sashaturiaf wrote:garrick wrote:Boujack wrote:"This will be the MVP season for Booker" (Since 2020)
I think Booker winning the Olympics has made him complacent and seeing this trash roster he probably doesn't care anymore and a change of scenery will do him some good.
Lots of star players had to be traded to energize them and for Book maybe the fact that he's been here forever plays a part in his apathy this season?
Sometimes you just need a fresh start.
Book's been extremely disappointing all season, how many players regress in their age 28 season while healthy. This should be his absolute prime, 30 ppg and put the team on his back should be the baseline. Can't help but think bringing KD in was a huge mistake that's stunted Book's growth, but that's also on Book, he shouldn't be deferring to the 36 year old and getting outplayed by Austin Reaves.
#belegendary? Books been more like #besedimentary
Since Michael and Wilt have been the only two players in NBA history to average 30 points, and only SGA and Giannis this year (I think), I believe you are setting an extremely high bar (let alone a baseline) in judging Book.
I think it is particularly questionable to believe KD stunted growth when Devin had his two best scoring years with KD. It's true his best was only for a small portion (with KD in that first year). But they were outstanding in the playoff elimination by Denver. Book, particularly was exceptional when they outscored Jokic and Murray (albeit by only one point if I recall correctly) in that series. His second best year (by only .7 of a point) was last year, when they had identical averages. I am unsure who deferred to whom, if anyone did.
It is true that he had a slow start in the chaos and dysfunction of this year. But while scoring less than in the first two Durant years, he still has exceeded his career scoring average and equaled that of his first all-star year. I think any allegation of regression is exaggerated based on a nominal difference in numbers. He's still ninth in the league in scoring.
In summary I need not look at this roster or personnel usage to believe that the only two players who need to be guarded (even doubled or trapped) are receiving such blame for team disaster. But admit I could be wrong since it is such a lonely opinion.