The Phoenix Suns' backcourt plan feels like déjà vu

The Phoenix Suns appear poised to repeat the "Point Book" strategy for the upcoming season, relying on Devin Booker as the primary playmaker and facilitator, this time paired with Jalen Green in the backcourt. General Manager Brian Gregory justified this approach, emphasizing the need for speed in the modern NBA and stating that both Booker and Green are great ball handlers who can play off each other. He believes playing at a faster pace with better movement will open the court for both players.

This strategy builds on last season, where Booker led the team in assists (averaging a career-high 7.1 per game) even with Tyus Jones as the nominal point guard. Gregory plans to lean further into Booker's playmaking abilities. The GM's vision involves the team playing with pace, getting out in transition, applying pressure, attacking downhill, and forcing defenses back, aiming to adopt the fast, aggressive style that troubled Phoenix last season.

However, the article argues this strategy has a fundamental flaw. While the faster pace sounds good theoretically and aligns with challenging opponents' styles, it breaks down when the game slows down during critical, half-court possessions where execution is paramount. Booker, despite his elite skills, historically struggles with navigating pressure, particularly blitzes at the point of attack, a weakness exposed most notably during the 2024 season when paired with Bradley Beal in a similar "Point Book" setup.