Without Booker, Suns Can’t Win

Can the Suns win a playoff series without Devin Booker (right hamstring tightness).

I am not convinced that they can. 

Booker scored 31 points in the first half. He destroyed the Pels, but New Orleans was still hanging around even when he was on the court. 

Tuesday night, the young gun Pelicans ran right past Phoenix, taking home-court advantage away from the top-seed Suns. I pointed out before this series began that the unknown of the Suns’ ability to win an expected title was injury or suspension. Two games in, here we are. 

A rookie head coach, Willie Green, saw his team play harder than the Monty Williams squad. Twice in the fourth quarter, the Pelicans threw two length of the court passes for layup opportunities and Jae Crowder threw away a ball to Paul for a backcourt violation. The transition defense by the Suns was awful all night. 

The Pelicans shot 55%. They his 17 three-pointers. They went on a 28-16 run in the 4th quarter. They did it with 24 year old Brandon Ingram, who scored 37 points. 

Now the series shifts to New Orleans. A city that’s known for partying. You can bet that Friday night the Suns will be walking into a chaotic atmosphere.