worth that extension that he signed. There were three key things.

1. Improve his efficiency.
2. Do better at making others around him better (passing).
3. Make more effort on defense and do it somewhat intelligently.

Remarkably, since "point Book" he has been making clear strides in at least two of the three categories. Those would be passing and defense. Credit where credit is due. This development in Devin Booker is so very important to this team. It is one of the main reasons why they are playing more competitively now. Kudos to Book.

I suppose I should take all the credit since he must have read this thread and made the changes.

Totally agree. And I think the efficiency will improve when he’s eventually returned to his primary position with an adequate pg. he’s growing into that extension and a real leadership role.

 

[Covert Rain]

Totally agree. And I think the efficiency will improve when he’s eventually returned to his primary position with an adequate pg. he’s growing into that extension and a real leadership role.

He is improving but dude seriously needs better shot selection. Sometimes his decisions are soooo bad. Love his improved passing.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He is improving but dude seriously needs better shot selection. Sometimes his decisions are soooo bad. Love his improved passing.

That was #1 on my list.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

100% of his shots are off the dribble now. He is adjusting to reality, but it is going to take some time. He has always been a very good catch and shoot scorer, but that is non existent from his game in this current role. I have faith that if point Book remains a thing for an extended period than the necessary adjustments will be made to help his efficiency. If a PG is brought in some time in the near future than the added catch and shoot opportunities will automatically help his efficiency.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Clearly doesn't love the idea of playing point, but seems to be accepting of the responsibility. He also seems to fully understand what needs to improve and we are seeing it on the court.

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[95pro]

Could this all be something deeper that's being instilled into Booker by Igor??? To get Booker to grow and realize what and WHO he needs to be? WHO meaning the leader of this team/franchise.

 

[1Sun]

100% of his shots are off the dribble now. He is adjusting to reality, but it is going to take some time. He has always been a very good catch and shoot scorer, but that is non existent from his game in this current role. I have faith that if point Book remains a thing for an extended period than the necessary adjustments will be made to help his efficiency. If a PG is brought in some time in the near future than the added catch and shoot opportunities will automatically help his efficiency.

OR...like his most common player comparison, Klay Thompson, Booker is more of a catch-and-shoot player who can drive occasionally, and trying to turn him into something else will make him less than what he could be if played at his natural position.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

OR...like his most common player comparison, Klay Thompson, Booker is more of a catch-and-shoot player who can drive occasionally, and trying to turn him into something else will make him less than what he could be if played at his natural position.

Booker has been good off the dribble since he was a rookie. The difference is that now as the full time PG it is now 100% off the dribble and not a little of both so he will have to make the adjustments or we will need to bring a competent play maker to play next to him. Only time will tell which will be the ultimate solution to increasing his efficiency.

 

[1Sun]

Booker has been good off the dribble since he was a rookie. The difference is that now as the full time PG it is now 100% off the dribble and not a little of both so he will have to make the adjustments or we will need to bring a competent play maker to play next to him. Only time will tell which will be the ultimate solution to increasing his efficiency.

True, but I would be willing to bet the house on the latter.

 

[GatorAZ]

What happened to Bubble Boy this time?

 

[AzStevenCal]

What happened to Bubble Boy this time?

Same thing that's happened several times already. He gets injured, insists on playing through it or comes back too soon so the injury recurs and lingers for decades afterwards. Or something like that.

IOW, same hamstring.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Same thing that's happened several times already. He gets injured, insists on playing through it or comes back too soon so the injury recurs and lingers for decades afterwards. Or something like that.

IOW, same hamstring.

they need to just sit his injured ass until he's totally healthy. And in the meantime, Koko needs to show he can adjust and start using Ayton in different spots, focussing at least in stretches on him initiating offense from the low-block. He's literally the ONLY offensive weapon we have without Booker that can score and create opportunities for others.

 

[Yuma]

they need to just sit his injured ass until he's totally healthy. And in the meantime, Koko needs to show he can adjust and start using Ayton in different spots, focussing at least in stretches on him initiating offense from the low-block. He's literally the ONLY offensive weapon we have without Booker that can score and create opportunities for others.

I totally agree. This is an opportunity to develop Ayton. No one expects them to win. Force the play, like a practice until they learn how to feed, and play the low post offense.