With 15 points in the first quarter, Devin Booker led the charge for the Suns during Opening Night against the Warriors. But the All-Star especially impressed as a money-time organizer.
While he admitted that fatigue was starting to get to him, “Point Book” delivered three essential assists in the last 70 seconds of the match. For a 3-pointer from Josh Okogie, a 3-pointer from Eric Gordon and a layup from Jusuf Nurkic which allowed Phoenix to seal their victory.
The pick-and-roll with Jusuf Nurkic as a base
Three assists that came from his reads on the pick-and-roll played with Jusuf Nurkic. Three particularly interesting assists because they show all the patience and intelligence of the Arizona back.
On the first sequence, Devin Booker seeks to take advantage of the “tagger”, in this case Chris Paul, the player who must help on the inside who cuts towards the circle. As soon as Jusuf Nurkic goes to the circle and the opposing leader comes to help, “Book” can serve Josh Okogie, who has a little time to draw.
This is what Luka Doncic does particularly well, for example, in order to free up his shooters in Dallas.
On the second sequence, Devin Booker takes advantage of the fact that Stephen Curry must come and stop his dribble, thanks to a second screen from Eric Gordon on Kevon Looney, and that the double MVP must then take over the former 6th man of the Rockets and the Clippers , to serve his teammate with still a little space and time to shoot.
Patience and length of time…
Here again, Devin Booker is impressive in his reading and patience, finding Eric Gordon at the right time.
Finally, on the third and final sequence, Devin Booker takes advantage of Kevon Looney’s more aggressive rise on his shot to serve Jusuf Nurkic in his cut towards the circle.
This is because with the Warriors pivot contesting his shot, and Jonathan Kuminga on Kevin Durant at the head of the racket, the defensive backline is made up of Chris Paul and Klay Thompson. The “Bosnian Beast” therefore clearly has the physical advantage and can therefore quite easily complete the match with a layup.
Three sequences, three different readings on the pick-and-roll. If we could be worried about the lack of a pure leader in the Phoenix squad, Devin Booker must have reassured people about this match as he was able to make the right choices in important moments, as organizer. At a press conference, Chris Paul could only say he was “proud” to see his “brother” dictating the game in this way, the lessons of CP3 having been well assimilated.
Furthermore, we will also note the work of Jusuf Nurkic, who sets really good screens (Deandre Ayton had too much tendency to “slip” on his) with clear intentions which open the game. Especially since the former Blazer does not does not sulk if he does not receive the ball in these sequences, aware that his role is first and foremost to make the defense react.
