The Devin Booker non-appreciation thread.

[1tinsoldier]

Suns PR doesn't control Bickley or that station. If you listen to them on a regular basis you know how absurd that is. However, I agree with the sentiment some are making KD the scapegoat and not willing to hold other players on this team accountable. KD isn't the sole problem by a long shot. There is plenty to go around including Book, including some of the other vets, including the FO who who put the roster together and the strange decisions by Bud. Plenty of blame to go around.

of course the Suns PR doesn't literally control Bickley, but i guarantee you they all know where who butters their toast and act accordingly. It's clear to me the Suns org decided before the trade deadline they were going to double down on Booker for the foreseeable future. That meant throwing anyone else under the bus to preserve their product's (Booker's) image. Divert blame. Promote Booker. Every local tv and radio broadcast cherry-picks Booker's performance and tv is always running little Booker promos. Ann Meyer's is worst. Eddie Johnson has the most integrity.

Because Booker is "the product", Arizona Sport radio and tv knows it's in their best interest to preserve the fan base. They created the Booker myth. Now, if they dared to openly, accurately, criticize Book they know they'd pay a price with their viewers. So the propaganda continues.

and, of course, everyone is to blame for the Suns awful season. But the truth that no local broadcaster will even hint at, is -- the greatest PORTION of the blame belongs squarely on Devin Booker's shoulder. It's HIS team. Built, again, around him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

of course the Suns PR doesn't literally control Bickley, but i guarantee you they all know where who butters their toast and act accordingly. It's clear to me the Suns org decided before the trade deadline they were going to double down on Booker for the foreseeable future. That meant throwing anyone else under the bus to preserve their product's (Booker's) image. Divert blame. Promote Booker. Every local tv and radio broadcast cherry-picks Booker's performance and tv is always running little Booker promos. Ann Meyer's is worst. Eddie Johnson has the most integrity.

Because Booker is "the product", Arizona Sport radio and tv knows it's in their best interest to preserve the fan base. They created the Booker myth. Now, if they dared to openly, accurately, criticize Book they know they'd pay a price with their viewers. So the propaganda continues.

and, of course, everyone is to blame for the Suns awful season. But the truth that no local broadcaster will even hint at, is -- the greatest PORTION of the blame belongs squarely on Devin Booker's shoulder. It's HIS team. Built, again, around him.

Bickley is the furthest thing from a homer you'll find in Valley sports. He is simply not towing the company line.

And until lately, these teams weren't really built around Booker, he was just the only survivor from some very weak lineups. He's not the reason we wasted draft picks on Jackson, Chriss, Bender, Marshall, Len, Ennis, Ayton and Smith. If you're looking for the primary reason we've been a disappointment, it's all those wasted picks from the past dozen drafts. Yes, he's overpaid. Yes, he's had one of his worst seasons. But no, he isn't the problem you make him out to be and there is no conspiracy to blame everyone but him.

 

[Hoop Head]

Bickley is the furthest thing from a homer you'll find in Valley sports. He is simply not towing the company line.

And until lately, these teams weren't really built around Booker, he was just the only survivor from some very weak lineups. He's not the reason we wasted draft picks on Jackson, Chriss, Bender, Marshall, Len, Ennis, Ayton and Smith. If you're looking for the primary reason we've been a disappointment, it's all those wasted picks from the past dozen drafts. Yes, he's overpaid. Yes, he's had one of his worst seasons. But no, he isn't the problem you make him out to be and there is no conspiracy to blame everyone but him.

But...but... He doesn't use his turn signal when he changes lanes! How can you not see Booker is a monster! Not only will the Suns be better, the streets in Phoenix will be safer. This has become a public health crisis.

 

[1tinsoldier]

Yes, he's overpaid. Yes, he's had one of his worst seasons. But no, he isn't the problem you make him out to be and there is no conspiracy to blame everyone but him.

as i said, he's simply MORE of a problem then any other single factor. And no conspiracy is necessary -- it's called a common interest -- for short-term profits for every invested business involved. But it is NOT in the best interest of the community, the fans, or the Suns as a team.

the best interest of the team is to stop hyping one flawed, overpaid player as our salvation and really rebuild -- sacrifice short term profits now for a more physically and mentally healthier, more competitive team with championship potential down the road

unfortunately, today's businessmen don't give a crap about the long term ramifications (like pollution/environmental concerns) when they've got stockholders to satisfy NOW. And, as you can see from the Suns shameless, relentless hyping of their diminishing poster boy, they're not willing to take the short term hit of fan dropout. Arizona Sports radio is precisely in the same position. Fans drank the lemonade they served and they'd tune out now if their broadcast was to diss the home-town favorite.

like politicians focus on saying what it takes to be re-elected, the local broadcasters #1 priority is their own jobs. Sure, their critique is what viewers tune in for -- but there's absolutely an emotional line you can't cross when it comes to local fans -- AND I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE ABOUT THAT!