Suns @ 76ers game thread 12-4-17

[hcsilla]

Am I the only who is wondering whether Booker has improved also athletically? He seemed more explosive and to have more lift vs. 76ers.

He did look like the more powerful version of Ray Allen yesterday.

 

[Hoop Head]

Am I the only who is wondering whether Booker has improved also athletically? He seemed more explosive and to have more lift vs. 76ers.

He did look like the more powerful version of Ray Allen yesterday.

I don't think he's more athletic so much as his athleticism has been undersold throughout his career. Remembering back to his rookie year, I don't recall him ever having below average athleticism for an NBA player. Whenever he goes off, like tonight, he looks like he has above average athleticism and on days when he's just playing regularly he seems to have average athleticism.

Jackson is probably the most athletic player on the Suns and you can tell he's a tier above Booker when it comes to judging them athletically but I never got the idea when Booker was playing with Bledsoe, who was praised for his athleticism, that he was a tier below him. They just play different styles and typically Booker doesn't show much finishing around the rim because he can knock down shots all over the court.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't know if I'd say that Booker is better than Klay simply because Booker is the first option while Klay is now the Warriors 4th. Klay looked great 2-3 years ago before Green stepped up and they signed Durant. Booker is great, but I think they're different players in that comparing them isn't fair. The more I see Booker play the less I can think of an NBA comparison, in a good way, the best are usually the first of their kind.

The best comparison for Booker right now is Kobe. But Kobe was a better defender and a less efficient shooter.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Okay... Booker is AT LEAST as good offensively as Klay and I can easily see him being better. Possibly A LOT BETTER.

The thing I LOVE about him is he’s a killer. He WANTS that ball at the end of games and he seems like he likes embarrassing people. Other teams and their fans prob will think he’s a jerk but that’s just a sign to me he’s got superstar in him.

Let’s pump the breaks a bit here Cheese. Booker is showing that he has the ability to become one of the elite scorers in the game today. But he is still so young and too inconsistent. I have little doubt though that he will continue to develop and improve his consistency.
But he’s not Klay - yet. Mainly because he’s not close to Klay from a defensive perspective... yet.

 

[AZCrazy]

None of these guys is even near their athletic prime yet. Chriss will mature some. Bender will get stronger. Jackson is a teenager for goodness' sake. And Booker is the next big thing.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

None of these guys is even near their athletic prime yet. Chriss will mature some. Bender will get stronger. Jackson is a teenager for goodness' sake. And Booker is the next big thing.

Jackson will be 21 in a couple months, but otherwise I agree with everything you said.

 

[devilalum]

Let’s pump the breaks a bit here Cheese. Booker is showing that he has the ability to become one of the elite scorers in the game today. But he is still so young and too inconsistent. I have little doubt though that he will continue to develop and improve his consistency.
But he’s not Klay - yet. Mainly because he’s not close to Klay from a defensive perspective... yet.

Imagine the looks Booker would get playing along side Curry. Klay is really good but he’s never had to carry his team.


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[SirStefan32]

Let’s pump the breaks a bit here Cheese. Booker is showing that he has the ability to become one of the elite scorers in the game today. But he is still so young and too inconsistent. I have little doubt though that he will continue to develop and improve his consistency.
But he’s not Klay - yet. Mainly because he’s not close to Klay from a defensive perspective... yet.

I disagree. Booker is very good and consistent right now. On top of that, he is only 21. He's had ten games with 30 points or more, and only two with single-digit scoring.

 

[SirStefan32]

The best comparison for Booker right now is Kobe. But Kobe was a better defender and a less efficient shooter.

Kobe was also a freak of nature when it comes to athleticism.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Let’s pump the breaks a bit here Cheese. Booker is showing that he has the ability to become one of the elite scorers in the game today. But he is still so young and too inconsistent. I have little doubt though that he will continue to develop and improve his consistency.
But he’s not Klay - yet. Mainly because he’s not close to Klay from a defensive perspective... yet.

there is really nothing inconsistent about Booker’s game now. Not every night is a 30 pt night now. But no other stars is either. He is averaging nearly 25 points a game with reasonable efficiency while constantly being double teamed.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Kobe was also a freak of nature when it comes to athleticism.

Yes. There are differences. But the killer attitude and carrying a team at the end of games is the same. Klay Thompson is not like that.

Last year, we went into the year wondering if Booker could continue to produce and possibly be an all star type level.

This year we went into the year wondering if he could be all that continuously and where he might be in that "big three" list--primary option on a championship team or a second or third star.

Primary option. Confirmed. Toughest position filled. And the best thing. He is not a shy backward brooding star. He has a positive, aggressive, magnetic personality that other players are drawn to. Everything he says is about building a championship team in Phoenix. I am convinced he will do everything he can on and off the court to make that happen. That includes recruiting other players to come play with him here.

 

[SirStefan32]

Yes. There are differences. But the killer attitude and carrying a team at the end of games is the same. Klay Thompson is not like that.

Last year, we went into the year wondering if Booker could continue to produce and possibly be an all star type level.

This year we went into the year wondering if he could be all that continuously and where he might be in that "big three" list--primary option on a championship team or a second or third star.

Primary option. Confirmed. Toughest position filled. And the best thing. He is not a shy backward brooding star. He has a positive, aggressive, magnetic personality that other players are drawn to. Everything he says is about building a championship team in Phoenix. I am convinced he will do everything he can on and off the court to make that happen. That includes recruiting other players to come play with him here.

I agree!

 

[JS22]

Let’s pump the breaks a bit here Cheese. Booker is showing that he has the ability to become one of the elite scorers in the game today. But he is still so young and too inconsistent. I have little doubt though that he will continue to develop and improve his consistency.
But he’s not Klay - yet. Mainly because he’s not close to Klay from a defensive perspective... yet.

No need to pump the brakes. Booker has the Kobe mentality and ability to make shots from literally anywhere no matter how well he's guarded. And he WANTS to be the one that closes out games. Suns have not had that type of player in, I have no idea.

Talent wise Booker is a notch below Kobe but it's scary how much he reminds me of him. And he's only 21.

 

[82CardsGrad]

No need to pump the brakes. Booker has the Kobe mentality and ability to make shots from literally anywhere no matter how well he's guarded. And he WANTS to be the one that closes out games. Suns have not had that type of player in, I have no idea.

Talent wise Booker is a notch below Kobe but it's scary how much he reminds me of him. And he's only 21.

Sorry but just can’t get into these radical comparisons to a kid who is only 21 years old...
Kobe Bryant?? Seriously??
I love Booker. And I think he has a very good chance to become great! How great... we’ll have to wait and see. But for now... he’s done nothing to garner the types of comparisons being tossed around here...

 

[JS22]

Sorry but just can’t get into these radical comparisons to a kid who is only 21 years old...
Kobe Bryant?? Seriously??
I love Booker. And I think he has a very good chance to become great! How great... we’ll have to wait and see. But for now... he’s done nothing to garner the types of comparisons being tossed around here...

Sure why not? Booker is on an insane trajectory to start his career. And he's really the only option on a very below average team. Constantly forced to create for himself, fight through double and triple teams, etc.

25/5/4 as a 21 year old. Kobe mentality at the end of games, which is what sets apart the good players from the great. Last night was another step in the evolution of Booker.

 

[JCSunsfan]

No need to pump the brakes. Booker has the Kobe mentality and ability to make shots from literally anywhere no matter how well he's guarded. And he WANTS to be the one that closes out games. Suns have not had that type of player in, I have no idea.

Talent wise Booker is a notch below Kobe but it's scary how much he reminds me of him. And he's only 21.

Kobe. Yes. Harden. Certainly.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Sorry but just can’t get into these radical comparisons to a kid who is only 21 years old...
Kobe Bryant?? Seriously??
I love Booker. And I think he has a very good chance to become great! How great... we’ll have to wait and see. But for now... he’s done nothing to garner the types of comparisons being tossed around here...

Have you been watching the games? The best way to get an idea is to listen to the opposing team's commentators flip back and forth from being incredulous to gushing.

This road trip has been a sort of coming out party back east. Boston and Philly are the bastions of NBA writers. He is all that, and the whole league knows it now. No. He is not the athlete and defender that Kobe was. But he is not less of an athlete or scorer than Harden. In fact, I do not believe that James Harden would be any better on this team than Booker. Harden is a better distributor, but he has people to pass to. Booker is averaging 4 assists per game passing to Alex Len and Marquise Chriss.

He is averaging 24.5 ppg. 50% from 2. 39% from 3. 89% from the line. 5 rebounds, 4 assists. He is double teamed almost constantly. A huge portion of his points come at the end of games when everyone KNOWS he is going to take the ball and they still cannot stop him.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Have you been watching the games? The best way to get an idea is to listen to the opposing team's commentators flip back and forth from being incredulous to gushing. This road trip has been a sort of coming out party back east. Boston and Philly are the bastions of NBA writers. He is all that, and the whole league knows it now. No. He is not the athlete and defender that Kobe was. But he is not less of an athlete or scorer than Harden. In fact, I do not believe that James Harden would be any better on this team than Booker. Harden is a better distributor, but he has people to pass to. Booker is averaging 4 assists per game passing to Alex Len and Marquise Chriss.

Yes I watch the games and have already been to a bunch.
Yea... let’s not stop at Kobe and Harden. Hell, let’s go al the way and toss in Jordan while we’re at it! [emoji15]

 

[JS22]

Yes I watch the games and have already been to a bunch.
Yea... let’s not stop at Kobe and Harden. Hell, let’s go al the way and toss in Jordan while we’re at it! [emoji15]

Booker has the killer mentality and ability to score similar to Kobe. I don't think anyone is saying he IS Kobe. But the comparison is perfectly acceptable.

 

[elindholm]

Booker so far this season (age 21):
24.5 ppg on 19.0 FGA, .459 FG%, .389 3FG% (6.5 3FGA), .873 FT% (5.3 FTA), 4.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 0.9 spg, 3.3 topg

Bryant in his fourth season (age 21):
22.5 ppg on 17.9 FGA, .468 FG%, .319 3FG% (2.2 3FGA), .821 FT% (6.1 FTA), 6.3 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 2.8 topg

Bryant did a better job of filling the box score, and was a better defender (although that's harder to document statistically). They get right around the same number of shot attempts, if you figure in Bryant's greater number of trips to the line. Booker's three-point shooting is a real weapon, whereas it wasn't for Bryant at this stage.

 

[Mainstreet]

Ulis with a double double.

I know we had that clip going around from the Celtics game with everyone standing around. It IS a grueling game and sometimes players are just gassed, especially on a long road trip.

The double double from Ulis is what I think he is capable of doing. Twelve points and twelve assists with only one turnover is awesome. I think he is only getting back to what he is capable of doing after the off season surgery. The Suns may be looking for the PGOTF and they may already have him on the team sort of like IT.

Don't get me wrong, I want the Suns to draft a PG but I do not minimize Ulis' capability.

 

[AZCrazy]

Ulis will have to become a fast rising gamer to be considered the PG of the future. He's being utilized as a backup PG, eighth man role, forced into service because of Bled's absence.
This team needs a distributor big time, I think a top PG is our next draftee.

 

[95pro]

His height will always be a problem. But one thing he can improve upon is making that outside/3pt shot more consistently.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The best comparison for Booker right now is Kobe. But Kobe was a better defender and a less efficient shooter.

No.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Let’s pump the breaks a bit here Cheese. Booker is showing that he has the ability to become one of the elite scorers in the game today. But he is still so young and too inconsistent. I have little doubt though that he will continue to develop and improve his consistency.
But he’s not Klay - yet. Mainly because he’s not close to Klay from a defensive perspective... yet.

Hence the reason I qualified my statement only talking about his offense.