Video/quotes: Devin Booker talks Suns’ win over Spurs

Here is what Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker said after the team’s 115-94 win over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night.

Here is what Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker said after the team’s 115-94 win over the San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night.

On starting point guard Chris Paul’s performance:

“Yeah, we want him as aggressive as possible, and he understands that. I think it’s just something that he’s not completely used to, people helping off him at some times and him getting overlooked. I think he’s always been in the position where he had to make plays for everybody on the court. So it’s going to take a little adjusting, but you’re always in a good spot if you’re looking for a Hall of Famer to be more aggressive.”

On his play with the Suns’ second unit consisting of backup guard Landry Shamet, which coach Monty Williams was also asked about:

“Just figuring it out, and that’s my job as one of the leaders of the team, to make sure the new guys are on the same page. Even the second unit, that we keep the team afloat or push the lead. It’s always been the goal for the next group in, so we’ve had good spots and we’ve had bad spots. But we have something to learn from.”

On backup forward Torrey Craig’s adjustments to different roles this season:

“It’s tough to do. Better than me. I kind of like things set how they are, and that hasn’t been the situation for him. But tonight, he was all over the place. Double-double, right? Probably a lot of rebounds (he then checked the box score) 10 rebounds, 15 points. He’s just making the game easier, too. He’s reading that they might throw a weaker defender on him, he’s setting those early screens for KD and CP (Paul) to get the mismatch and taking advantage of people on the offensive glass.”

On getting off to a hot start against San Antonio:

“Yeah, I mean, you see what happened in the third quarter. They came out ready to play, and thank goodness we had built the lead from the first half, or else it would have been a tie ball game or we’d be down. So it’s real important for us to come out and find that flow, push the pace, defend at a high level. And that’s what we did.”

On approaching the future knowing the Suns are very likely to secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference:

“Yeah, that’s a good question. Really have to see it play out. I know a lot of teams – (Los Angeles) Clippers, Lakers play tomorrow. That’s a big one. (The New Orleans) Pelicans lost tonight, I don’t know if that ruins their – see, I don’t know. It’s too hard to keep up with. We’re focused on what we have in here and we’ll move forward after next game or see what happens.”

Inaudible question, but Booker seemed to answer his mentality leading into the playoffs:

“Just staying sharp. The most important basketball of the year is here, and realizing that. I know we in the past, watched the play-in games together. Once we realize who our matchup is, just dive into that and move forward from there.”

On having a few days to scout his team’s first-round opponent:

“Yeah, and a little time off, getting everybody’s bodies right. It’s a great time of year.”

Inaudible question, but Booker answered on this year’s team getting prepared to the playoffs:

“We have new players. We have Kevin out there, too, (Suns backup forward) TJ (Warren) in the lineup. We’re kind of behind a bit, if you’re talking experience-wise together. But a plus on the talent level, I would say. So just figuring that out. Even tonight’s game when we were up 30, I’m sure we would have played most of the game regardless of how much we were up, just to find that flow and find that rhythm.”

(There was one more question and answer you can view in the video, though we were unable to clearly discern what exactly the question was and how Booker addressed it).