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Revived wrote:I was telling one of my friends this today but can you imagine how Booker’s career trajectory would’ve been if he wasn’t surrounded by such absolute crap rosters for the first 5-6 years of his career?

He’s still very new when it comes to playoffs basketball and yet he looks extremely comfortable in playoff basketball. He plays as if he’s been 10 year regular in playoff basketball and yet it’s barely his 3rd time.

If he actually had at least above average rosters in his first 4-5 years, Suns could probably have been a playoff team already and we would’ve seen him doing this a lot sooner and who knows how great of a player he would’ve been at this point if he had that experience before.

It would’ve certainly changed a lot of narratives around him, that’s for sure.

WeekapaugGroove wrote:

Revived wrote:I was telling one of my friends this today but can you imagine how Booker’s career trajectory would’ve been if he wasn’t surrounded by such absolute crap rosters for the first 5-6 years of his career?

He’s still very new when it comes to playoffs basketball and yet he looks extremely comfortable in playoff basketball. He plays as if he’s been 10 year regular in playoff basketball and yet it’s barely his 3rd time.

If he actually had at least above average rosters in his first 4-5 years, Suns could probably have been a playoff team already and we would’ve seen him doing this a lot sooner and who knows how great of a player he would’ve been at this point if he had that experience before.

It would’ve certainly changed a lot of narratives around him, that’s for sure.

I think the Suns player development during the mcd era was shameful bad but I do think Devin benefited by getting a ton of reps as a primary ball handler that I don't think he gets on a decent team. It wasn't always pretty with the turnovers but I think those reps really helped his game.

Now that's not to say Devin wouldn't have been good, he probably would have been a better defender sooner but maybe not as complete of an offensive player.

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bwgood77 wrote:

WeekapaugGroove wrote:

Revived wrote:I was telling one of my friends this today but can you imagine how Booker’s career trajectory would’ve been if he wasn’t surrounded by such absolute crap rosters for the first 5-6 years of his career?

He’s still very new when it comes to playoffs basketball and yet he looks extremely comfortable in playoff basketball. He plays as if he’s been 10 year regular in playoff basketball and yet it’s barely his 3rd time.

If he actually had at least above average rosters in his first 4-5 years, Suns could probably have been a playoff team already and we would’ve seen him doing this a lot sooner and who knows how great of a player he would’ve been at this point if he had that experience before.

It would’ve certainly changed a lot of narratives around him, that’s for sure.

I think the Suns player development during the mcd era was shameful bad but I do think Devin benefited by getting a ton of reps as a primary ball handler that I don't think he gets on a decent team. It wasn't always pretty with the turnovers but I think those reps really helped his game.

Now that's not to say Devin wouldn't have been good, he probably would have been a better defender sooner but maybe not as complete of an offensive player.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

His defense changed a lot when Paul showed up. Like close to worst in league to near average, which is an enormous change, and he's flirted between average to really good the last couple of years.

But in the playoffs, his level and consistency has gone up considerably.

I mean his whole game has been outstanding, but we've seen the high efficiency, great assist games, some good rebounding games all before, but not this level of defense, especially on a consistent basis.

I agree that I think getting so many reps early helped. And I think having a seasoned vet like Paul joined helped a lot. And he's upped his game considerably playing with KD.

But to put together the consistent very high level defense, AND the efficiency, volume, assists, and even rebounds the last 3. He has shot over 62% from the field in 3 of them averaging 38.5 in those 3. 13 steals and 5 blocks in the series too (the blocks coming in two games).

And having been very bad from 3 to end the season and even in game 1, he has shot 50% or higher 3x, including over 57% twice, and the other time near 43%. It's crazy how much he thrived from 3 in the last 4 games as opposed to his last 6 regular season games and first playoff game.

Even his overall FG% was only over 45% once in the last 6 games in the regular season, but was only under 52% once in the playoffs (47.6%)

It's rare that players play at a higher level in the playoffs than in the regular season, but in this series he blew his regular season away, ESPECIALLy the end of it. I think there was a graphic a few years back showing Kawhi was the only player who consistently played better in the playoffs than the regular season.

darmani wrote:

Read on Twitter

bigfoot wrote:What is interesting is Jordan did not get his first championship until age 27. If Booker is truly the next heir apparent at age 26, we have a lot to look forward to for the next 8-10 years. Booker has brought in Durant. Booker wants to stay in Phoenix and will be able to attract other elite free agents when Durant retires.

Why is Devin Booker one of the best players in the NBA?

Jared Dudley: “Book look like he vegan right now…He’s so dedicated. Book has always been a bucket. They thing about Book is his confidence is crazy.”