There are some games where it feels like everything clicks. The vision meets reality. The idea you had in your head finally shows up on the floor. Yes, it came against Indiana. Yes, they have the worst record in the NBA. That is part of the equation, and it should be acknowledged. I still love what the equation produced.
Book + Guac = 79.
Yeah, I am speaking this one into existence a little. I know it is corny. I am comfortable being corny from time to time. And hey, it’s easy to turn into emoji form!
“Guacamole.” That is the nickname I have bestowed upon Jalen Green this season. Sometimes he makes a play that makes you yell “holy guacamole!” at the television. Guac is green after all. Sometimes it is fresh and perfect. Sometimes it turns on you quickly. On Thursday night in Indianapolis, the guac was golden.
Jalen Green looked fantastic. He scored 36 points and needed only 23 shots to get there. Efficiency. That is the word everyone has been waiting to see attached to his name. The encouraging part is that it has not been a one-night flash. This marked Guac’s fourth straight game scoring at least 24 points.
Pair that with Devin Booker, who finished with 43 after attacking early and dropping 15 in the first quarter.
Now you see the vision. This is what the front office imagined. Quite honestly, it is what many expected to see over the past few seasons. Bradley Beal was supposed to be that secondary scoring force next to Devin Booker. The player who could keep the offense rolling when Booker rested. That never fully materialized. We have not had many chances to see what it might look like with our friend guacamole in that role.
Thursday night gave us a glimpse.
Booker and Green combined for 79 points. Funny number considering Bam Adebayo dropped 83 by himself a couple of nights earlier. Still, the idea remains compelling. Two guards capable of carrying the offense on the same night.
That is the chapter that goes into the evaluation notebook.
The best long-term outcome for Phoenix is simple. Jalen Green works here. He becomes the dynamic young guard who fits alongside Devin Booker. The two grow together over the next few seasons. As Booker gradually moves into the later stages of his career, Green steps fully into his prime. The baton passes naturally. I would rather see that happen than start chasing solutions elsewhere. Trading Green for someone like Julius Randle only creates another problem. That move blocks the development of Rasheer Fleming and starts another cycle of roster shuffling. At that point you are chasing your own tail.
Yes, the opponent was Indiana. The worst record in the league matters in the context of the game. Maybe this becomes a small footnote when the season is written in full.
Still, it was a fun chapter.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
I can’t fault the voting for giving the Bright Side Baller to Royce O’Neale for his effort against the Bucks. Heck, I wrote an entire article about his impact in the third quarter of that game, and that is why he received my vote. He finished with 45% of the vote, giving him 3 BSB’s on the season.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 66 against the Pacers. Here are your nominees:
Devin Booker
43 points (14-of-31, 4-of-7 3PT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 0 +/-
Jalen Green
36 points (14-of-23, 3-of-9 3PT), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 5 turnovers, +16 +/-
Royce O’Neale
15 points (5-of-8, 5-of-8 3PT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 turnovers, 0 +/-
Oso Ighodaro
6 points (2-of-4), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 0 turnovers, +9 +/-
Jordan Goodwin
6 points (3-of-5), 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, +13 +/-
Collin Gillespie
4 points (2-of-6, 0-of-2 3PT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +14 +/-
Who gets your vote for their efforts in Indy?