Devin Booker, the silent assassin who is blowing up the Playoffs

PFew “killers” have been in the NBA as Devin Booker. We are talking about scorers with a special instinct, players created to destroy any opposition they face, those who smell blood and go for it, capable of scoring points in the blink of an eye. The one from Phoenix knows well that of grabbing the ball and not stopping to find the net. In the NBA Playoffs there is no tomorrow, it is win or die. Simple as that. And he is a serial killer. Rude and disrespectful. A born competitor.

Ante Los Angeles Clippers, Booker once again proves to be one of the most reliable players in the postseason. On a team he’s on Kevin Durant, he is being the leader. The escort is doing absolutely everything in this series, both in attack and defense. Seeing him average 34.8 points is one thing, but also doing it with good percentages (57% in TC) plus 2.7 steals and 1.2 blocks raises his impact to even more valuable levels.

He heat map of Devin Booker during the Game 2: 38 points (14-22 in TC, 4-7 in T3) and nine assists.

It shouldn’t draw so much attention to see this in the Playoffs: against tighter defenses and with more scouting work and with the ball spending more time in the hands of the figures, the resource of the middle distance shot It ends up being totally necessary and useful to define different situations, mainly in 1 vs 1. And Booker is a specialist.

Visually it is It was a spectacle to see him put the handbrake four meters from the hoop and shoot over his defender. Or twist and shoot from any angle. Going through the dribble, dodge the defender and shoot out of space. Also, it is giving you a great result: registers an effective shot of 52.1% in shot after dribble (73.5% accuracy in shot from three meters), in addition to signing an outstanding 55.6% in ‘catch and shoot’. ‘Killer’.

The mid-distance shot, registered trademark. Only 25.3% of their actions end in perimeter shots, averaging a 43.5% accuracy (2.5 – 5.8). Master all registers. A lethal scorer.

Back performance no less spectacular

Booker’s defensive evolution since Monty Williams’ arrival in Phoenix has been remarkable. And although the escort does not stop taking the spotlight for his immense task in attack, he has achieved a very remarkable level of solidity in his own half. Elderly effort, best readtop fundamentals. Natural tools have never been lacking, it was just a matter of being used. And for a while now, that’s exactly what he’s been doing.

The qualitative leap on the defensive side is being the most striking. Paired with Russell Westbrook most of the time (20:55′), he is leaving the Californian point guard in a 40% success rate (14-35 in TC). Eric Gordon has scored six points on 11 shots field and Norman Powell register a 7-17 in CT in the 9:33 ‘that Booker has defended him.

Booker will never be a specialist or a dominant player in defensive terms. The charge that he has in attack already puts a limitation on the energy that he can use on that side. However, in a team that has players like Chris Paul, Kevin Durant (by age) or Deandre Ayton, the irruption of the escort in this facet is cathedral. As long as you stick to the game plan, stay focused and offer strengththe Suns reach them.

Booker claims his site

At the top of the cusp of NBA stardom is a highly exclusive category restricted to a handful of privileged. Devin Booker is one of the most important figures of his generation, one of the most impactful American players today along with Tatum, I Morant, Zion… And despite the numbers, the progression and everything exposed, his name continues to appear as a footnote among aspirants to become the representative of his time.

While others wait for them to talk about themselves or for their words to define who they are, Devin Booker does it through the game, offering night after night the best possible version of himself. As his father taught him and as he later learned from Kobe Bryant, idol and mentor. The young star of the Suns is the eternal MVP candidate who has been relegated to the background. Until now. Because his 2022-2023 season definitely deserves that consideration.