Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker learns how to finish games
Suns rookie guard Devin Booker has been modeling his basketball game and preparation after Kobe Bryant for years so the play call he heard from his coach in crunch time of Monday night's Suns win stoked his confidence.
Moments after Booker had his dribble stripped to allow Minnesota’s go-ahead points with 12.9 seconds remaining, Suns interim head coach Earl Watson saw the readiness and willingness in Booker’s huddle expression. He drew a play for Booker to be isolated as he received the ball just above the free-throw line edge.
“Devin has to learn how to finish games at the elbow like Kobe Bryant,” Watson said. “He knows that. We talked about that. That’s the progression of him finishing games.”
Booker caught the inbound pass at the 3-point line with his body sideways to Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine, who tightly defended him with a hand check. As he squared up, Booker swung the ball from left to right and went around LaVine, who tried to grab Booker from behind because the Timberwolves had a foul to give.
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In spite of his status as the NBA’s youngest player at 19, Booker showed savvy by pulling up off one foot from just inside the free-throw line as he felt and heard the foul call. He hit the rim-kissing shot with a soft touch, even as he fell to the left for a three-point play.
“It’s not time for summer,” Booker said. “It’s time to get better and get ready for next year.”
Booker has been getting better at drawing fouls, averaging 6.3 free-throw attempts per game this month with 88 percent conversion.
In his 10th consecutive double-digit scoring game Monday, Booker was the Suns’ most significant plus-minus factor. The Suns were plus-16 in Booker's 42 minutes, 31 seconds of play and were outscored by 13 points in the five minutes and 29 seconds that he rested.
“The evolution of Devin Booker -- from 25 to whenever he decides to retire -- is no action at all,” Watson said. “Throw it to him at the elbow, spot up, be ready to shoot, create. Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant. His one-on-one game at the elbow is growing. His post game is growing. He’s going to become a great player but he has to commit to the process and watch the video, put in the extra work. Of course, over time, he’ll get stronger.”
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Teletovic for Bosnia
After talking to countryman Jusuf Nurkic in Denver last week, Suns power forward Mirza Teletovic said the Bosnian pair plans to play for the national team in this summer’s FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers.
“We’ll probably both go and make it happen,” Teletovic said. “We don’t have so many people so it’s important for everybody to be there.”
Bosnia is in a qualifier group with Russia and Sweden, the only three-team group. The group winner qualifies for 2017 Eurobasket. Teletovic did not play in 2015 EuroBasket because he had just recovered from a blood-clot issue and wanted to be in Phoenix to prepare for the Suns season.
This year's qualifier will include four games between Aug. 31 and Sept. 14.
“It lets me get back in shape and get back in rhythm,” said Teletovic, who is hoping to return to the Suns next season on a new contract.
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Free throws
Monday’s Suns win against Minnesota marked the first time this season that the Suns have rallied at home to win after trailing at halftime or after the third quarter.
* Watson on center Alex Len going from a one-point, three-rebound first half to an eight-point, eight-rebound second half Monday: “We think the world of him. We understand that sometimes it’s not going to be his best game but we want his best effort and he never fails.”
* The Suns have outrebounded an opponent by more than 20 twice in the past nine games. They had not done so twice in a season since 2008-09.
* The Suns did not practice Tuesday but had a voluntary yoga session.
Reach Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at www.twitter.com/paulcoro.
