Suns capitalize on Devin Booker-oriented game plan, beat Spurs

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker certainly had the attention of NBA teams at the start of last year, as he started getting the double-team treatment at certain points in the game.

That’s not happening that much this season because now teams are flat-out game planning against the 22-year-old guard.

To make matters worse, Booker is still noticeably not 100 percent back from a left hamstring strain so that containment plan is even more effective.

The plan is simple: Begin to cut off angles as Booker gets the ball, restrict his space as much as possible as soon as he dribbles and force his teammates to make plays based on the off-ball help.

On some nights, this is going to work based on the level of talent around Booker.

Wednesday night, though, was not one of those nights.

Strong minutes from nearly every key Suns player in the rotation led them to a 116-96 win over the San Antonio Spurs despite Booker scoring only 13.

The stat sheet tells the story of Booker’s effort to make the defense pay and get his teammates involved. While he had seven turnovers, he finished with a career-high 12 assists.

“Our spacing is a lot better,” Booker said, noting the overall team chemistry for their offensive flow is still growing.

“I think once we figure out the spacing — we did a little bit of talking after the game — we’re starting to understand that they have to make a choice and somebody’s gonna be open, especially after playing the defense that they did tonight and I’m gonna make that play and just having trust in your teammates to make the play after.”

That comes from a dynamic the shooting guard talked about for months in the offseason. With more shooting on the floor and Deandre Ayton’s presence on rim runs, it’s a choice the defense has to make, and San Antonio’s was to contain Booker.

“Once I roll, you have to pick your poison like usual,” Ayton said after the game. “You either gonna leave him or let me break the rim.”

To that spacing, the Suns shot 15-of-31 from three-point range.

Booker’s 13 points marked the first time since the beginning of February when he’s scored under 20 points in three straight games. Tonight, though, wasn’t about scoring.

“I just had to keep making the plays for other people,” he said.

Those other people were taking advantage.

T.J. Warren was sensational, continuing his outstanding start to the season and case as the third building block for this team long-term. He scored 27 points on 15 shots and also had three steals. The three-point shot is still falling, as he made three of his eight attempts and is now shooting 46 percent on the year from deep.

“He noticed what the game was going to with the four being kind of a smaller guy who would be a natural three in the old NBA and he worked on his three-point shot all summer,” Booker said.

“He’s in the right spots a lot of times and he’s making it a lot easier on me.”

The Suns were up 15 after one quarter, their first great start to a game in what feels like ages, but the Spurs battled back to make it a six-point game at halftime.

The key point in the game was the early third quarter. Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov realized his starters weren’t off to a good start, and in a bold move, pulled Ayton, Booker and Isaiah Canaan for the reserves to try and get a spark.

That’s where Jamal Crawford stepped in.

“We came out of the half lackadaisical,” Booker said. “So he made that sub and Jamal came in and played unbelievable.”

Crawford scored 11 off the bench showed 1) how much the Suns need some quick offense from the reserves and 2) what a relief it can be for the team when someone else besides Booker and Warren can create their own offense.

What was a four-point Suns advantage when Crawford checked in with 7:40 left in the third quarter turned into a 17-point lead through three quarters.

Crawford provided the bench scoring in the second half while Josh Jackson had it in the first, scoring 14 of his points in what was his best showing off the bench nearly all season.

It was great to see from a player who had his minutes cut drastically over the past two weeks due to his poor play. His floater game was working and he made a couple of great passes to Ayton.

SHOW 'EM DA! pic.twitter.com/DUbBnxkszt

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 15, 2018

Ayton’s 17 points and 10 rebounds felt a bit louder compared to some of his other double-doubles. That was made evident by his most physical finish around the rim this year, a poster on Spurs big Davis Bertans.

You have been POSTERIZED by @DeandreAyton!

🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/Npl6ouF9Tf

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 15, 2018

Mikal Bridges got the start in place of Trevor Ariza, who missed the game due to personal reasons. Bridges’ defensive intangibles shined throughout the game and helped bring some of the defensive intensity that brought on such a strong opening for the Suns.

Even Canaan was hot, making seven of eight shots, including all five of his attempts from deep.

The Suns improve to 3-11 and all three of the team’s wins have felt like a big moment in the season, a point where they showed that the real team they are can compete on any night.

They have failed to capitalize on that momentum both times, to say the least, including some brutal losses in-between the wins.

They lost seven straight after beating the Mavericks. They lost four straight after beating the Grizzlies.

It’s about consistency, something Kokoskov noted after the game is the key for his team that does look great during certain stretches.

“Part of the games definitely that we watch ourself and we look like a team who can really compete with the best in the league,” he said.

In what sounds like an elementary point because it essentially is, the progress that needs to follow a big win for the Suns at home is competing for a few games in a row.

“Like I said after our last win — it’s our step forward and we need to continue on after this,” Booker said.

Whether the next games are wins or losses, as long as the Suns bring the energy they did against the Spurs, they will be just fine.

Follow @KellanOlson