The Phoenix Suns have been a bit of a surprise this season, playing better than most NBA pundits thought they would this season. After trading Kevin Durant to the Rockets, many expected the Suns to be in the lottery this season.
So far, the Suns are seventh in the Western Conference standings. They have won five of their last eight, including a big win over the Lakers. However, they lost Devin Booker to an injury in that game against Los Angeles. He is still the team’s best player.
The team announced that it was a groin injury that kept him out of the game. Now, the Suns have given an update on how much time Booker will miss with the injury.
GettyDevin Booker dribbles the ball. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Suns Guard Devin Booker to Miss a Week With Injury
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Devin Booker will miss at least a week with a groin strain. He will be re-evaluated after that timeframe. Booker’s numbers are slightly down from a season ago, but the team has been winning more games.
Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie took over when Booker went down with the injury. Phoenix rode an offensive explosion from both players so they could beat the Lakers. Both players will now have to help carry the offense with Booker out of the lineup.
The Suns are slightly above average on defense, thanks to the addition of Brooks. They are an average team offensively, which now might get worse without Booker in the lineup. Phoenix will have to figure out how to replace the massive scoring punch that Booker brings.
If this timeline holds, Booker will miss games against the Rockets, Timberwolves, and Thunder. All of those teams are ahead of the Suns in the standings. Those games are critical for Phoenix if they are going to improve their seeding.
GettyDevin Booker celebrates. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Devin Booker Injury is Best-Case Scenario
This injury is the best-case scenario for Booker. Missing three or four games isn’t the worst thing for the veteran leader. If this is the only significant time that Booker misses this season, that would be a help to the Sun’s playoff hopes later in the year.
Of course, the team would prefer if Booker weren’t hurt at all. He is the leader on the floor and in the locker room, so his missing any time at all is an issue. Phoenix is still fighting for a top-six seed to avoid having to play in the play-in at the end of the season.
There is plenty of time left in the season for the Suns to get better and get fully healthy. The Suns have the sixth-worst turnover percentage this season. Not having Booker help them handle the ball might be an issue in improving that stat, as he is one of their primary ball-handlers.
Booker is still the best player that the Suns have, and he is the longest-tenured player on the roster.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Suns Announced Critical Devin Booker Injury Update appeared first on Heavy Sports.