Devin Booker missing games just gave Suns perfect chance at playoff upset

The Phoenix Suns are going to get a chance to make it into the playoffs proper through the play-in tournament, and we already know they will be doing so as the seventh seed.

Which made resting Devin Booker for Friday night's beatdown at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers an obvious and smart decision.

Resting Booker gives chance for Suns to create playoff upset

Giving the franchise cornerstone the opportunity to catch his breath is exactly what the Suns need if they are going to try and win a playoff series this season.

Getting to the playoffs at all would be seen as a massive success for head coach Jordan Ott, but Phoenix has the chance to end this campaign on a real high.

Just as important was not having Booker out there for the aforementioned 101-73 loss because of what it could have done for morale throughout the roster as well.

The Lakers are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves themselves, and losing so badly to them before the postseason with everybody out there would have been a bad look.

Instead coach Ott had a chance to sit both Booker and Jalen Green and also keep some tricks up his sleeve in the unlikely event the two teams meet again down the road this season.

Booker does need to play in the final game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder to be eligible for the end of year awards, and it will be interesting to see how he handles this.

With so many other stars (including the likes of Doncic) unlikely to make the cut themselves, Booker has a chance to add to his All-NBA tally.

Perhaps it would not be deserved based on this season if the new 65 games played rule was not in place, but he should also have more than just a pair of selections to date as well.

Then again, not caring about this stuff and getting the extra rest in before the play-in games start would signal to the organization what Booker really cares about.

Not that this has ever been called into question, but it is a fun wrinkle for the 29-year-old to think about as the regular season comes to a close.

Perhaps sitting out a game against the physical Thunder (no matter who they put out there) is the smart thing to do, but Booker is also a competitor who wants to win every game.