Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the week ending on March 31. But, with all due respect, Lillard was not the best player, it was Phoenix Suns Devin Booker.
Dame ended the week 3-1 and put up impressive numbers throughout these games. To be more precise, Damian Lillard averaged 25.3 PPG, 37 percent in field goals, 30 percent in 3-pointers, and 95.5 percent in free throws.
Booker swept the floor when it came to each of these stats except free-throw percentage. Throughout the three games he played this week, the Suns went 0-3, while Booker put up astonishing numbers. These consisted of 52.3 PPG, 62 percent field goals, 47.8 percent 3-pointers, and 91.4 percent free throws.
The Blazers had a better record this week, losing only one game, but the title isn’t best player on the better team. The title is best Player of the Week. This is an individual recognition, so the team’s record should have nothing to do with who receives the title.
Some would argue that Devin Booker is ball-hogging, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Dame and Devin both had 92 field goal attempts in the week. The difference is Booker made 57 of them, while Dame only made 34.
As far as total points for the week goes, Lillard had 101 and Booker had 157. Keep in mind, Dame played one more game than Booker.
The numbers just don’t add up. Booker did better in almost every category, played in one less game and still outscored Dame. He also put up a historic performance over this stretch by being the youngest player to score 50-plus points in back-to-back games.
I love Dame just as much as the next guy. When he is on, he’s on. There is no stopping him when it’s Dame Time. He is a veteran in this league and a well-deserved All-Star. But, this week in particular, he did not deserve the title over Devin Booker.
