Victory or defeat on the basketball court is often inseparable from the performance of the team's core players. However, in a recent game, the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker once again showed his excellent individual qualities, but was unable to lead the team to victory. Against the Orlando Magic, the Suns lost 98-113. Booker scored 44 points in this game, but the team suffered two consecutive defeats and fell into the play-off qualification zone.
Booker's scoring performance on the court was remarkable. He made 26 shots and hit 17 of them in 36 minutes of game time. In addition, he grabbed four rebounds and three assists, and contributed one steal and two blocks on the defensive end. Sadly, however, Booker was once again left alone. His team continued to lose in the game and continued to slip into the play-off qualification zone. It's a shame that Booker's individual efforts seem to be constrained by the team's overall strength.
Booker wasn't alone in the game. Recently, the Suns have traded a lot of high-quality assets in exchange for highly-anticipated star Durant. However, Durant's performance on the team has not brought substantial improvement to the team. Instead, the Suns have gone from being a Western Conference powerhouse to a play-in team that is now up and down. In this game, Durant only had 15 points, four rebounds and five assists, while also dishing out a whopping seven turnovers. His performance with Bill made the Suns suffer from the host's magic. According to reporters, the Suns have scored 155 more points in the fourth quarter of this season, making it the worst performance in the league.
Such a loss is nostalgic for the days when Booker and the Suns led the team to the Finals. They had leader Paul and good brother Bridges in their squad at the time, and together they achieved important things for the team. In comparison, Durant's fame may not have had the desired effect. Even after leaving Curry, Durant's epic Big Five with the Nets only stopped at the second round. Therefore, it may be time for the Suns to trade Durant while he still has market value.
However, trading is not a simple task. The Suns need to find a trade partner that suits the team, while also taking into account the team's overall tactical build. Only then can the Suns find a more complete roster and regain their former glory.
In basketball, a successful team often requires the dominance, coordination, and overall strength of the core players. Booker, as the core player of the Suns, did not lose to any of the top stars. He has proven his individual qualities, but the overall quality of the team is not at his level. Therefore, the Suns need to find the right players in the trade market to improve the team's overall competitiveness.
In addition, there is a need to bring in an experienced player with leadership qualities to help Booker better play his abilities. Booker has proven his individual qualities, but he still needs a leader like Paul to lead the team to greater heights.
To sum up, the Suns have suffered losses in their most recent games, but that doesn't mean they don't have a chance to rise back. By trading Durant, the Suns can get a better mix of players and reshape the team's competitiveness. Booker's individual ability has been fully proven as the core player of the team, and what is needed now is a more complete team to support him. Through targeted trades, the Suns are expected to find the right players to re-emerge as a powerhouse in the West and challenge for the championship once again.