John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Suns Coach Frank Vogel Criticizes NBA For Ejecting Devin Booker

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Robert Marvi | Last updated 2/17/24

Although the Phoenix Suns blew out the moribund Detroit Pistons 116-100 on Wednesday to improve to 33-22 on the NBA season, it wasn’t the prettiest of runaway wins.

Before the game even started, Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart punched the Suns’ Drew Eubanks in the face, which resulted in Stewart being arrested. The Suns shot just 45.5 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from 3-point range and committed 23 turnovers, and after running up a 35-point lead, they allowed Detroit to outscore them 31-17 in the fourth quarter.

In the first quarter, Devin Booker was assessed a technical foul for arguing about a foul that had been called against him. Moments later, he received his second technical foul, which resulted in his ejection.

Devin Booker received his 2nd technical foul and was ejected for this

(h/t @ridiculouscage)

pic.twitter.com/LilcoBFe2o
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 15, 2024

When Phoenix head coach Frank Vogel argued Booker’s ejection, he was given a technical foul of his own. Afterward, he criticized the officials for what he saw as an unwarranted ejection.

“Freakin’ ridiculous, total BS to kick a star player out of the game. i've seen worse than he did on a nightly basis" #Suns coach Frank Vogel on Devin Booker's ejection https://t.co/93YkXri2vS
— Brendan Mau (@brendan_mau) February 15, 2024

Booker played just five minutes and managed to score only seven points while shooting 2-of-5 from the field.

He is having an outstanding season, as he’s averaging 27.5 points and 7.0 assists a game while shooting 50.0 percent overall and 37.9 percent from downtown.

The Suns don’t have a true point guard, but Booker has taken on those responsibilities, and he hasn’t done a bad job of it, even though he’s not a natural point guard by any means.

After a rocky start to this season, partly due to some injury woes, the Suns may be figuring things out. They have won 14 of their last 18 games, and their defense, which has been a big concern for them, has greatly improved. In their last 15 games, they have ranked fourth in the NBA in defensive rating.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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