Devin Booker Looks Unstoppable, and Suns Know it
Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker continues to reach new heights.
Though it wasn't easy at times, the Suns were able to pull out a 129-124 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to take a 2-1 series lead ahead of Saturday's Game 4. With both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George out, pressure mounted on Phoenix's starters to take advantage of the two holes in the lineup.
Booker did just that, scoring a whopping 45 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
Nobody in NBA history has hit those numbers in the postseason without turning the ball over.
Suns coach Monty Williams opened his postgame media availability with how strong Booker has looked this entire series:
“It's what he's been doing this series, I told him after game one, he was the thermostat for the team and he set the tone and temperature for 48 minutes, not just from the start. And to have him play that many minutes and we needed it and have that kind of production speaks to his ability to not just physically grind it out, but mentally grind it out. So I don't want to have to play him that many minutes every night, but I felt like tonight we needed it and we'll rest up tomorrow," Williams said.
"But his ability to not just shoot the ball but get to the basket and take the contact is where I've seen him grow the last two years. He's getting all the way to the rim. Guys are hitting him and he's still finishing plays and he was phenomenal tonight … Book [Devin Booker] made the right reads and we knew this was gonna be this kind of game. They were gonna go small and switch and we thought we'd see more zone, but I'm just grateful for how the guys played and responded to a hostile environment and being able to make plays down the stretch.”
He also commented on how strong Booker has developed mentally.
“I don't know. I have no idea. I just know it when I see it. I've been around players like that in my career as a player and a coach and I couldn't explain it. I just know that when you see it, you recognize that those guys are a bit different and that's who he is," said Williams.
"And I don't think he's trying to prove that either. I think he's just trying to play winning basketball, and so that's one of the reasons why we've had some success in Phoenix is because of his ability to not just do it on offense, but defensively, he's guarding all of their guys who are physical and athletic and I thought he was really smart with his defense tonight to not pick up foul when they were for forcing the issue to get to the basket.”
Booker himself said following the game he was locked in, especially with the playoff atmosphere at Crypto.com Arena:
"I’d say it was strictly playoffs. I keep saying it’s that time. It’s win or go home, every possession matters, every detail matters. So just trying to value every possession of the ball," he said.
"I love it. This is my life. I dedicate my whole entire life since a kid to this sport and this game. When you know you got it going like that on the big stage, there’s nothing else you can ask for.”
Teammate Kevin Durant said it was one of the all time great performances.
“All-time great performance in the playoffs like that on the road: game three, 45 with that efficiency. I expect stuff like this from him at this point in his career. He set the tone. Getting to the rim. Making plays for others. Controlling the whole game. We’ll need him to continue doing that moving forward," said Durant.
Even with other stars around him, Booker continues to shine even when the lights are brightest. Like Durant said, the Suns will need him at his best moving forward.
