Booker unlikely to play Games 3 and 4 against the Pelicans according to Woj
This might end up being a 6 or even 7 game series. Pelicans have the momentum and for the next two games, a slight advantage probably
This is really a huge boost for the pelicans. I think part of the reason Paul has been so good since he got to Phoenix is because of how much of an offensive load Booker takes off him. Worse, the drop off from Booker to Landry shamet has to be one of the biggest in the league right up there with jokic to cousins or Embid to deandre Jordan. If the suns really struggle without Booker and lose this series it will create absolute chaos. On a funny side note this has to make the lakers kick themselves even more for missing playin.
Booker to Shamet is a big drop off but Shamet is a legitimate NBA caliber player who averages 20min per game. Haven't seen Cousins play but his numbers in 14min seem pretty decent.
Unless Giannis has a real bum backing him up (by that I mean an actual bum off the streets), I don't see how there is a bigger drop off than Embiid to Jordan. The drop off is massive both offensively and defensively. Jordan should at best be a 15th man on a roster as a favor for an agent. The fact that Doc is playing Reed, a 2nd year pick 58 player, over Jordan in the playoffs says it all.
Why absolute chaos? Pretty much everyone seemed to be picking the Suns and GSW in the WCF. If Suns lose, that would seem to roll the red carpet out for GSW to the finals.