As the league's number one team this season, the Phoenix Suns were favored by many teams before the start of the playoffs. Unexpectedly, in the second game of the Phoenix Suns' series with the New Orleans Pelicans, the Suns' star Booker was injured. The Suns also lost the second game, and the two teams are currently tied 1-1. The two teams will face a third match on 23 April. Before the game, Suns fans were most concerned about Booker's specific injury. Today, Booker's test results are finally out.
According to the US media ESPN report, a number of sources revealed that the Suns guard Devon Booker's right hamstring injury is mild, and Booker did not rule out the possibility of missing the entire first-round series. In addition, some sources believe that Booker is unlikely to play in the third and fourth series.
Shortly thereafter, the Phoenix Suns also officially announced that the team's defender Devon Booker's MRI results showed a slight strain on his right foot, and the return date was undecided.
From the current news, Booker's injury is not particularly serious, so it is still possible to make a comeback in the playoffs. However, in the next two series, Booker is most likely unable to play. The two teams are currently tied 1-1, and the next two games are held at the Pelicans' home court. The Pelicans' record this season is indeed average, but the energy that this team burst out at the end of the season is still not to be underestimated. The Suns have been very passive since Booker came off the last game. So the Suns must be prepared for two consecutive vicious battles.
In G1 and G2, Booker averaged 28 points per game, making him the team's top scorer. Now that he's out, someone needs to stand up and digest that part of the ball. Paul has been really good in the previous two games, averaging 23.5 points and 12 assists per game, but he is 36 years old, his physical fitness is limited, and it is unlikely to digest more balls. So Ayton needs to stand up. Ayton has averaged 15.5 points per game in the previous two games, and his match against Valanciunas has not had much of an advantage. Moreover, the Pelicans never let Ayton receive the ball easily. In the next two games, Booker is absent, the Pelicans will focus more defensively on Ayton, and it will be more difficult for Ayton to receive the pass on the inside. It is precisely for this reason that Paul, as the commander of the Suns, will presumably be under pressure in the next two games, and it is not easy to allocate the ball left by Booker's absence and play an effective offense. In addition to Ayton, Bridges and Johnson need to stand up and take on more responsibility, digest the ball, and help Paul share it with Ayton.
If the Suns lose the next two away games, they will be in a passive position. Even if Booker can return later, it will be very difficult for the Suns to turn over. In the next two games, the Suns must take out the momentum of the league first place, win as much as possible, and let Booker rest in peace. If you can win the series in Booker's absence, it would be great. In fact, it's a test for the Suns. Only in the absence of Booker, the Suns can still play a strong enough performance to really impact the championship this season.
In any case, I hope Booker recovers soon.