Devin Booker brilliant, needs to get more help from stagnant Suns

PHOENIX (AP) — When Devin Booker took his usual seat on the bench at the beginning of the second quarter, the Phoenix Suns lost their stranglehold on Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

On Saturday night, Booker scored 11 points and the Suns established a 16-point lead against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Footprint Center was buzzing with excitement as Phoenix seemed incapable of missing a shot.

Things took a turn after that. In the following 5 minutes and 46 seconds, the Bucks initiated their comeback.

When Booker came back into the game with 6:14 remaining in the second, the Suns’ lead was almost gone. The Bucks had seized the momentum and kept it, resulting in a 123-119 victory. This win gave them a 3-2 lead in the series as they prepare to host Game 6 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

“We accomplished our initial goal of getting off to a strong start, but we lost our grip on it,” said Booker. “They demonstrated resilience and continued playing persistently. Consequently, we suffered a difficult loss.”

For the second game in a row, Booker put on an impressive performance, scoring 40 points with a 17-for-33 shooting record, following his 42-point performance in a Game 4 loss.

However, the remaining members of the Suns were inconsistent or simply absent.

Phoenix’s offense appeared static, with Booker shouldering the responsibility to create offensive plays. This was clearly evident during a vital possession in the last minute where Booker attempted to drive to the basket. However, the Bucks’ defense tightened, and Milwaukee’s point guard, Jrue Holiday, snatched the ball in a decisive steal that secured their victory.

“We need to circulate it,” said Suns coach Monty Williams. “We’re aware of Book’s capabilities with the ball, but our focus was on reaching the paint and locating teammates on the back side. We believe that’s an effective strategy. There were instances tonight when the ball was held a bit too long.”

For the third consecutive game, Holiday outperformed Chris Paul from Phoenix. Despite scoring 20 points, Deandre Ayton was not as effective in his usual defensive role of protecting the rim. Jae Crowder was not as noticeable after a few early 3-pointers and a dunk. Mikal Bridges had some notable moments but it wasn’t enough for the Suns.

Booker’s teammates managed to step up during a push in the fourth quarter, but it turned out to be too late.

The Suns have always relied on Booker’s output, especially in scoring. Despite the addition of Paul — an 11-time All-Star and prospective Hall of Famer — to the team during the offseason, Booker, at just 24, continued to be the pivotal player. Over the course of six years, while the franchise evolved into a championship contender, Booker matured.

This season, the distinction was that Booker usually received ample assistance.

The Suns utilized a high-energy offense that emphasized swift passes and ball distribution. Coach Monty Williams referred to it as a 0.5 second offense, as his desire was for a pass, shot, or drive to occur within half a second.

In the finals, the Suns started strong, securing a 2-0 series lead as their offense was performing well. The Bucks, on the other hand, were finding it difficult to provide adequate support for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the tide has turned with Milwaukee winning the last three games. This is partly due to the fact that Booker alone cannot shoulder the entire responsibility.

Phoenix has no more chances. The Suns must strategize before the NBA Finals return to Wisconsin if they want to avoid seeing the Bucks celebrate a victory in Milwaukee.

“Bridges asserted, “We’re prepared for the next game. If we dwell on past mistakes, before we know it, the season will be over. So, we’ll take lessons from it. Our coach will guide us through video clips to improve our game, but we already understand what needs to be done. If we lose, it’s the end.”