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#2 Devin Booker flourishes into a regular-season MVP award finalist
Despite the addition of a ball-dominant point guard to the lineup, Devin Booker managed to average 25.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, while shooting nearly 49% from the field.
His iso game reached newer zeniths, and defenses had a visibly hard time containing his offensive firepower at numerous occasions.
The 2-time All-Star ranked 3rd in the league (6.5) in pull-up-2 point attempts per game, and shot nearly 55% from inside the arc. Booker and Chris Paul effectively brought back the mid-range in style, and showed the league that the 2-pointer is still lethal.
What sets Devin Booker apart is his tenacity and work ethic to be legendary, as he repeatedly writes on his kicks. The 25-year-old is on the cusp of his prime and being mentored by Monty and CP3 is the ideal scenario.
For him to make the next leap and punch his name amongst the league's elite scorers is only a natural next step.
#3 The Phoenix Suns beat the LA Lakers to the top seed in the Western Conference
The Phoenix Suns gave LeBron James his first ever first-round exit in the playoffs in his 17-season long career. For the regular season, the Suns went from being the 10th seed to the 2nd seed in the Western Conference in just one year.
Call it the Chris Paul effect, Monty Williams' tactics or Devin Booker's breakout year, the Phoenix Suns are here to stay. And their likely rivals in the West this year around would be the heavily stacked LA Lakers. The Purple and Gold will be fitter, stronger and pumped to wipe the wrongs from this past season.
But the Suns are no less.
Last season, the Phoenix Suns had the best record (26-10) when it comes to games played against the 15 teams that eventually ended the season with winning records. The Phoenix Suns ended their regular season campaign with an impressive 51-21 win-loss record, closely behind the surging Utah Jazz.
All the aforementioned facts are just arguments pointing to their regular season consistency.
If that was not enough, they have now signed Abdel Nader who shots 42% from the three-point land and will space the floor as well as facilitate ball movement. All in all, the Phoenix Suns are favourites to lead the West's regular season stnadings.
Guess the Lakers players!
