Game Day: Suns (9-2) @ Kings (6-5), Wed 11/13/24

[Wally_West]

I’m just not gonna overreact to a loss to a decent team, where you’re missing 2 of your top 3 players, an important role player and it’s the 2nd night of a back to back.

[pickle]

I do think that Booker has the type of game that doesn't do well against aggressive double teams as his handles are not the tightest. He's a functional dribbler who can get to his spots so he can rise up for that mid range pull up, but he rarely gets a lot of separation from his dribbling; his greatness comes from his ability to make tough shots despite not having a lot of space. I don't remember a single instance where he managed to split a double team and create a downhill advantage (though admittedly I don't get to watch every game). Instead he usually backtracks at a double team and kind of backs himself into a corner and by time a teammate comes to rescue him they are also far above the 3 point line and not in a position to take advantage of the scrambling created by the double team.

[ShelC]

Kings might be one of those teams that just has our number this year. They were hitting everything they looked at and we couldn't keep them out of the lane either. Couldn't stop Fox off the dribble, Huerter looks like Larry Bird against us, Murray was hot and Sabonis was really active even tho he didn't score much. Thought we would've fared better even with our guys out but I think they're just too quick/athletic for us.

Book was double and triple teamed all night but we also didn't make the Kings pay when we got good looks off his passes. Royce couldn't hit anything, Jones was 3-11 and Nurk couldn't take advantage of his size against Sabonis. Nice seeing JO with a strong game but if he's your leading scorer, you're probably in trouble. Not sure I trust him to keep it up because he's had some good games before and then falls off again so taking a wait-and-see approach.

Hopefully Allen and Beal are back soon, we need reliable offense.

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

Spoiler: show/hide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAqDr0UCZh0

[Wally_West]

I know bias and maybe a little salty over these loses but if this was the playoffs with both teams fully healthy, I think we sweep kings, tbh.

[TOO]

I know bias and maybe a little salty over these loses but if this was the playoffs with both teams fully healthy, I think we sweep kings, tbh.

Yeah probably. They have no answer for KD, not there anyone does really.

[specialsauce]

Crazy how teams can't just reduce other stars to role players, it only happens to Booker. We never seem to olay a team and eliminate their star player. Stars find ways to score. He's just not a superstar. He peaked two years ago

[O_Gardino]

I worry about us against any team that has good big men, but Sabonis is probably at the bottom of my worry list.

[Split T]

Crazy how teams can't just reduce other stars to role players, it only happens to Booker. We never seem to olay a team and eliminate their star player. Stars find ways to score. He's just not a superstar. He peaked two years ago

I think it just comes down to semantics…he was never(and will never) be in the class of LeBron, Curry, Durant, Jokic, Giannis, etc.

Someone called him a 1b…I do think his ideal role would be as a lethal off ball scoring machine playing off another on ball star. Book can do both, but he’s not at the level of guys like Giannis, Luka, or even SGA. He’d be lethal playing off one of those guys though. As much as we don’t like Luka, Luka/Booker would’ve been about as good of a duo as there is. Embiid/Jokic are those 1a types as well(when Embiid is healthy). Prime Harden or even Westbrook could’ve been decent fits too.

Book is on the same level as Paul George to me(career wise, not talking specifically now). Kyrie is another good comparison to me.

[1tinsoldier]

i agree with most of these assessments. Most superstars have at least one attribute you can't fully negate. Size, strength, agility, speed, smart under pressure, defensive ability. KD, for example, can always fall back on his length to get off a good shot. Booker has a little of many skills but he can be contained. He has to be hot for us to get our money's worth out of his supermax salary.

When he's hot he does look like a superstar. But, imo, he's a star not a 1. Book was 1b with CP3 because CP3 made everyone better. With KD, Book's a solid 2. On team USA, he was valued as a starting role-player. A solid 5

[Superbone]

This a Loss with a BIG L


Hopefully we don’t get blown out.

Well, your hope was alive until the end when the doors were blown off.

[Superbone]

On paper this looks like an L, but you never know on a Booker revenge night.

How about on a Booker double teamed all night night?

[Superbone]

Lot of guys out, but maybe it'll let us get some other guys minutes in the rotation, such as Monte Morris, Oso, and Okogie. I still like our roster even without the guys who are out tonight. And Booker should be much better than he was in the last Kings game. I think we can give Sacramento a fight.

And maybe even deeper like all the way deep to the G League guys. At least Tyty started out like gangbusters. And we did stay in it and claw our way back a few times until the fourth quarter.

[Superbone]

Remember last week when everything was cool and the Suns were cruising? Damn man.

Man, those were the days...

[Superbone]

Yeah the kings broadcast is super homer territory - exceptionally one eyed.

Impossible to listen to, id rather just not watch the game.

I'm glad I didn't have to. It was tough enough as is.

[Superbone]

Gonna be a tough 2 weeks. Especially if we are gonna be missing Beal for a chunk of it.

Good thing we had a great start.

[Superbone]

Gonna be a tough 2 weeks. Especially if we are gonna be missing Beal for a chunk of it.

Booker needs to step up and play at a high level every night (or close to it).

Which is going to be tough to do if he's doubled every time. Great strategy on the Kings part and I'm sure other teams are paying attention. I'm afraid the other guys are going to have to step up. Props to Okogie last night.

[Superbone]

Gonna be a tough 2 weeks. Especially if we are gonna be missing Beal for a chunk of it.

Booker needs to step up and play at a high level every night (or close to it).

I get it but it’s going tough, teams are literally going to throw 2-3 guys at him every night, like the kings did tonight. The other starters are going to have to step up, namely Tyus and Nurk.

Great minds...

[Superbone]

Gonna be a tough 2 weeks. Especially if we are gonna be missing Beal for a chunk of it.

Booker needs to step up and play at a high level every night (or close to it).

I get it but it’s going tough, teams are literally going to throw 2-3 guys at him every night, like the kings did tonight. The other starters are going to have to step up, namely Tyus and Nurk.

People coddle Booker like he's the only player that gets double teams thrown his way.

So he's the only lead dog that opposing teams key in on?

Come on. He needs to be averaging 25 ppg without a doubt.

You don't force it against double teams. You get rid of the ball to the guys who are now unguarded. Booker actually needs to get better at getting rid of the ball quicker.

[O_Gardino]

On paper this looks like an L, but you never know on a Booker revenge night.

How about on a Booker double teamed all night night?

Sometimes those are revenge nights. Not last night, though.