The Phoenix Suns have taken Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
They were able to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in a very easy fashion.
The Suns are coming into the series hot and they are continuing that.
This series is interesting with all the fresh new faces.
Most of the players in this series have never been in the Finals, and are searching for their first ring.
One of those players is Devin Booker of the Suns.
Booker is one of the young bright stars in this league, but had never made the playoffs before.
However, in his first taste of the postseason, he is now in the NBA Finals.
Booker has been one of the best players on this Suns team throughout the entire season.
The postseason has not been any different.
We have seen his great performances, such as the one in Game 6 of the first-round against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
People did not know if Booker was ready, but he sure has proven that he is now.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals was the biggest game of his young career thus far.
How did he perform on the biggest stage in basketball?
Offensive End
Booker has been great during this whole playoff run.
He has been averaging 27 points and 4.8 assists per game.
The offensive end is where he shines the most.
Game 1 was another great performance by Booker.
He was able to put up 27 points and six assists.
Devin Booker tonight:
27 points
6 assists
3 stealsW. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/T7SzISmRpf
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) July 7, 2021
His mid-range game was lethal off of the pick and rolls.
Switching Brook Lopez onto Booker was a big mistake by the Bucks.
Booker had his way with him on every switch.
However, he did struggle with shooting at times in the game.
He only shot 1-8 from three and 8-21 from the field.
The shot was not falling completely, but he still had such a great impact on that end.
He can be off, but he still demands attention from the Bucks.
His Underrated Defense
Booker’s defense is not something he is known for.
Offense is what you think about when it comes to him.
Game 1 was a very underrated game on the defensive end.
Booker took on the challenge of guarding Jrue Holiday or Khris Middleton for Game 1.
He did a great job of doing just that.
ESPN has Bucks going 1-for-11 on shots defended by Devin Booker. Wow.
After the Clippers went at him, with Marcus Morris having a lot of success, Booker was ready in Game 1. Holiday and Middleton 0-for-9 on Booker? What a gamer performance by Book.
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) July 7, 2021
He even added in three steals.
Offense comes easy for Booker.
That is why his ability to play defense is so important.
If he wants to be a top-tier superstar in the league, he has to be able to come and play on the defensive end during the playoffs.
The shot was not falling with the greatest consistency, which is why his defense was so important.
Booker might not have been the best player on the floor, as that was Chris Paul who took that title for Game 1.
However, Booker still held his own.
It was a great game, but was not the perfect one from Booker.
Grade: B+
NEXT: Grading Chris Paul's First Ever NBA Finals Performance