Muah! The Phoenix Suns kiss the 2010s goodbye with great win

Back to Booker

If you just looked at the raw numbers, Devin Booker had a good game, even by Devin Booker standards. The Suns’ front man finished with 33 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. However, it is how he scored all those points that was jaw-dropping.

Much to the chagrin of Eddie Johnson, who insists the analytics folks are all crazy for suggesting teams should shoot exclusively layups and 3-pointers, Devin Booker lit up Portland without taking a single shot from behind the arc.

Not one.

Booker shot the ball 19 times, and all of them were either in the paint, or in the form of an analytics-shamed mid-range jumper.

Oh, and he also shot another 15 shots from the free throw line, of which he made all 15.

I’m not quite on Eddie Johnson’s level of mid-range jumper enthusiasm, but most of Booker’s shots today that could classify as such were calm, collected, and open. No matter where you are on the court, that makes for a good shot.

Booker’s role on this team is to be its leading scorer. He did exactly that Monday night in Portland.

It all culminated to a great performance from the Suns and one worthy of a bow. They’re now off to Hollywood to play the Lakers in the first game of the new year, and really, the new decade Wednesday night.

Keep this show rolling.