Phoenix Suns: 5 Goals For Devin Booker In 2015-16

By Gerald Bourguet | Sep 18, 2015

Sep 16, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker looks on before throwing out the first pitch for the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

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Phoenix Suns

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) shoots the ball against Wisconsin Badgers guard Josh Gasser (21) during the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Attack The Rim

Going along that same train of thought, Booker’s development as an NBA player won’t start once he starts knocking down a couple threes. No, this rookie’s game will truly shine once he learns how to attack his defenders off the dribble — the step that comes right after he starts knocking down those perimeter looks.

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With Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight capable of attacking defenders off the dribble and kicking it out to open shooters, Booker will eventually be the perimeter threat that keeps the help defense honest. As a rookie though, he probably won’t command that much respect from defenses, which will leave him open until he proves he can knock down that shot regularly.

It’s only a matter of time before that happens, and once it does, Booker will have the upper hand against defenders frantically trying to close out on his three-point shot. We’ve learned the value of that long range shot over the last few years, and that’s where Booker’s best skill lies.

But when defenders overplay his shot trying to recover, the next step of Booker’s game will be making them pay for it by pump faking, putting the ball on the floor and blowing right by them. Being able to make smart plays off the bounce like that is what will build even more trust with Hornacek.

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