What Devin Booker’s Absence Means for Suns' Seeding in the West
News struck the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday when it was revealed that Devin Booker sustained a strained groin injury that will sideline him for at least the next four weeks.
The injury is rather untimely for a Suns team struggling to defend and maintain leads. 4-6 in their last 10 games, the Suns have watched their Western Conference lead slip away after an up and mostly down December.
*Note: this piece was written prior to Phoenix's loss in Toronto on Friday*
Phoenix currently sits in 6th place in the Western Conference and three games back of the newly formed rival New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 1 seed. The Western Conference has been fierce all year and it is expected to continue to be tight as the calendar changes.
The Western Conference has been tight all year, giving the Suns a real test every nearly every game.
At this point of the season, the ten-seeded, defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors are within five games of the top seed in the West. Last year, at this point of season, the ten seed was the San Antonio Spurs who were 12.5 games back from the Phoenix Suns for the #1 seed. The Western Conference is uber competitive to say the least.
The Suns' role players will be critical contributors to winning basketball for the next month. We have seen the Suns struggle without their franchise player this December, only winning two-of-seven games without Booker.
In those seven games the Suns are shooting 44.4% on field goals and 38.1% from three. Both numbers are under the season average for the Suns at 47% FG and 38.5% 3P.
Suns will rely on their role players to carry the load without Devin Booker.
Damion Lee
Role players like Damion Lee will need to step up in a big way, like we have seen this season. His shooting ability will be an important factor on drive and kick plays from G Chris Paul.
Lee has been in elite form when he attempts catch and shoot threes:
Landry Shamet
Landry Shamet will get the opportunity to get more minutes and produce for the Suns as he did on Christmas Day this year. His athleticism and sharp-shooting from three gives the Suns an option at guard to try and fill the Booker void to an extent.
Shamet and Paul will anchor the backcourt and try to feed shooters. Phoenix ranks 4th in the league in team assists averaging 27 per game.
Duane Washington Jr.
Washington Jr. has produced for the Suns as of late without Booker on the floor. The young guard will have the opportunity now to display his talent due to his increase in minutes, the most he has gotten thus far with the Suns. Over Washington Jr.’s last four games, he has scored at least 10 points or more.
Suns guard Duane Washington Jr. will look to play productive minutes for the Suns to stay alive in the wild west.
Given the options at guard and scoring production for the Suns, an expectation of rising to the top of the Western Conference without Devin Booker for a month is unrealistic. The Suns will face a respectable schedule in the month of January with some Eastern Conference play to begin the new year and finish back in the west.
If the Suns are to stay in contention in the West, the month of January without Booker will be crucial. Their record in January will determine whether or not the Suns are playing catch up come March when the battle for playoff seeding is in full swing.
