Devin Booker has been one of the league's best fourth-quarter players so far, but the Suns' poor play in the first three quarters has negated his brilliance. He's led the Suns to a positive net rating in the final frame, but the Suns are still sitting at a paltry 3-5 with a few blowout losses. Although the Suns have cemented Booker as the franchise star, they haven't been able to put a winning team around him this season.
Booker's late-game heroics are being wasted
While Booker himself has been great in the fourth quarter, the Suns have still lost a couple of clutch games against struggling teams. They suffered a defeat to the ailing Grizzlies when Ja Morant was able to get into the lane with ease and hit a game-winner. And they were unable to put away the Jazz in a contest that went to overtime, with Lauri Markkanen scoring a career-high 51 points.
The Suns' offensive rating in the fourth quarter is actually a couple points better than their overall offensive rating, which is generally a rarity. Unfortunately it's less indicative of the Suns' incredible clutch play than their deficiencies in other parts of the game. Despite some improvements in the supporting cast, the players around Booker haven't done enough to put themselves in winning positions.
Booker is averaging incredible numbers for the season overall: 31 points and 7 assists per game. He has been one of the league's most versatile 3-level scorers for years, which also helps him handle pressure in clutch moments better than most stars. No matter what defenses throw at him in the game's biggest moments, he can get to his spots and score regardless.
But it's clear Booker has also taken a leap with his playmaking. His assist numbers are impressive for playing with such a lackluster supporting cast. His improvements as a passer in recent seasons have not only boosted his counting stats, they've also given him another weapon in clutch situations. His offensive game is now complete and he can find open teammates if defenses sell out completely to double him.
Sadly, Booker is in a tough situation this season. Despite his best efforts, the team hasn't found reliable success. Hopefully the rest of the team can pick up the slack as Booker continues to prove himself as one of the league's best players.
The Suns have not ranked very highly in either offensive or defensive rating this season. Their lack of quantifiable team strengths is proof of a flawed roster construction. The front office had its hands tied shipping out Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in the offseason, but now it's time for them to rebuild a proper team around Booker.