Kristaps Porzingis shows off the complete package
Kristaps Porzingis has been on another planet this season. Through eight games, he’s scored at least 30 points six times and legitimized his ceiling as an MVP level talent. Oh, and he kind of had the greatest two way highlight of the season.
On Friday, the Phoenix Suns had the misfortune of encountering The Unicorn on the hardwood and he absolutely punished them on every nightmarish mismatch he created. Attacking the rim and stretching the floor with his polished midrange game, Porzingis racked up 37 points in less than three quarters of action.
The unbelievably graceful center carried his team on both ends of the floor as the Knicks dispatched the Suns with ease 120-107. His teammates have responded well to his humble demeanor and unsuspecting leadership, and New York now finds themselves sitting pretty with a 4-4 record that few could have predicted coming into the season.
In a purple and orange jersey with the number one across its back, the Suns trotted out their own matchup nightmare in the form of third-year shooting guard Devin Booker. The silky smooth scorer showered viewers with his unusually advanced scoring repertoire, rare for a player of his age, but displayed his immaturity with his complete disinterest and porous defense on the other end of the ball.
There’s no denying, Booker’s 34 points were instrumental in keeping his team in the game. However, scoring alone has never been the key to a successful team. He never asked for it, but with Eric Bledsoe having been dismissed from team activities, the 21-year-old talent is now the first in command on the floor at all times.
It’s been a small sample size, but so far, the ball has been in his hands more now than ever before. Booker must find a way to not only put the rock through the hoop, but make his teammates better. Whether that means hitting the open man in transition, slashing to create open looks for teammates or taking charge in the huddle, it’s obvious the deadeye shooter will need to step up for Phoenix to take the next step and make crucial strides.
