Inevitably, if the Suns continue to prance at the top of the NBA, Devin Booker and Chris Paul will have their say in the race for the MVP. For the moment, they are only “outsiders” but the two, selected in the All-Star Game, evolve at their best level.
As proof, Devin Booker has just reached the 30 point mark for the third time in four matches. Facing him, two substitute All-Stars also, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, and the back of the Suns delivers a very high level score with 38 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds at 14/23 on shots, including 5/10 3-pointers in 38 minutes.
“I just play in the middle of the attack. I am aware of the design of the team, and there will be scoring opportunities all the time.” explains Devin Booker. “I’ve been in this system for a while now. There is no reason to force anything. We have too many talented players. “
Chambered by the public and… the mascot
His first half was remarkable with 22 points, including 16 in the first quarter to set the tone for the game. All at 8 out of 10 on shots. We could even write 8 out of 9 on shots since his second miss of the half is a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
It was gluttony and when the public carries it, it responds with a new festival in the 3rd quarter. The arm remains stretched out for a few seconds, just to respond well to the public, but also to the mascot of the Bulls who tried, like that of the Raptors, to distract him by miming to want to fight with him.
“Outside, we are expected… We have to rely more on each other. There is no family, and you have to find the energy… And when you hear this kind of thing, it motivates a little more. “
Stung, Devin Booker brings the gap to +27 in the middle of the 3rd quarter. And when the Bulls come back below the 10-point mark in the 4th quarter, thanks to DeMar DeRozan, he is there to conclude an 8-0 and restore a 17-point lead. The match is folded, and the Suns can think of their next opponent, tonight, Philadelphia!
A very strong back-to-back with Joel Embiid as the number 1 threat.
” I have a lot of respect for what he does and the way he does it. concludes Devin Booker. ” It’s really rare, and I don’t know if we’ve ever seen that in basketball. Maybe one or two players like Olajuwon. If you put a little, he makes you pay for it. If you put a big one, it takes him off. It will be a collective effort to slow it down.“
| Devin Booker | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | PHX | 76 | 28 | 42.3 | 34.3 | 84.0 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 13.8 |
| 2016-17 | PHX | 78 | 35 | 42.3 | 36.3 | 83.2 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 22.1 |
| 2017-18 | PHX | 54 | 35 | 43.2 | 38.3 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 24.9 |
| 2018-19 | PHX | 64 | 35 | 46.7 | 32.6 | 86.6 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 26.6 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 70 | 36 | 48.9 | 35.4 | 91.9 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 26.6 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 67 | 34 | 48.4 | 34.0 | 86.7 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 25.6 |
| 2021-22 | PHX | 45 | 34 | 44.5 | 36.9 | 85.5 | 0.8 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 25.2 |
| Total | 454 | 34 | 45.4 | 35.4 | 86.9 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 23.2 | |
