reassessing Booker

[Bobster]

2020-21 was a good time, but they got some breaks along the way in order to get to the Finals.

And let's face it, Booker has an abysmal history in elimination games.

 

[Finito]

Looking back, those were pretty good times. IMO, the Suns were broken up too soon.

I avoid this team now. I can’t express how much it pisses me off that James Jones still has a job.

 

[Bobster]

Booker's numbers are propped up by having a big game last year, but he's his record in elimination games -

2021 - 46 Min, 8/22 FG, 0/7 3Pt, 3/3 FT, 3 Reb, 5 Ast, 19 Pts (Suns lose 105-98)
2022 - 37 Min, 3/14 FG, 0/4 3Pt, 5/6 FT, 3 Reb, 2 Ast, 11 Pts (Suns lose 123-90)
2023 - 36 MIn, 4/13 FG, 1/3 3Pt, 3/4 FT, 1 Reb, 8 Ast, 12 Pts (Suns lose 125-107)
2024 - 45 Min, 13/21 FG, 2/5 3Pt, 20/21 FT, 5 Reb, 6 Ast. 49 Pts (Suns lose 122-116)

Averages - 41.0 Min, .400 FG%, .157 3Pt%, .912 FT%, 3.0 Reb, 5.3 Ast, 22.8 Pts

 

[Cheesebeef]

Booker's numbers are propped up by having a big game last year, but he's his record in elimination games -

2021 - 46 Min, 8/22 FG, 0/7 3Pt, 3/3 FT, 3 Reb, 5 Ast, 19 Pts (Suns lose 105-98)
2022 - 37 Min, 3/14 FG, 0/4 3Pt, 5/6 FT, 3 Reb, 2 Ast, 11 Pts (Suns lose 123-90)
2023 - 36 MIn, 4/13 FG, 1/3 3Pt, 3/4 FT, 1 Reb, 8 Ast, 12 Pts (Suns lose 125-107)
2024 - 45 Min, 13/21 FG, 2/5 3Pt, 20/21 FT, 5 Reb, 6 Ast. 49 Pts (Suns lose 122-116)

Averages - 41.0 Min, .400 FG%, .157 3Pt%, .912 FT%, 3.0 Reb, 5.3 Ast, 22.8 Pts

Meanwhile, Booker no showed in the first 3 games of the Wolves series where we went down 0-3.

 

[Bobster]

Meanwhile, Booker no showed in the first 3 games of the Wolves series where we went down 0-3.

First three games 40.3 Min, .431 FG%, .333 3Pt%, .950 FT%, 2.7 Reb, 6.0 Ast, 20.3 Pts

Not terrible, not great.

Of course Anthony Edwards was going crazy against him that series - 31.0 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 6.3 ast

 

[82CardsGrad]

Where Booker totally crapped the bed in Game 6, helping the team choke it’s way from up 2-0 to a backdoor sweep.

He’s also been the co-leader of the two most humiliating Suns home playoff losses to end seasons ever, completely no showing in those vomitous 30 point laughers in back to back years… before co-authoring last year’s pathetic 0-4 sweep, where he only showed up in the entire series for the first 3 quarters of Game 4 and then disappeared as usual in the playoff clutch in the 4th where he got owned by Ant.

Here’s the cold, hard truth. The Finals trip was a fluky, Covid run where we STILL choked away a 2-0 lead AND is the exception to the rule for the rest of Booker’s entire career. Outside of 2021, he’s either been the empty stats leader of a perennial lotto dormat or someone who leads his team to craptacular playoff drubbings in the first or second round.

Harsh… but completely accurate. It sucks because Book is such a good guy. I wish he had more ability to actually be a leader throughout the season and particularly come playoff time.
But he’s simply not “that guy.”

Worse, I am now officially wondering if he will ever win a championship… I mean, I guess anything can happen and if (HUGE IF) he’s on a team that has been absolutely perfectly constructed, I guess he’d have a shot. But short of those stars aligning, I am really questioning if he will ever reach the pinnacle of the mountain…

 

[Bobster]

Harsh… but completely accurate. It sucks because Book is such a good guy. I wish he had more ability to actually be a leader throughout the season and particularly come playoff time.
But he’s simply not “that guy.”

Worse, I am now officially wondering if he will ever win a championship… I mean, I guess anything can happen and if (HUGE IF) he’s on a team that has been absolutely perfectly constructed, I guess he’d have a shot. But short of those stars aligning, I am really questioning if he will ever reach the pinnacle of the mountain…

Paying the super max to a player who can't put the team on his back and carry the load puts you at a real disadvantage. Booker and Beal are paid to be that type of player, and yet, they aren't. Whether Durant is is up to debate.