Who is the core of the team?
Paul and Booker, who are the real core of the Suns? There has never been an answer to this question. Booker is the team's top scorer, with Chris Paul only in third place, preceded by Ayton, and Paul's average of points per game, a 10.1 point difference from Booker. However, this season' Paul, the average number of shots per game is 8.7 times less than Booker, so in terms of scoring efficiency, Paul is not worse than Booker, and even slightly better, but at the age of 36, he really can't withstand that kind of toss.
However, paul once again came to the first place in the league in assist statistics, averaging 10.2 assists per game, slightly ahead of James Harden behind him. So, there is such a saying, Paul is the brain of this team, directing the game, Booker is the hands and feet of this team, mainly attacking, and the torso is Ayton, responsible for defense.
There's nothing wrong with that, Chris Paul is indeed the brain of this team, but it's not just the brain. When the team is in danger, when Booker feels bad, Paul is always able to stand up and score points to decide the outcome of the game. For example, in this game between the Suns and the Jazz, although the Jazz's starting five Tigers are all absent, it is a pure substitute, but it still brings great trouble to the Suns.
The last quarter rules the game
Every NBA player, whether it's a superstar or a water dispenser management, is a well-deserved pride in their own world. So, don't take any of them lightly. The Suns took a 10-point lead in the first quarter, but the Jazz overtook it in the second quarter, but Cameron Johnson hit a three-pointer to help the Suns enter the second half with a two-point lead. Without a main offense and a secondary attack, anyone can attack, which put the Suns' defense in trouble.
The Jazz successfully overtook the score in the third quarter, although Booker had 14 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in the quarter, and had already scored 33 points at the end of the third quarter, but it was the Utah Jazz who led at the moment. After returning from the last quarter, Booker felt cold, and did not score a point on 0-of-6 shooting, including several shots, which were big open three-pointers. In this case, Chris Paul stepped forward again. In fact, Paul's state of the first three quarters was very average, 5 of 10 shots, 12 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists, 6 turnovers, and in Paul's career, there were only a few games with 6 mistakes in the third quarter.
But even so, in the case of the team's need for Paul, he will still stand up without hesitation. With 5-of-7 shooting in the final quarter, 2-of-3 three-pointers, 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, and only 1 turnover, the Jazz only scored 22 points. In the end, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Jazz 115-109 and successfully won seven consecutive games.
The gap is clear
After this game, the debate about Paul and Booker, who is the core of the team, should come to an end. In this game, Booker had 33 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, Paul 27 points, 9 rebounds and 14 assists, it may be difficult to divide the highs and lows, but in the last quarter, Paul had 15 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and Booker did not score a point on 0-of-6 shooting. What is the core? It is the team leader who stepped forward at a critical moment to save the team from danger, and these are all vividly reflected in Paul.
Maybe in the future, Booker can become the real core of the Suns, but now, Paul is the best player in this team, and there is still a big gap between Booker and him in the performance of key moments. The only hope is that Booker can continue to grow, and together with Chris Paul, he will lift the championship trophy, but the only regret of the point guard god.