The Phoenix Suns came out and took the first two games from the Los Angeles Clippers and seemed to be in serious control of the Western Conference Finals. Devin Booker was fantastic, Cam Payne did more than people thought he could, and Chris Paul had yet to step on the court after COVID-19 issues.
Booker shocked everybody with a 40-point triple-double in Game 1 of the series, prompting Clippers head coach Ty Lue to find a way to slow him down. Well, he might have found the right way, and it has been Patrick Beverley. Over the past two games, Beverley has stuck by Booker almost primarily and slowed down the Suns' young star.
Devin Booker in the Clippers series
Guarded by Patrick Beverley:
— 4-15 FG (26.7%)
— 0-2 3PGuarded by everyone else:
— 19-41 (46.3%)
— 5-15 3PNot bad for a guy running around doing nothing. pic.twitter.com/9iD1UUBU3M
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 25, 2021
After Booker torched everybody in Game 1, Lue knew he had to adjust. Enter Beverley, who has done his job in Games 2 and 3, finding ways to limit Booker's effectiveness.
In Game 1, Booker had 40 points on 15-29 from the field. Booker scored 35 points on 10-37 from the field with just one three-pointer in each game in the past two games.
Patrick Beverley gets the match up against Devin Booker and I'm interested to see if *he* can alter the rhythm a little bit. Good denials, good pressure, navigates the screen well. Something to watch. pic.twitter.com/DkUiHnYmac
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) June 23, 2021
Beverley stuck with Booker every step of the way in Game 2 and Game 3 and got under Booker's skin in the previous game at Staples Center, with both players receiving technical fouls.
Devin Booker and Patrick Beverley were called for double technicals on this sequence. pic.twitter.com/Rv1VGLMd1A
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 25, 2021
While Beverley gets a lot of heat for “running around,” he remains one of the best defenders in the league and has bothered Booker clearly. With the Clippers winning Game 3 and aiming for the tie on Saturday night, Suns head coach Monty Williams has to find a way to unleash his star guard, especially with the status of Cam Payne in doubt after he left Game 3 early due to injury.
Clearly, Ty Lue has made the right adjustment and put his best defender on Booker, even with Beverley's limited offensive repertoire. If the Suns want to find a way to unleash Booker against Beverley, they might need to change their scheme and create ways to get him open, whether it is screens, more movement, or who knows, but Monty Williams has to figure it out.
If Patrick Beverley continues to shut down Devin Booker, it might be curtains for the Suns.
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