Contents
- Devin Booker’s return date
- The severity of Devin Booker’s injury
- How Devin Booker’s injury will affect the Suns
- The impact of Devin Booker’s absence
- How long Devin Booker may be out
- The Suns’ plan for Devin Booker’s return
- What Devin Booker’s return means for the Suns
- How Devin Booker’s return will affect the Suns’ playoff chances
- What the Suns need to do to make up for Devin Booker’s absence
- The Suns’ long-term plan for Devin Booker
We break down the latest news and rumors on when Devin Booker will return from his hamstring injury.
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Devin Booker’s return date
Devin Booker has been sidelined since early December with a hamstring injury, and the Suns have sorely missed their leading scorer.
Booker is one of the most gifted offensive players in the league, and his absence has been felt by the Suns. They’ve gone 4-10 in the 14 games he’s missed, and are currently sitting outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
The good news is that Booker appears to be nearing a return. He’s been practicing with the team for over a week now, and head coach Monty Williams said he ‘looks good’.
However, Williams was non-committal on a timetable for Booker’s return. ‘We’ll see how he feels tomorrow (Wednesday)’, Williams said. ‘If everything goes well, he could play Friday.’
So it looks like we could see Booker back on the court within the next week or so. The Suns will need him if they’re going to make a push for the playoffs.
The severity of Devin Booker’s injury
The Suns star hobbled off the court during the third quarter of Saturday’s loss to the Pelicans with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury. An MRI on Sunday revealed that Booker has a strained left hamstring and will be sidelined for at least two weeks, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
How Devin Booker’s injury will affect the Suns
The Phoenix Suns will be without star Devin Booker for at least the next two weeks with a hamstring injury, Head coach Monty Williams announced Saturday.
Booker suffered the injury in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets and did not return. An MRI on Saturday revealed the extent of the injury.
“Devin Booker will be out at least two weeks with a hamstring injury,” Williams said. “We’ll re-evaluate in two weeks and go from there.”
The Suns are already without guard Tyler Johnson, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Johnson was averaging 10.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 19 games this season.
Booker is averaging 26.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season. He has missed four games this season, all due to injuries.
The impact of Devin Booker’s absence
The Suns have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season, but they will have to continue their success without one of their best players. Devin Booker will be sidelined for at least the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Booker is averaging 24.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season and is a big reason why the Suns are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference. His absence will certainly be felt by the team, but they will need to find a way to win games without him.
One player who will need to step up in Booker’s absence is TJ Warren. Warren is averaging 19.6 points per game this season and will likely see his scoring increase with Booker out of the lineup. The Suns will also need more production from their bench players if they want to stay near the top of the conference standings.
How long Devin Booker may be out
It is unclear how long Devin Booker may be out for. He missed the Suns’ last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday with what the team is calling a right hamstring strain.
Booker has been struggling with injuries lately. He missed two games earlier this month with a left adductor strain and has also been dealing with a nagging back injury.
The Suns’ plan for Devin Booker’s return
Devin Booker’sHand injury will keep him sidelined for at least two more weeks, but the Suns are hopeful their star shooting guard will be back in time for the playoffs.
Booker suffered the injury on March 24th against the Los Angeles Lakers and underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his right shooting hand.
The Suns have gone 6-5 without Booker in the lineup, but they are still very much in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Phoenix is currently seventh in the West, but they are just one game behind the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and 2.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Jazz.
If Booker can return to form once he returns from his injury, the Suns should be a dangerous team come playoff time.
What Devin Booker’s return means for the Suns
Devin Booker’s return from injury is a big boost for the Suns. Booker has been out since early March with a hamstring injury, but he is now healthy and ready to play. Booker is one of the best scorers in the NBA, and his return will give the Suns a much-needed boost on offense.
Booker’s return also means that the Suns will have to make some adjustments to their rotation. With Booker back in the lineup, the Suns will likely move T.J. Warren to the bench. Warren has been starting in Booker’s place, and he has played well, but he is better suited as a sixth man. The Suns will also have to decide what to do with Jamal Crawford, who has been starting at point guard in Booker’s absence. Crawford has played well, but he may not be able to keep his starting spot when Booker returns.
How Devin Booker’s return will affect the Suns’ playoff chances
The Suns have been on a roll since the All-Star break, going 10-3 to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. A big part of that success has been the play of shooting guard Devin Booker, who is averaging 24.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
However, Booker will miss at least the next two weeks with a right hamstring strain, which means the Suns will have to continue their push for the playoffs without their leading scorer.
So how will Devin Booker’s absence affect the Suns’ playoff chances?
Without Booker, the Suns are still a very good team. They have other players who can score, like TJ Warren and Kelly Oubre Jr., and they’re one of the best defensive teams in the league.
However, the loss of Booker will make it tough for them to keep up with the teams ahead of them in the playoff race, like the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. They’ll also have to be careful not to fall behind the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, who are right behind them in the standings.
The good news for Suns fans is that Booker is expected to return before the end of the regular season, so he should be back in time for the playoffs. If they can stay afloat until he comes back, they should be in good shape to make a run at a playoff spot.
What the Suns need to do to make up for Devin Booker’s absence
The Suns have been dealt a tough blow with the news that Devin Booker will be out for an extended period of time due to a hamstring injury. Booker is the team’s leading scorer and his absence will be felt on both ends of the court.
Phoenix will need to make some adjustments in order to make up for Booker’s absence. On offense, they will need to find someone else who can create shots for themselves and their teammates. The Suns have a number of capable scorers, but nobody who can quite replicate what Booker does. On defense, they will need to do a better job of contesting shots and protecting the rim. Booker is one of the best defenders on the team, so his absence will be felt there as well.
The good news for the Suns is that they have a deep bench and a number of players who are capable of stepping up in Booker’s absence. It will be up to them to make the most of their opportunity and help the team keep winning games.
The Suns’ long-term plan for Devin Booker
The Suns have been extra careful with Devin Booker this season, holding him out of four of the first eight games as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury that cost him the final eight games last season.
That carefulness will continue for the foreseeable future, as coach Monty Williams said the team is taking a long-term approach with its star guard.
“The biggest thing with Devin is just making sure that he’s 100 percent healthy,” Williams said. “We’re not going to put a timetable on when he’s going to return. We’re just making sure that when he comes back, he’s ready to go.”
Booker has been progressing well in his rehab, and Williams said he has been working hard to stay in shape while he’s sidelined. The hope is that Booker will be able to return soon and help the Suns make a push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.