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 racked up 11 points and the Suns established a 16-point lead against the Milwaukee Bucks. The atmosphere was electric at the Footprint Center as Phoenix seemingly could not miss a shot.

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

When Booker got back into the game with 6:14 remaining in the second, the Suns’ lead had almost vanished. The Bucks had seized momentum and maintained it en route to a 123-119 victory, gaining a 3-2 lead in the series. The action now moves back to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Tuesday night.

“Booker said, “We started off great, just as we planned, but unfortunately, we couldn’t hold onto it. The opposing team stayed resilient and kept playing through. This loss is a tough one for us.”

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

However, the remainder of the Suns were either inconsistent or simply not present.

Phoenix’s offense appeared stagnant, depending heavily on Booker to create scoring opportunities on his own. This was glaringly evident during a critical possession in the final minute. Booker attempted a drive to the basket, but was met with a fortified Bucks’ defense. Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee’s point guard, managed to steal the ball, effectively securing the victory for his team.

“Moving it around is necessary,” stated Monty Williams, coach of the Suns. “We are aware of Book’s capabilities with the ball. However, we discussed emphasizing on penetrating the paint and locating players on the back side. We believe that’s an effective strategy. There were instances tonight where the play was a bit stagnant.”

For the third consecutive game, Holiday outperformed Chris Paul of Phoenix. Despite scoring 20 points, Deandre Ayton did not exhibit his typical defensive prowess under the rim. Jae Crowder had a subdued performance after a couple of early 3-pointers and a dunk. Mikal Bridges showed some promising moments, but the Suns needed him to contribute more.

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

Booker’s performance, particularly his scoring ability, has always been crucial for the Suns. Even when 11-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer Paul was recruited during the offseason, it was still the 24-year-old Booker who was considered the cornerstone. Over the course of six years, he matured as the franchise evolved into a championship contender.

This season, the change was that Booker usually had a lot of assistance.

The Suns utilized a powerful offense that emphasized swift passes and teamwork. Their coach, Monty Williams, refers to it as a 0.5 second offense since he aimed 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, with their offense performing exceptionally well. The Bucks, on the other hand, were having difficulty providing adequate support for their two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the tables have turned with Milwaukee winning the last three games. This is partly due to the fact that Booker can’t shoulder the entire responsibility alone.

Phoenix has no more second chances. If the Suns want to prevent the Bucks from celebrating on their home turf in Milwaukee, they must strategize before the NBA Finals circle back to Wisconsin.

“Bridges expressed their readiness for the next game saying, “We’re ready. If we dwell on our past performance, before we know it, the season will be over. So we will learn from this. Our coach will show us clips and teach us how to improve. We know what needs to be done. If we lose, it’s over.”