Point Book

[JCSunsfan]

Devin Booker as a PG (stats reflect games where he did not play the pg position)

Assists: 7.3. 9th in the NBA (more than Kemba, Conley, Lillard, Irving, Bledsoe, Russell, Schroeder, Dinwiddie, Ball, Oladipo, Rose, LaVine, Murray)

Points: 24.1. 13th in the NBA.

Right now, Devin is a pretty good pg. He is better as a pg than most of the guys we talk about trading for. His turnovers are a problem though. But even they are getting better.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Devin Booker as a PG (stats reflect games where he did not play the pg position)

Assists: 7.3. 9th in the NBA (more than Kemba, Conley, Lillard, Irving, Bledsoe, Russell, Schroeder, Dinwiddie, Ball, Oladipo, Rose, LaVine, Murray)

Points: 24.1. 13th in the NBA.

Right now, Devin is a pretty good pg. He is better as a pg than most of the guys we talk about trading for. His turnovers are a problem though. But even they are getting better.

If I was coaching this team I'd put an end to the rim lobs initiated from the perimeter, that alone would significantly reduce our turnovers (Booker's especially). I'm okay with the lob pass when they run the two man game but we must turn the ball over a half dozen times for every time we score when we try to make that pass from beyond the free throw line.

 

[elindholm]

Devin Booker as a PG (stats reflect games where he did not play the pg position)

Assists: 7.3. 9th in the NBA (more than Kemba, Conley, Lillard, Irving, Bledsoe, Russell, Schroeder, Dinwiddie, Ball, Oladipo, Rose, LaVine, Murray)

Points: 24.1. 13th in the NBA.

Right now, Devin is a pretty good pg. He is better as a pg than most of the guys we talk about trading for. His turnovers are a problem though. But even they are getting better.

You can't sweep the turnovers under the rug, and you also need to compare his effFG% to what he was able to achieve as a SG.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You can't sweep the turnovers under the rug, and you also need to compare his effFG% to what he was able to achieve as a SG.

I mentioned the turnovers. Hardly sweeping them under the rug. Not sure how to compare the effFg%. The sample size is too small at this point.

I think one of the best aspects of Point Book is that it gets Mikal in the starting line up. Bridges does just fine as a SG btw.

 

[SirStefan32]

I am fine with whatever in the interim, but the Suns still need a point guard. Now, Booker getting used to playing PG will be huge once they have a real point guard. Imagine trying to guard the back court of Walker and Booker, for example.

 

[95pro]

I am fine with whatever in the interim, but the Suns still need a point guard. Now, Booker getting used to playing PG will be huge once they have a real point guard. Imagine trying to guard the back court of Walker and Booker, for example.

Antoine Walker?

 

[SirStefan32]

Antoine Walker?

Kemba.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am fine with whatever in the interim, but the Suns still need a point guard. Now, Booker getting used to playing PG will be huge once they have a real point guard. Imagine trying to guard the back court of Walker and Booker, for example.

It will be interesting to see how this year goes though. A backcourt of Booker and Bridges might be a handful too. But getting a pg is still a priority.

BTW. TJ Warren is continuing his shooting. 47% from three. He shot under 40% in only three games so far. Its looking like this is for real.

 

[SirStefan32]

It will be interesting to see how this year goes though. A backcourt of Booker and Bridges might be a handful too. But getting a pg is still a priority.

BTW. TJ Warren is continuing his shooting. 47% from three. He shot under 40% in only three games so far. Its looking like this is for real.

The problem with point Booker is that the teams will double him, overplay him, "show" him on pick and rolls, and there is really no other play-maker on the team. We saw this last night when Bledsoe shut him down. Fortunately, Crawford was there, but if Book is shut down, the rest of the roster can't run an offense. I love Bridges- he is turning into my favorite player, but he is really not a ball-handler. Same with Warren and Ariza.

I don't disagree that point Book is the best the Suns have right now, but that's not a long-term answer.

 

[Mainstreet]

Booker is well on his way to giving the Suns a Harden like option. When the Suns add a point guard his game could improve even further. Harden has his turnovers as well.

 

[95pro]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nb...e-suns-to-fully-unleash-point-book/ar-BBQ3b16

 

[JCSunsfan]

Interesting quote from your article.

Over his past five games, which the Suns are 2-3, Booker is averaging 23.6 points and 9 assists, including an above-average assist-to-turnover ratio of plus-2.4. Only Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday are putting up those numbers over the same timeframe, but each has a worse AST/TO than Booker. That says a lot about how the Suns’ star guard has developed his playmaking ability even further since former interim head coach Jay Triano experimented with it midway through last season.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nb...e-suns-to-fully-unleash-point-book/ar-BBQ3b16

 

[1Sun]

Interesting quote from your article.

Over his past five games, which the Suns are 2-3, Booker is averaging 23.6 points and 9 assists, including an above-average assist-to-turnover ratio of plus-2.4. Only Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday are putting up those numbers over the same timeframe, but each has a worse AST/TO than Booker. That says a lot about how the Suns’ star guard has developed his playmaking ability even further since former interim head coach Jay Triano experimented with it midway through last season.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/after-two-strong-outings-this-week-it’s-time-for-the-suns-to-fully-unleash-point-book/ar-BBQ3b16

Notice also that when the article proposes an ideal 9 or 10 man rotation, not a single minute goes to Canaan.

 

[1tinsoldier]

under point Book, Canaan being out of the lineup is a plus in itself,
even more so being that Bridges is added.
i'm ok with Booker pointing this season, even if it's a heavy load
with no true pg options, this season is for experimenting.
i'd just like the experimenting to include Okobo getting backup minutes instead of Canaan

 

[Suns_fan69]

If coach truly doesn't believe Okobo and Melton aren't ready, I would try having Daniels out there as a backup 2 and giving him Canaan's minutes. He can't be worse defensively, and should be a more consistent outside threat on offense.

 

[Raindog]

It seems strange to me that nearly every effort we have made to find just a minimally competent true PG over the last few years has resulted in trying players who had no clue what is entailed in actually being an effective PG - Knight, James, Harrison, Canaan. All of them seemed to think they were the reincarnation of Allen Iverson... i.e., forget about facilitating and getting everyone else involved, the offense needs to be centered around them... which in every case was utterly comical, because they were all absolutely awful offensive players. Not that it stopped any of them from playing hero ball constantly.

I don't know what kind of braindead approach the Suns scouting staff has for identifying playmakers to bring in at that position, but good lord does it need to be changed.

 

[1tinsoldier]

hiring the best point guards used to be our thing.
top all-time assist leaders:
7. Kevin Johnson 9.13 in 12 seasons
8. Jason Kidd 8.69 in 19 seasons
9. Steve Nash 8.49 in 18 seasons
19. Stephon Marbury 7.65 in 13 seasons

and we had them within the same decade

 

[Errntknght]

If coach truly doesn't believe Okobo and Melton aren't ready, I would try having Daniels out there as a backup 2 and giving him Canaan's minutes. He can't be worse defensively, and should be a more consistent outside threat on offense.

I would guess you haven't watched Daniels defend much. Canaan isn't great but he does try, which Daniels doesn't. All he does is shoot 3's and he hasn't done that well this year - albeit in very short minutes. Last year he was last on the team in almost every statistical category except 3 point shooting. Okobo is a pretty fair defender and he takes good care of the ball - assist/TO = 2.3 which is tops on the team. (Daneils 1.3)

 

[GatorAZ]

I’m starting to hate that term because it’s such a waste of his natural scoring ability.

 

[taz02]

Yea, but he is definitely improving. If he plays the entire season at point it wouldn't be ideal but the experience will pay off. Its going to make Booker a dynamic offensive player and we will have one hell of a back court if we can ever pair him with a top PG.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I’m starting to hate that term because it’s such a waste of his natural scoring ability.

Most of his scoring is created by himself anyways. I mean Harden has played the same role and averaged 30 PPG a couple seasons ago. It will only work even better when he has more help as well.

 

[95pro]

It seems strange to me that nearly every effort we have made to find just a minimally competent true PG over the last few years has resulted in trying players who had no clue what is entailed in actually being an effective PG - Knight, James, Harrison, Canaan. All of them seemed to think they were the reincarnation of Allen Iverson... i.e., forget about facilitating and getting everyone else involved, the offense needs to be centered around them... which in every case was utterly comical, because they were all absolutely awful offensive players. Not that it stopped any of them from playing hero ball constantly.

I don't know what kind of braindead approach the Suns scouting staff has for identifying playmakers to bring in at that position, but good lord does it need to be changed.

IMO, McD knew he eff'd up the combo of Dragic and Bledsoe. Those two were quite effective almost making the playoffs as the west was getting stacked, but he threw IT in there but IT wanted more than a bench role. So then IT and Dragic were shipped off and Bledsoe was left.

I think McD was trying to replicate that type of success because that was the trend of the league.

 

[Errntknght]

IMO, McD knew he eff'd up the combo of Dragic and Bledsoe. Those two were quite effective almost making the playoffs as the west was getting stacked, but he threw IT in there but IT wanted more than a bench role. So then IT and Dragic were shipped off and Bledsoe was left.

I think McD was trying to replicate that type of success because that was the trend of the league.

The problems stemmed from Hornacek and McD not being tuned into the players - they were caught off guard and reacted in panic mode.

 

[overseascardfan]

I feel PHX has no option the rest of this season other than starting Booker. The reason I feel that way is PHX has plenty to offer for a stud PG but teams are holding on to them because they are gold in today's NBA. CHA is probably asking for a king's ransom for Walker even though he is a 6 month rental and I struggle to imagine what it would take for POR to deal Lillard.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I think Point Book is a good thing. Even if Booker does not play the point long term, it is expanding his game. It has forced him to work on passing and defense. Because of it he will be a better shooting guard in the future.

Point Book works. Because of the versatility of Booker, Bridges, and Warren we could now trade for a starter level player in any one of the 1-4 positions it would be a huge help.

Trade for a pg and Booker moves back to the 2, Bridges drops to the 3 and Ariza goes to the bench.
Trade for a sg, and Bridges moves to the 3 and Ariza to the bench.
Trade for a sf and Ariza goes to the bench
Trade for a pf and Warren moves to the 3 and Ariza goes to the bench.