Devin Booker needs to activate ‘Takeover Mode’

We need a hero to save us and not let this amazing 2020-21 season for the Phoenix Suns wither away so quickly. The playoffs are a place the team hasn’t been, and fans haven’t got to enjoy, in way too long.

After 11 years of misery, it would be so fitting that now that the team is good we have to stomach an anything-but-happy ending of losing to an enemy in the Lakers. But, this season has been anything but the same old, same old. It’s been different. Better.

One thing this team has shown is when it’s supposed to win it can disappoint but when their backs are to the wall and they’re counted out, they prove the NBA world wrong.

Well, the Suns are down 1-2 in this series against a division rival and way too many people are already counting them out. So, it’s time for them to hit that other gear and shut up all that negative chatter.

If certain players can’t play like themselves (Chris Paul), or haven’t grasped the moment of losing their playoff virginity (Mikal Bridges), or haven’t been able to hit water if they fell out of a boat (Jae Crowder), then one old thing needs to come back.

Devin Booker needs to take over and score at will.

We know he can BUT he needs to actually do it.

He can’t be so passive like he’s been for whatever reason in Games 2 and 3. Had he stepped up in Game 2 before that fourth quarter, that likely would have been a win and not a loss where L.A. stole home court advantage.

The Suns won Game 1 and he was a huge reason why as he truly shone in the moment of his first playoff game of his career. He took 26 shots, made half of them and posted 34 points, 8 assists and 7 boards.

Not bad at all for a 24 year old playing his first post season match.

Again, he had 26 field goal attempts.

Who wants to take a guess at how this Phoenix ball club has done this season when he takes at least 25 shots?

I’ll tell you. They’re undefeated with a 7-0 record and a +9.4 point differential. In those games, he had a 49-31-87 shooting line, made 2.1 treys and averaged 35.3 points, 5.3 boards and 5 dimes per game.

Also, going back to Mikal, he shot 50% from deep and averaged 13.9 points per game in those matches. Also, Ayton (who has been a beast this series), stepped up on D in the middle averaging 12.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

We all know what Book is capable of as a scorer. If he turns it on, no one can turn it off.

This season, he’s scored at least 35 points on 10 different occasions and the Suns have an 8-2 record when he does.

The man can do much more than that as evidenced by his 70-point night on March 24, 2017 in the Garden…

…but just being that assertive and having that kind of night can do wonders.

Not only could it get Phoenix back in this series but it could help them take this series and send LeBron and AD home. I know that would bring a big smile to all our faces.

Step up and show the NBA world how special us Suns fans know you are, Devin.

Let’s go, Suns!