3 Ways the Phoenix Suns can ease the burden on Devin Booker

If the Suns run a few more plays for Booker off the ball and then have him more involved in the pick-and-roll on the ball, it should create easier looks and put more pressure on the defense.

Can we get Booker the ball on the block, please?

All that said, Booker is still an excellent one-on-one player, and no matter how many more plays are run, we know it is likely that 50% of the time, Booker will be working in isolation. The question is where the isolation will take place. Will Booker be isolated out on the wing, 20+ feet away from the basket, or can we get him isolated down on the block and baseline, closer to 10-12 feet away?

Booker shoots over 60% on the season when 10 feet or closer to the basket. Would it not make more sense to get him more shoots in this range?

How often do we see Booker in the post on the block or baseline? How often did we see Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant in those positions? Jordan and Bryant dominated from the baseline with their backs to the basket. I’m not saying Booker is either, but he has similar moves with the ball.

We know Booker has a great jab-step and a wonderful triple-threat game. However, he is also 6’5″, over 200 pounds, and a beast on the baseline. Why not start incorporating more of a post-game into the Suns’ arsenal for Booker? Maybe that will encourage other players to post up more.

Post-ups are passe in today’s NBA, but inside-out games happen when you have an inside game, which Booker can help bring to some extent and will be needed, especially with Ayton out.

Ultimately, the Suns will only go as far as DBook can carry us, especially until Durant returns. The least the team can do is help carry Booker a little by playing to his strengths and doing more to make his day just a little easier. Will things change when Durant returns? Yes, just as they should until he does return, and those changes should be designed to make Booker the best he can be.