Phoenix Suns: 3 Ways For Devin Booker to Bounce Back in Game 4

Phoenix Suns Ways to Revamp Devin Booker: Rewatch his 70-point Game

Suns coach Monty Williams is a master motivator, most recently illustrated during his efforts to help encourage Deandre Ayton to close out Game 2 in a strong manner. Recalling the contest, Williams understood that Ayton was struggling on offense, and that his frustration was starting to boil over due to it. He knew about Ayton’s tendency to hold himself to an incredibly high standard, so he urged Ayton to get back into the game, and start playing with force. The former Arizona Wildcat responded perfectly, dominating down the stretch and securing a Game 2 victory for the Suns.

For Booker, Coach Williams has not had to spend much time motivating him. As he explained after Game 2 in a USA Today article, Booker does not like it when Williams asks him if he is tired. He seems to have the same killer instinct as the late, great Kobe Bryant, putting it on display even during his career’s early stages when he produced a 70-point game over four years ago. In this effort, he made an ultimate statement to the NBA that a new superstar was born.

The 70-point game was my all-time favorite Devin Booker moment! But what stood out to me, however, was how Booker gave credit to his teammates for getting him the ball, per an ESPN article recapping the game. 

"“I was ultra-aggressive. My teammates started finding me, they started setting really good screens for me, and the rest is history.”"

Showing Booker’s 70-point game prior to Game 4 would not necessarily be intended to motivate Booker himself. Ironically, it might instead motivate Jae Crowder to step up on defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo because Booker got some of those 70-points at his expense.Rather, it would once again remind the Suns of Booker’s offensive brilliance. His teammates will watch this video and look to set strong screens for Booker.

However, it is not just the players who should look to get Booker open. Coach Williams, renowned for his brilliant offensive plays, needs to go deep into his bag of tricks to get Booker solid looks as well.