A Closer Look At Devin Booker's Quiet Game One For the Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker shot 5-16 with 18 points for the Phoenix Suns in a Game One loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Brendon Kleen of @justbasketballfans is joined by Brandon Dueñas of Bright Side of the Sun to break down Booker's performance as well as what they are worried about coming off the loss and what they aren't worried about.
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#PhoenixSuns #KevinDurant #DevinBooker #NBA #BradleyBeal

[@kxd2735]

This suns team reminds me of that scene in the Cat in the Hat movie where they’re all driving with 3 different steering wheels and can’t keep control of the car 😂 There’s no direction or pecking order on this team.. KD sees someone get hot, he gives them the ball and gets out the way.. but when KD is hot, there’s still 3-5 other people still trying to steer the ship smh.

[@brodiecahill1115]

KD has always shared it around a lot. Almost too much at times.

[@kxd2735]

@@brodiecahill1115 I agree

[@FitGuyAZ577]

Booker was dog water and the only reason the Suns had a remote shot at any point in this game was KD

[@CashEmDaily]

Phx media weird asf. It’s the playoffs nd yall want Kd to have the ball less lol.

[@KMM5821]

I have been calling this out during the season for their bias against KD I was called a KD Stan and Book hater

[@35God7]

What I don’t understand is why when they started guarding Durant 1 on 1 did we decide to take the ball out of his hands. Whenever others have mismatches all season KD has always given the ball to them to go to work. Can y’all at least let him get the ball to attack mismatches or are we that scared him scoring more will overshadow the franchise player. Does Booker have to go on vacation to realize sometimes when it is not his night he shouldn’t force it too much. I get the agenda Booker is the reason KD is even here on Suns. That Suns were irrelevant without Booker being on the radar for years. That if it doesn’t work out and KD being already towards the end of his career that y’all don’t want to say anything negative about Booker to keep him around for years. We get the point but at age of 35 KD has done everything at higher level than Booker on offense and defense all year. All our 4th quarter issues through the season stem directly from Booker ball hogging. He can score 50 but doesn’t involve nobody else and wants to pass in final minutes after he kept everyone else cold all game. The only thing that Suns media pick up are ways to highlight anything other than his failures to lead his franchise. All great players like Wade even stepped back and let Lebron be Lebron leading to championships. Even Curry did the same for Durant leading to success. But Booker is not even on Wade level not even mention Curry. His game is selfish and just tough shots and doesn’t recognize who is open until he has tried to go at same defender like 10 times. But by the time he is awake the game is already over. The times when one player takes 30 shots is over long ago with too many skills and anyone who can hit threes now can end the game within few possessions. Ball movement and taking advantage of mismatches are what work today. Did you see how well Ant a 22 year plays unselfish and Booker is nearly 30 still talking about mamba mentality. Kobe at least kept feeding Shaq and was successful. Pass the ball you ball hog.

[@omart1734]

You took the words out my mouth like against the pelicans we played through book cuz he had it going but when kd has it going book still wants to do his own thing like read the game

[@MrNashtyone]

Yeah bro the worst part of it is they're paying him 40 million a year. He thinks he's the sh because of his money. Thinks he's better than anyone on the team. Thinks that he's better than the fans who pay his salary. That people come to the game to worship him. All the fans want is an NBA team. They don't want a Booker ISO hero ball team. But like I said Book won't be humble and see his flaws because of all that money. Money is the worst destroyer of man and his soul. It will never improve a man. It will only make him worse

[@petethegreat101]

It’s tough for a guy that age and size to guard ant and then go back and Isolate against a physical team every possession

[@ChopDaDon]

All of Phx media hates that Book is no longer the best player on the team & it’s kinda sad & hilarious at the same time

[@KMM5821]

I don't know what KD did to them to deserve this😅what more if he wins fmvp

[@Santana953]

Curry and Thompson are both excellent players but when KD came along they took the back seat and that is why they won two times. Booker got to learn how and when to share the ball. Until then they won't win.

[@ChopDaDon]

@@KMM5821 it’s crazy

[@ChopDaDon]

@@Santana953 yea KD could be on fire & Book would spend the next five minutes chucking shots… I hate that shit he needs to do better

[@alberth1150]

This is what I’ve been saying about Nurk… he has no pressure to perform because of the hate for DA of being picked over Luka. If we could of had Sabonis the feeling for Nurk would be different. If this was Ayton’s stat line this podcast would be focused on him and his 4 rebounds. Being the #1 pick and pay

[@2cents250]

If KD played like trash the title would be different. “quiet” would not be in the title 😂😂😂

[@buddhavaro]

I love the honesty on this show.

[@tbar1047]

Booker definitely was the weakest link it's called the Kardashian curse 😂😂😂.

[@Woody13woodpecker]

He's just soft.

[@danielcruz9904]

no one said KDs turnovers aren't a problem, 5 is a lot, but if he had 3 turnovers, you live with it considering how he scored. A few of those turnovers were unforced, he has the ability to take care of the ball, we've all seen it. his turn overs are not why the suns lost

[@LukeWeyrauch93]

I didn’t have us winning Game 1. It’s very hard to beat the home team in Game 1. It can be done but it’s really hard to. I got a lot of flack from people when I said the Wolves win was ,in large part, because of the home crowd energy. Now, I’m not saying the Wolves aren’t a good team. They’re a great team in fact but what I’m saying is that the home crowd gave them the confidence to play like they did, mainly on offense. It’s no coincidence that every home team won yesterday. Not only that but almost every home team was winning by nearly 20 points AT HALFTIME. I trust that our boys will make the right adjustments for Game 2. Bookers bound to go off at some point.

[@marouanerafiki9155]

00000

[@trainwrekka12]

Your going to learn who jaden mcdaniels and nickeil Alexander walker are really quick. Booker will be seeing them in his dreams

[@jefftelfort291]

The Phoenix Suns don’t deserve KD they hate on him and give every excuse to Frank Vogel and Devin Booker. One of these phoenix suns podcasters said Grayson Allen was the most consistent player 😂😂😂.. These guys are idiots 😂

[@fasj72]

So tired of these bullshit ass excuses for Book? outsiders looking in also see it too, but they're being called stans! My opinion is the reason this team cnt win is because of book and it seems all the PHNX media outlets only wnt to win if Book can be the man. When you wnt the best player on the team in Durant to reduce himself to a lesser player that Book wth are we really expecting to win... it's like Book is holding the team hostage.. if he was really the leader he'd recognize he's no longer the best player and in my opinion not even the 2nd best player on this team, but im sure I'll just be called a stan🤬

[@KMM5821]

Yet when the teams loses it's KD fault somehow

[@Santana953]

I was watching this guy talked about the Warrior earlier on., praising how good they are this year! Well they are fishing right now. Now he blah blah blah about not worry about Booker! How many not worry do you have?

[@Joey-rd3os]

It’s not even remotely the same. The reason wolves have Jaden and ant on beak and book because kd is dropping a efficent 30 REGARDLESS. THATS WHAT YOUR NOT GETTING. It’s not their gameplan goofy, it’s cause they can’t stop kd and know they can stop beal and book cause they simple not close to kd level, use your head

[@brodiecahill1115]

You clowns are getring called out for your kd hate. Not even stans as you say. Everyone notices now. Pull ya heads in. If steph can take a back seat to kd then book should too

[@Ilo-beroshvili]

brandon we all know you dont like kd trade.we all know you love book and hate kd. Its ok but be more objective man.stop beefing with fans. Sometimes i think you want kd s bad game to prove your point😁

[@MrNashtyone]

Yeah the funny thing is Booker wanted his super team. He got his super team. And now Brandon is hating on his lover boy's super team. He doesn't even want his lover boy to be happy.

[@sashascarce]

Just saw Kyrie try to will his team to a win. Booker literally looked like he was scared to even attack the rim smh Me and you can’t want it more than the players smh. Edit: it’s not supposed to be easy. If you’re striving to “be legendary” then Mcdaniels can’t stop you. Simple as that.

[@ayaanleali7203]

he standing on the corner and doing nothing instead take the ball and shoot

[@bernardamapps1577]

Minisota decided no matter who they put on KD he will score but Booker has no advantage against tall atheletic wing

[@michaelevans-im5fv]

vogel cant make in game adjustments period

[@michaelevans-im5fv]

iso ball again

[@mercutiomurphy2743]

Minnesota is the toughest team between them, nuggets and okc imo.

[@mrhoopfan1]

Book Needs a valid PG

[@fasj72]

And it's a reason that most of Books big scoring games result in a fn loss!!

[@2cents250]

PHX fans don’t want to admit that the only reason they made it to the finals in 2021 is bc everyone was injured in the West. Lakers, Nuggets, Warriors and the Clippers didnt have Kawhi. The team was overrated and now ppl think Booker is better than KD. Look at KD vs the Bucks jn 2021 compared to Booker vs Bucks in 2021. Booker had a breakout playoff performance last year but KD has been a great playoff performer for most of his career. #4 in playoff averages for the history of the NBA.

[@FitGuyAZ577]

You can point out injuries for every run that ever happened though. Lakers didn’t even have to leave the same building to win their Mickey Mouse ring.

[@KMM5821]

It's like these booker fans are something else

[@thebigwarthog]

You can say the same for the sun's in 2022 and 2023. CP3 got injured both years in the playoffs

[@2cents250]

@@FitGuyAZ577most teams are not having multiple injuries to their starting lineup like 2021. The Suns didnt have to face the best of the best. No Steph, Lebron w/o AD, Jokic was solo and PG was solo. Easy to get to the finals with the competition they had to face.

[@2cents250]

@@thebigwarthogtrue but when has cp3 been reliable in the post season? 😂😂😂 He is talented but his health has been a factor for most of his career.

[@michaelevans-im5fv]

suns win series

[@JesseDahl]

Suns in 6!

[@byrdsientertainment9625]

😂

[@janatroup9857]

The coach better find some answers??? It is not just low player performances, it is Coaching game plans that are "Bad"

[@MrNashtyone]

Dude this coach hasn't had any kind of an offense all year. Zero schemes. Zero building confidence in his other players. Zero pace. All letting the 3 do whatever they want with their ISO hero ball. This team has never been a team. Eric Gordon knows he made a mistake coming to this team and the others who got traded knew it too.

[@superm1ification]

The suns beat themselves in game 1.... Everyone had a bad game besides pretty much kd. Nurkic jad a very bad game aswell. Im comfident that wont happen again. I wanna see bol and thad in game 2 of this series. i'm still suns in 5

[@ColtenKerkow-lo1ww]

Lmfao

[@tonymack2007]

Suns fans delusional 😂 you just got blown out by 25 but you expect too win 4 straight cause suns, beat clips without there best player 😂.

[@philipedwards6222]

Booker is a disappointment. He has the potential to be a great player but he doesn't have the that competitive edge or will to win mentality. Vogel on the other seems to be lost in the sauce I gave up on him.

[@Woody13woodpecker]

Better Help!!!

[@BA-wo1yx]

It’s fine. Nobody expects the suns to win anything anyway

[@BA-wo1yx]

Gonna get your asses beat even worse in game two