As of today, the Phoenix Suns to an NBA-best 63-16 record, head and shoulders above all other teams by at least 10 wins. Their guard tandem of Chris Paul and Devin Booker has caused nightmares for opposing defenses.
Historically, the NBA MVP Award has been given out mostly to players whose teams finished in the top two spots in their respective conference. This year, the MVP race has been split amongst three men whose teams have not gotten close to the top spots in their conference.
The Suns have two stars, not one that carries the full load. But which star is more responsible for all these wins? Booker or Paul?
Paul joined the Suns last year and they became a contender overnight. Undoubtedly, the veteran Paul has had the largest effect on winning.
Post-All-Star break, Paul missed 15 games in which Phoenix went 11-4. This 15-game stretch gave Booker the opportunity to showcase why he is the Suns’ most important player.
I dove into the statistics to find the Suns got better when Paul was out of the lineup, playing through Devin Booker instead.
The Case for Devin Booker’s MVP Candidacy
If we take the 15 games Chris Paul missed post-All-Star break, we can isolate Devin Booker’s effects on Phoenix.
Yours truly took the first 20 games the Suns played with both Paul and Devin Booker (as well as most of their other players healthy) as a control.
We will find that the Phoenix Suns get better playing through Booker and without Paul. Here’s the proof:
Paste your eyes on that spreadsheet!
The Phoenix Suns got better in almost every category playing without Chris Paul and through Devin Booker.
Chris Paul is revered as the “Point God,” a guy who always makes the smart play, can get buckets when needed, and rarely turns the ball over. These numbers fly in the face of that statement, with every offensive category getting better with Paul on the sidelines.
Paul also got a turn piloting the Suns without Booker in a smaller sample size. Phoenix played worse in every offensive category in a December 2nd through 16th stretch with Booker hurt aside from assist percentage.
Wow, I could have never guessed the Point God would be able to rack up assists in an efficient manner. But their assist-to-turnover ratio declined, and Phoenix’s offense in general had the worst numbers of this study under his leadership.
The crux of Booker’s MVP case should lie with the numbers: his team was better with Booker flying solo than he and Chris Paul playing in tandem.
Cool Stats Nerd, What About Jokic, Embiid, and Giannis?
This year’s MVP race looks to have narrowed down to three players. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid have dominated the national NBA media conversation and currently hold the top odds.
This piece is not designed to take anything away from the incredible seasons these three have had.
However, the NBA’s MVP honors have historically been given to players whose teams finish the season in either first or second place in their conference. None of the 76ers, Bucks, or Nuggets own a top two record, while the Phoenix Suns have already clinched the best record in the NBA.
The Bucks and 76ers still have a shot at getting into the top two. But even if that’s the case at the end of the season, their teams will have eeked into the top two.
Booker’s Suns have owned the best record in the NBA since January. They’ve smoked other contenders and have left no questions unanswered. Should we not award this type of season with an MVP?
If the best team in the NBA gets better when offensive autonomy is given to their best player, that player should be the MVP!
Devin Booker and the Suns Are Really F-cking Good This Year
Do you know how good the Phoenix Suns have been this year? Do you really?
The 2021-22 Suns set a franchise record for wins this season.
That’s more wins this season than their best years from teams with Steve Nash, Dennis Johnson, and Charles Barkley.
If they go 2-1 in their last three games, they will be just the 22nd team in NBA history to reach the 65-win mark.
I may be reiterating, but a historically good team gets better when Devin Booker is given more freedom! Include this man in the MVP conversation. I’m begging you!
Check out my Twitter for daily NBA commentary and be sure to check out the other work by all the good people of Belly Up Sports.
