Nuggets @ Suns | Game 4 Preview | One Key Question for Both Teams

Sheesh, 80% from the field, missing only 5 shots from the field. Devin Booker absolutely scorched (might be a few puns in this piece) the Nuggets. After the game one blowout by Denver, people were saying that the Suns had no depth and that Booker and Kevin Durant would have to score 90-combined points for Phoenix to have a chance. Well, they damn well came close, 86 to be exact. Now a couple of questions for the upcoming game four arise for both teams.

One, can or will Devin Booker shine like he did in game three? Well, he’s been averaging 30+ points these entire playoffs, but 80% would be deemed unlikely. That being said, Kevin Durant only shot 12/31 for only 38.7%. It might be more likely that KD will not have that trouble shooting again than Booker hitting 80%. KD throughout his career hasn’t really been known for his defense or his physicality, and the Nuggets should know this, and exploit it. Getting physical with Durant is the key for his “poor” shooting, because he is an older player who’s dealt with his share of injuries, and being aggressive with him could make him expend more energy. But back to the question, who are you going to stick more defenders on? Making KD be a facilitator and passer should be the key for Denver in game 4. Booker while averaging almost 37 points in both playoff rounds so far, he’s also averaging close to seven assists per game. Although Durant is not too far behind him with 29/5, with almost three of those five assists per game, are going to Book anyway. Not to mention Aaron Gordon, and even Christian Braun at times, match up better on Durant than Murray or insert name here does with Booker.

Second, Phoenix big-man Deandre Ayton is averaging 14 points/game and ten rebounds in the playoffs, he has been absolutely quiet in this series. Even to the point that Suns’ fans are booing him due to his lack of effort and not hitting high-percentage shots. Going into this series many thought that either Ayton or Chris Paul would at least be the third guy in this lineup to help support the secondary scoring for Phoenix behind Booker and Durant. After the game-one win by Denver, questions started to come up that Phoenix does not have the depth to help the scoring, especially after CP3 exited game-two with a groin injury, missed game-three and will miss game-four. Paul wasn’t going to be the savior for the Suns in this series, but he’s still capable and savvy enough to get you 10-12 points. So when it was reported that Paul would most likely miss multiple games, Ayton’s name came into play as that “third guy”. And has been nothing but disappointing since. Suns’ head coach Monty Williams said that Terrance Ross, five points in 13 minutes and TJ Warren (seven points in 25 minutes) could see more playing time to help make up for that scoring. Warren and newly-inserted into the lineup because of CP’s injury, Cam Payne, tied for the third-highest scoring total in game-three with only seven each. That being said, in that particular game, Booker and Durant took matters into their own hands and said “we don’t need any help”. While it worked in game-three, many believe, including former NBA coach of the year, George Karl via his Twitter, said this formula cannot be sustainable. Durant lived at the free-throw line making 14 of 16, he had 16 of the team’s 18 attempts from the charity strike. You can live with Durant at the line because that means Booker isn’t going five of eight from three-point territory.

Coach Michael Malone will have to pick his poison in game four. Let Devin Booker maintain his 37+ points per game, or let Kevin Durant get his 29+. You have to let one of them score, and the other be a playmaker without Chris Paul running point. Nuggets' guard Jamal Murray also has to recognize who has the hot hand, like Michael Porter Jr. at the end of game-three, and not play hero ball. If you’re coach Monty Williams, who can you trust to help DB and KD with scoring, with Ayton struggling and guys who haven’t played much in the playoffs coming off the bench cold. This was never going to be a sweep for Denver, or Phoenix for that matter. While the formula of two guys for Phoenix doing all the scoring may not last beyond 1-2 games, the formula for Denver has to pick which one cannot go crazy in game-four. Look for this upcoming game to be more like game-two, and not like games one and three.

Nuggets @ Suns

Tip-off at 6 MST

Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ