Devin Booker

[bwgood77]

I think this is applicable to Booker in 2017.... when he is stronger and not a kid anymore...

But, this is how I feel with Len and Goodwin.... both should be allowed to make mistakes and still be left on the floor to make up for it.

Yeah I forgot to add to it. Feel like we need to do it with Warren/Len for sure. I think Goodwin will end up getting traded soon.

Its happening with Warren. He is getting more minutes right now than PJ, and he doesn't seem to get pulled for little things--although Warren doesn't make alot of egregious mistakes. Len looks like he just needs time. He has gotten more minutes on a regular basis, but failed to produce. He is just going to develop slower, its not like he is being held back. He will get more minutes with Chandler out. Its a tricky thing. Some players need more time, and some players need the pressure off. Warren is the first, Len is the second.

Booker is so young, I do think his body might need to develop more just to avoid injury.

It's interesting, today I was reading the ESPN magazine and there is a big article about Towns in there and how he LOVES working with KG and that he is soaking everything in and so happy to have him there.

Then there is another article about Okafor, and it talked about how we was a little disappointed he didn't go to Minnesota because he would have loved to go to KG, and then he thought he was going to LA and thought "at least I can learn from Kobe what it takes at this level, etc" but then he ends up in Philly. He says "I really envisioned getting to the NBA and having some good veteran mentors to learn from but I ended up in Philadelphia"....those are not exact words, but that is basically what he said.

I'm very glad we got Chandler to help Len. I'm very glad Booker can soak it up from Hornacek, being an ex player. It's great that Bledsoe got to play under Chris Paul, and that Warren learned from David West, and I read he soaked up a lot of info from Granger on the bench last year. I think this stuff is important.

[jcsunsfan]

Yeah I forgot to add to it. Feel like we need to do it with Warren/Len for sure. I think Goodwin will end up getting traded soon.

Its happening with Warren. He is getting more minutes right now than PJ, and he doesn't seem to get pulled for little things--although Warren doesn't make alot of egregious mistakes. Len looks like he just needs time. He has gotten more minutes on a regular basis, but failed to produce. He is just going to develop slower, its not like he is being held back. He will get more minutes with Chandler out. Its a tricky thing. Some players need more time, and some players need the pressure off. Warren is the first, Len is the second.

Booker is so young, I do think his body might need to develop more just to avoid injury.

It's interesting, today I was reading the ESPN magazine and there is a big article about Towns in there and how he LOVES working with KG and that he is soaking everything in and so happy to have him there.

Then there is another article about Okafor, and it talked about how we was a little disappointed he didn't go to Minnesota because he would have loved to go to KG, and then he thought he was going to LA and thought "at least I can learn from Kobe what it takes at this level, etc" but then he ends up in Philly. He says "I really envisioned getting to the NBA and having some good veteran mentors to learn from but I ended up in Philadelphia"....those are not exact words, but that is basically what he said.

I'm very glad we got Chandler to help Len. I'm very glad Booker can soak it up from Hornacek, being an ex player. It's great that Bledsoe got to play under Chris Paul, and that Warren learned from David West, and I read he soaked up a lot of info from Granger on the bench last year. I think this stuff is important.

There is a difference between rebuilding and blowing it up. You have to have a veteran mentoring presence even on a rebuilding team. We found that out last year. Philly just doesn't get it yet.

[bwgood77]

There is a difference between rebuilding and blowing it up. You have to have a veteran mentoring presence even on a rebuilding team. We found that out last year. Philly just doesn't get it yet.

It would be a little bit different if they had an ex NBA player as a coach. While Brett Brown I think is a good coach, and he played 4 years in college under Pitino and was on the Spurs coaching stuff, all that helps, but I think actual player mentors are important. It has shown this year. Especially when he is out there, but suddenly Bledsoe is acting like a leader as well.

[lilfishi22]

I think having Tyson Chandler around helps with Bledsoe's confidence in regards to taking a bigger leadership role. Last season he was kind of thrust into the role when Goran was traded but now he's sort of sharing that role with Chandler which takes some of that load off his shoulder.

[bwgood77]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SunsBballComm/status/672256784111824901[/tweet]

[TASTIC]

Booker is SMOOTH.

He looks like he's still a bit 'soft' body-wise, but he's got puppy fat so in 2-3yrs he'll be a beast.

Very happy with his development and we look like we've got a real stud SG waiting in the wings!

[Mulhollanddrive]

I was sceptical about McDonough's middling picks (history shows picks 11-20 is about a 5% chance of being an All-Star) but Warren and Booker have high floors (10-15 points a game off the bench effeciently from 2017-2025) with outside shot of pushing up into All-Star contention at peak.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I was sceptical about McDonough's middling picks (history shows picks 11-20 is about a 5% chance of being an All-Star) but Warren and Booker have high floors (10-15 points a game off the bench effeciently from 2017-2025) with outside shot of pushing up into All-Star contention at peak.

I have very high hopes for Warren, and I think he can be an All-Star, but the way Booker shoots it, I don't know if there's any way he WON'T be an All-Star.

[JMac1]

I was sceptical about McDonough's middling picks (history shows picks 11-20 is about a 5% chance of being an All-Star) but Warren and Booker have high floors (10-15 points a game off the bench effeciently from 2017-2025) with outside shot of pushing up into All-Star contention at peak.

I have very high hopes for Warren, and I think he can be an All-Star, but the way Booker shoots it, I don't know if there's any way he WON'T be an All-Star.

If Hornacek continues coaching here. Booker has had 15 point by HALF twice only to finish the game with 15 and 18 points. If Eddie was coach Booker would have scored 20 plus in both games and the Suns would have won the last game!!

[ATTL]

Booker deserves a chance in the three point shootout this year.

[Mulhollanddrive]

What's impressive for me is that he's even shooting 49% from 2 pointers. Many shooting guards clank 2s even if they're good shooters.

I'm really believing in his elite effeciency, the superstars have this relative early on - Reggie Miller was 40% from 3 and 50% from 2 in his 2nd season.

He's also averaging very similar points per 36 as Klay Thompson in his first 3 seasons (about 1-2 points less).

Not saying he will be the next one of these guys, but he's got characteristics / numbers that correlate very well.

[Mr Puddles]

What's impressive for me is that he's even shooting 49% from 2 pointers. Many shooting guards clank 2s even if they're good shooters.

I'm really believing in his elite effeciency, the superstars have this relative early on - Reggie Miller was 40% from 3 and 50% from 2 in his 2nd season. Not saying he will be, but he's got a characteristic that gives him a chance.

What Booker does very actually is recognizing when defenders are overplaying him to prevent the three point shot. This is why he got so many lapups these past two games (thus leading to a high 2pg%). Defenders play him tightly on the three point line which allows him to get sprint past and drive to the bucket.

Booker doesn't need to be the fastest or the most athletic guy to be able to blow past his defender, a simple head fake or even just the threat of him getting his shot off will allow him to get to the rim more easily than others.

[Midnight_Suns]

The homer in me always thinks that our draft picks are steals given where we have been positioned in the draft the last few years, but I legitimately feel that Booker D is the real deal. He plays with so much poise and is the YOUNGEST player in the NBA. His efficiency is astounding and he is so good at making the right passes at the right times: swinging the ball around the perimeter, splitting the defenders to find the open man (Len on the PnR and a Mirza 3 tonight, specifically), and a myriad of other smart passes this season.

I could parrot a bunch of cliches about young, promising players, and they would all be somewhat fitting based on what weve seen so far from him, but I truly think he has the tools and the IQ to be a star player in a couple years time. Three point shooting is the name of this game now and his shot is, imo, already as good as many of the top shooters in this league AT 19 YEARS OLD.

Nice pick, McD.

Thanks for finally giving a rookie minutes, Hornasuck.

[StarMaker]

I love this kid. What he has done reminds me of the rookie, Wesley Person. However, Booker is way too younger than the Person. This kid knows how to play basketball that Markieff didn't have recently and has super soft touch.

He will be a star of mine like STAT, Matrix, Brazilian Blur.

[batsmasher]

I was bummed out when the Suns picked him, thought he was going to be a 1 dimensional player in this league. But the kid plays hard and whilst he doesn't have great athleticism or defensive instincts, he's gonna work his butt off to make sure his weaknesses aren't exposed.

And that shooting stroke is pure stank.

What Booker does very actually is recognizing when defenders are overplaying him to prevent the three point shot. This is why he got so many lapups these past two games (thus leading to a high 2pg%). Defenders play him tightly on the three point line which allows him to get sprint past and drive to the bucket.

Looks 100% like Klay on those backdoor cuts.

[lilfishi22]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0stTUVYgZs[/youtube]

Kid is smooth. Makes all the right decisions. When there's a player in a better position, he gets the ball to them. When defenders gives him space, he takes the easy shot. He reads plays surprisingly well for such a young kid and it's even more surprising when you consider he came off the bench in the one season of college ball he played.

This is why Booker gets minutes and Archie doesn't. Booker is always in control, he doesn't rush anything, whether it's shots, drives or passes. Archie just looks lost out there sometimes and he only seems in his element when he's iso'd a mismatch. Oh and it helps to have a killer 3 ball too.

[bwgood77]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0stTUVYgZs[/youtube]

Kid is smooth. Makes all the right decisions. When there's a player in a better position, he gets the ball to them. When defenders gives him space, he takes the easy shot. He reads plays surprisingly well for such a young kid and it's even more surprising when you consider he came off the bench in the one season of college ball he played.

This is why Booker gets minutes and Archie doesn't. Booker is always in control, he doesn't rush anything, whether it's shots, drives or passes. Archie just looks lost out there sometimes and he only seems in his element when he's iso'd a mismatch. Oh and it helps to have a killer 3 ball too.

He really does look like a better pure PG than what we have, being a better shooter and passer than both. Obviously just one game seeing that, but those passes were great.

[carey]

He really does look like a better pure PG than what we have, being a better shooter and passer than both. Obviously just one game seeing that, but those passes were great.

He made a pass on the pick & roll with Len that neither of our $14M point guards seem to be able to make.

[carey]

Booker deserves a chance in the three point shootout this year.

That's something I haven't considered. Has a rookie ever competed in that event? Did Steph do it his rookie season?

[kennydorglas]

I was bummed out when the Suns picked him, thought he was going to be a 1 dimensional player in this league. But the kid plays hard and whilst he doesn't have great athleticism or defensive instincts, he's gonna work his butt off to make sure his weaknesses aren't exposed.

And that shooting stroke is pure stank.

What Booker does very actually is recognizing when defenders are overplaying him to prevent the three point shot. This is why he got so many lapups these past two games (thus leading to a high 2pg%). Defenders play him tightly on the three point line which allows him to get sprint past and drive to the bucket.

Looks 100% like Klay on those backdoor cuts.

I was in this wagon too...
He looked a lot like Stauskas in college and this terrified me.
But this kid is a baller.