Game Day: Suns (9-3) @ Thunder (10-2), Fri 11/15/24

[Mori Chu]

Hey 1tin, just curious, how would you answer the following: Devin Booker is the ____th best player in the NBA right now. Who in the NBA do you like better than Book? Others feel free to weigh in, too.

[Split T]

perhaps some brave soul, good with the stats, can post Booker's career success rate with game winning shots and within the final minute of games?
and turnover rate in the final minute?

because from where i've sat for the past decade it clearly looks like we've got a Carmelo Anthony, Russel Westbrook, Allen Iverson, James Harden future ahead. Career scorer's who never really learned how to leverage team play to win in crunch time.

Or maybe a Jayson Tatum

from what i've seen of Tatum, he's doesn't necessarily make bad decisions, he just fails to show up sometimes
it's not missed shots, i mind. It's missed opportunities based on bad decisions

like last game, Book does the hard part by scoring 44 points, but then wastes it all by making the bad decision to play 1 on 1 in crunch time and force bad shots and throw his body into double and triple teams

i just heard him say the right thing about not being "the old Book" who takes on the doubles, but he can't help himself in the crunch

We must have watched different games…Booker was not forcing it against double and triple teams…he was making the pass to the open man every time he was doubled. You obviously have an axe to grind with Book, so I doubt it will matter, I just don’t understand what you want. What did you think of his series against Denver in 2023? How about his back to back 40 pieces in the finals? Book did his part in those games.

Book isn’t perfect. He’s not Luka. He’s not Kobe. He’s still a damn good player and has gotten us as close as any suns player to a title. It seems like you want to move on…what’s the alternative, we trade him for Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and our picks back? Gross

i said, "Book does the hard part by scoring 44 points, but then wastes it all by making the bad decision to play 1 on 1 in crunch time and force bad shots and throw his body into double and triple teams." in CRUNCH TIME

that's the issue. the FLAW that dooms us to fall short every season, just like the other stars i mentioned. Sure, like them, Book has had a tremendous career, terrific games and seasons.

I was talking about crunch time. When did Booker force it last night?

The bigger problem was offensive fouls committed by Plumlee and Grayson in the final 2 minutes. Booker took 4 shots in the final 5 minutes. We took 9 total. 2 of those shots were on the final possession. Doesn’t scream forcing it against double teams to me.

[1tinsoldier]

Hey 1tin, just curious, how would you answer the following: Devin Booker is the ____th best player in the NBA right now. Who in the NBA do you like better than Book? Others feel free to weigh in, too.

he'd miss my cut for the all-star game so i guess that would put him around 16 to 20

but considering his
* bad decision making at the end of games and sloppiness when he gets rattled
* his lack of defensive concentration unless it's his Team USA role
* his lack of communication and inspiring of his teammates
* his share of Suns all-time meltdowns
* his super-max salary

i'd consider letting him walk away for nothing if there was a way to get out of his contract and go after an attractive free agent

[Split T]

Hey 1tin, just curious, how would you answer the following: Devin Booker is the ____th best player in the NBA right now. Who in the NBA do you like better than Book? Others feel free to weigh in, too.

he'd miss my cut for the all-star game so i guess that would put him around 16 to 20

but considering his
* bad decision making at the end of games and sloppiness when he gets rattled
* his lack of defensive concentration unless it's his Team USA role
* his lack of communication and inspiring of his teammates
* his share of Suns all-time meltdowns
* his super-max salary

i'd consider letting him walk away for nothing if there was a way to get out of his contract and go after an attractive free agent

24 players make the all-star team. I’d love to see your list of 24 you think are better than Booker

[1tinsoldier]

I was talking about crunch time. When did Booker force it last night?

his wild 3 when we needed 1 to win
(i think that was last night. there's been so many of those i can't keep track anymore)
and i do believe there was some bulldozing through doubles at the end though i think he got some free throws on one or two of them

but here's some statistical evidence

Booker's clutch shooting stats, NBA.com
(last 2 minutes in games with 5 pt diff or less)
FG% 3P%
12.5 0.0 (this season so far)
47.1 11.1 (prior season)
32.3 23.1 (prior season)
----------------
31% 11% averaged

as for tonight's game, sure, Durant's missing, but we've seen this version of the Suns for too many years, now 1 and 5 under Book's leadership. With 1 or 2 better decisions, we'd have at least 1 more win. And with his talent and AND better decisions, we'd have a championship too.
(i think Booker's last forced drive, when he got stripped, would have sealed the 3rd win in a row against the Bucks)

with the owners, coaches, and fans in denial, we'll be 0 and 60 in 5 years.

[1tinsoldier]

24 players make the all-star team. I’d love to see your list of 24 you think are better than Booker

then that's the answer
in 10 years he made the team twice in his better seasons and was an injury sub twice
this year, fans and coaches will likely rank him lower than me because i doubt he'll be in the top 24

[Split T]

His 3 last night was wide open and would’ve created a 2 for 1 if we hadn’t recovered the offensive rebound. I would not describe that as a wild shot. It was a good look.

And you’re also gonna come for Booker in the finals when he was dropping 40 because Jrue made an absolutely incredible defensive play? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the 2023 playoffs…what did you think of that Booker?

[Wally_West]

There’s no benefit to debate this Booker slander. This shit so silly. I’ll buy all the Book stock that yall selling.

[Gladiator]

I love Book. The way I look at it is if he is the best player on your team, where does he rank in best players on their team on the NBA? Gut feel is he is in the middle third in the league. And that’s fine, just means we need to have the right pieces around him.
I think this year, when fit, we very nearly so. If we can upgrade Nurk at the 5 then I think we are looking like a legit contender (no idea who that is realistically or how you get them, which is the obvious flaw in my thinking!)

[iLLmatic]

There’s no benefit to debate this Booker slander. This shit so silly. I’ll buy all the Book stock that yall selling.

I'm not advocating for dumping him for nothing, that's insane talk. I can make an assessment with my eyes and say he's not the 'take over a game type of player' that he used to be. I want that Book back.

[Split T]

Booker hasn’t been great this year, but a lot of that has been on an injury riddled team and while he was playing sick. I’m not going to jump to any conclusions yet that he’s a different player.

[Wally_West]

Booker hasn’t been great this year, but a lot of that has been on an injury riddled team and while he was playing sick. I’m not going to jump to any conclusions yet that he’s a different player.

Disagree. It’s clear that Booker will never be an all star again, and previous years was due to pure luck. Honestly, not sure if a team gives him a second contract. It might be time for him to learn Chinese, buddy. Tyty Washington’s time is now.