EMPIRE OF THE SUNS

Devin Booker’s next challenge: Evolving on defense like he has on offense

Mar 31, 2016, 7:41 AM

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, and Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe, right, reach for t...

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, and Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe, right, reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA Basketball game Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

(AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

Devin Booker already put to bed that his destiny as an NBA player ends with him as a deadly spot-up shooter and nothing more.

In less than a full season, the Phoenix Suns’ rookie guard already finds himself in a third wave of offensive evolution. He began the year as a three-point specialist off the bench, then found himself forced into role as a top option.

In 16 games through the month of March, his scoring has spiked to 22.4 points per game thanks to extended minutes, and his success inside the arc and at the foul stripe (5.6 free throws per game) has blended well with a play-making ability that ESPN’s Zach Lowe covered in detail a few weeks back.

As times get tough and defenses adjust, a 19-year-old so consistent in his attitude and production is promising enough.

So about that next step …

How big are those defensive concerns?

Booker ranks third-to-last — and just ahead of teammate Archie Goodwin — in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus statistic. Maybe it’s an arbitrary advanced stat, but there’s an obvious correlation when it comes to the eye test.

Take Wednesday night for example.

Booker was the primary defender on Bucks swingman Khris Middleton to begin what became a 105-94 Suns loss in Milwaukee. It was another reminder that, for all Booker’s promising offensive signs on offense, the defense has a long, long way to go.

It’s a positive sign than many of Booker’s flaws will be solved when he adds strength.

Despite not looking completely overwhelmed and not being light in the weight department, at times it seems the Booker’s biggest challenges lie in simply pushing himself under, over and through screens.

On Wednesday, Middleton got going by brushing Booker off a screen high on the right three-point line before hitting a floater. Then, Middleton simply blew by the rookie.

Even when Booker maybe, kind of got fairly caught on screens and required help, Middleton hit tough fade-aways on the move.

His multi-dimensional abilities helped him establish prime real estate in the post to get a score over the rookie. Then the Bucks’ forward simply shrugged off Booker’s best efforts to push him far out of the paint on a clear isolation possession.

All of those plays saw Booker put in effort to no avail.

In regards to his team defense, maybe there’s more room to grow. Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough admitted to Lowe that Booker’s rotational awareness off the ball could improve.

Below, Booker runs flush into a screen, then teammate Tyson Chandler. He floats in the paint, guarding nobody, before Chandler shoves him back to where Phoenix needs him.

Booker recovers before damage is done, but the lack of communication — with him not being on the screener on time — dooms the rotation behind him as John Henson ends up with an easy layup.

The context to Booker’s Real Plus-Minus’ and judging his learning curve of a team defense gets complicated when considering the Suns’ individual and team defense has been bad across the board. The defensive philosophies went from above the team’s head under former assistant Mike Longabardi to overly-simplified after he was let go.

Still, much of this has to do with individual defense and Booker learning the NBA.

Based on the league’s SportVU data, which categorizes plays based on how close a defender is to a player taking a shot, Booker ranks 38th-worst in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage differential. He allows players he’s guarding to shoot 48.5 percent, or 4.7 percent higher than those players’ combined 43.8 percent average for the season.

Of course, a great deal of the bottom-50 players in the league in this category (with the only requirement being they played 20 games or more this year) are in the early years of their NBA careers or known defensive liabilities (Hi, Kevin Love), so take that for what it’s worth.

That Booker has now played 43 of 68 games as a starter and statistically fares better against better players than bench players such as, say, Goodwin — opponents shoot 5.6 percentage points better than their season average when guarded by Goodwin — shouldn’t be overlooked.

Neither should the simple fact that Booker is 19.

And to be clear about Wednesday night: Khris Middleton is a pretty darn good player. He just took advantage of facing the league’s youngest player, one whose teacher, Earl Watson, has heaped responsibility and challenges upon. Booker has only answered those with unwavering confidence and slow but steady growth on the offensive end.

When a healthier Suns roster returns next year and the whirlwind of a rookie year ends, will Booker evolve on defense just as he has on offense?

Empire of the Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

13 hours ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns argues a call with official Pat Fraser n the first half as Jere...

Kellan Olson

Suns stumble through latest inexcusable effort, lose to shorthanded Spurs

The Phoenix Suns followed up Saturday's win over the San Antonio Spurs with Monday's offering being more of what we've come to expect.

3 days ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives in front of Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs i...

Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns find better energy for clinical win over Spurs

The Phoenix Suns were overdue for a win like Saturday's 131-106 final over the San Antonio Spurs, taking care of business early.

5 days ago

Jusuf Nurkic #20 of the Phoenix Suns passes over Kyle Lowry #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the...

Kellan Olson

Suns work through typical turnover problems to defeat 76ers

The Phoenix Suns dealt with some of their usual issues while managing a comfortable win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

8 days ago

Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on prior to the game against the Miami Heat at FTX ...

Kellan Olson

Isaiah Thomas returns to NBA, Suns after injuries derailed his career in its prime

Isaiah Thomas' NBA journey is a unique one. Here's how he thinks he can help the 2023-24 Phoenix Suns in a return to the league.

8 days ago

Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel looks on during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics  ...

Kellan Olson

Suns in serious jeopardy of play-in tournament fate entering last month of season

You wouldn't have guessed it by watching them over the last two games but the Phoenix Suns are in a precarious position.

9 days ago

Devin Booker’s next challenge: Evolving on defense like he has on offense