Is Today's Booker a superstar?

Some people say that Booker's performance is a lifetime, and few people can have such a good performance when they play the playoffs for the first time in their careers, so many fans believe that Booker will shine in the next few years and become one of the indispensable forces in the Western Conference playoffs. Everyone's praise for Booker is essentially a recognition of the sun's strength.

After two seasons, the Suns have finally proven themselves to be one of the superpowers in the West. Although many cloud fans who do not watch the ball still think that the sun is the fish belly of the past. The record is the best proof of the team's strength, and this season the Suns became the first team to lock up the playoffs, which is enough to show their strength.

Booker, as the Suns' main scorer, certainly deserves everyone's praise. This is a normal thing to do, because Booker showed the potential to become a super scorer in the regular season. To be honest, with the playoff results as evidence, before Booker was questioned by fans as an act of brushing points, it all became the most important evidence that Booker was a super scorer. In fact, the topic of whether Booker is a true superstar has always been discussed, but this season, this topic has been completely ignited.

Everyone thinks that there are only two points that need to be discussed, one is the comparison of Booker's data in the regular season and the playoffs. The other is whether the team's transition to record is smooth when there is only Booker and no Paul. Truth be told, the latter booker has actually proven it. Because Paul has also been absent for a while due to injuries this season, and during this time period, the Suns' record has not fluctuated abnormally. This shows that Booker can actually adapt to the days without Paul. Of course, whether it can adapt to the whole season depends on the discussion outside the forest.

As for the data changes in the regular season and playoffs, we can start with last season. In the 20-21 season, Booker's regular season data is 25.6 + 4.2 + 4.3, while the playoff data is 27.3 + 5.6 + 4.5, on the surface, Booker's basic data is significantly increased, but if combined with the increase in playing time, you will find that in fact, Booker's overall efficiency value is not as good as the regular season in the playoffs. At the same time, Booker's shooting percentage, free throw efficiency, and even usage rate in all positions are almost lower than in the regular season. What does this mean?

First, Booker's better-looking basic stats are earned through a lot of ball possessions, and in essence, efficiency does not increase due to the increase in the level of the game. Second, Booker is a regular-season player who faces higher intensity games in the playoffs and has no way to come up with a better response. If someone can take on this part of the spillover ball at this time, the actual effect will be better than Booker. Therefore, combining these two conclusions to analyze Booker can come up with a rough model, which is a star-level figure, not a real superstar. When encountering some high-intensity defense, Booker's mistakes will increase, and the whole person's state will inevitably not be as good as the regular time. Of course, this model was from last season.

Why do we need to emphasize that it was last season? Because of this level of players, at their current age, the growth rate is very fast. Tatum, for example, can become a super scorer in just a few seasons, and is a super player who can average 30 points per game in the playoffs. Booker, who is the same age and has the same explosive scoring ability, is only in the past season, and it is actually possible to make a similar evolution.

Some people may say that if Booker's playing style does not change, it will be like this at most. Because everyone knows Booker's routine, he needs to prove his strength from a new perspective. This statement is actually wrong, and the most different thing about Booker from other players is that he prefers to challenge high-intensity games. I don't know if you have noticed, But Booker is now taking on key balls more and more times. Originally thought that Paul was the most stable key to the team, but from the management's setting, they preferred that Booker play this role. Why? Because Booker was born to get more points with all kinds of unreasonable means.

According to league statistics, Booker's number of shots is in the league's top three, and the scoring efficiency is also in the league's top three. In other words, Booker has been scoring in ways that everyone thinks is unreasonable, and the efficiency is terrifying. This kind of player is very suitable for playing key balls. When your opponent thinks they've locked you up, you can still score directly at your opponent in a new way, at a new angle, or even in a new shooting move. And on this point, Booker has been trying.

As for the problem of changing the style of play that everyone said before, it is not difficult for Booker. Because of What Booker evolved in the playoffs, one of those things was to harden himself. As can be seen from the shooting distribution, Booker's basket shots are higher than in the regular season, and the playoff shooting rate is higher. That's the only hit stat he's made in the playoffs above the regular season. Second, the increased free throw data also shows that Booker prefers to hit the inside line. He knows that the playoffs are about constantly fighting against opponents so that he can find a way out for the team. So in so many games in the playoffs, Booker has been pounding the opponent's interior area, just to prove that he has become tough. Note that the shock here is not unorthodox, but rather Booker often uses the smartest cover and breakthrough to complete. It's just that it may be the first time to play the playoffs, and the physical strength can't keep up, so Booker's free throw shooting rate is declining in the playoffs.

We also said that this is the Booker model from last season. This season, Booker continued the high level of play last season in the regular season, and his three basic statistics evolved again, averaging 26.7 points, 5 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. In addition to the assist stats, the other two are career highs. What is even more rare is that Booker's turnover rate is controlled below 10, which is already the lowest value in his career. In other words, Booker reduced the number of his mistakes while improving his offensive efficiency. At the same time, he entrusted Paul with the more critical task of organizational coordination. Paul, the driver, can organize with peace of mind, averaging 10.7 assists per game, also because of Booker's perfection. Booker told the fans in his own way that he is still evolving and that his future is more worth looking forward to than ever!

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