HotRocks34 wrote:After a strong performance against the Utah Jazz in Round 1 of the playoffs, Dallas Mavericks #2 option Jalen Brunson is experiencing pronounced struggles against the Phoenix Suns and their long, athletic defense.
Here are the statistics. "Game Score" is an efficiency metric. Higher positive number is better.
Brunson versus Jazz27/4/4 on 48/36/084 with 31.5% Usage.................21.0 Game Score
Brunson versus Suns (through 2 games)11/4/2 on 32/25/100 with 26.4% Usage.................04.1 Game Score
To underscore how much Brunson is struggling, we can compare his statistics with Phoenix's #2 option, Chris Paul. The two players have nearly identical usage rates through the first two contests.
Paul versus Mavs (through 2 games)23/5/5 on 62/42/100 with 26.0% Usage................20.8 Game Score
Suffice it to say, Brunson (and many Mavs) is struggling badly against Phoenix's superior defense. We're not in Utah any longer. The Suns have five players averaging a double-digit Game Score, whereas the Mavs have just two (Luka, Kleber).
In fact, of the Mavs' top 7 players in minutes for the Suns series, only two of them (Luka, Kleber) have a better Game Score in the Suns series than they had in the Jazz series.
Brunson's and the rest of the Mavs' (not named Luka or Kleber) difficulties led Jason Kidd to say this following the Game 2 defeat:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33859096/jason-kidd-says-mavericks-need-players-besides-luka-doncic-step-dallas-2-0-hole-phoenix-suns"(Luka) had a great game, but no one else showed (up)," Kidd said. "We've got to get other guys shooting the ball better."
Brunson is shooting 32% for the series. Dallas' #3 option Spencer Dinwiddie is shooting 33% for the series. Kidd called out both by name following the Game 2 defeat.
Brunson's struggles have also led to attacks by the Dallas press, such as this one:
https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/05/05/mavericks-are-fading-fast-and-jalen-brunson-is-nowhere-to-be-found-vs-suns/Luka Doncic needs some help. I mean 80 points in two nights is not a bad effort, but the Dallas Mavericks are flying home trailing this series 2-0 because they are short one sidekick for their best player.
That reminds me. Whatever happened to Jalen Brunson?
(snip)
He is somewhere between a non-factor and a negative. And that’s stunning.
To make matters worse for the Mavs, Luka is playing with a thigh bruise he apparently suffered in Game 1 against the Suns. Here is Luka from practice on the day before Game 2:
With Brunson and the rest of the Mavs not named Luka and Kleber struggling so greatly, can Dallas turn things around and make this a series?
Very doubtful. Thigh bruises don't tend to heal quickly, and even if Luka were 100% the Mavs are simply overpowered against a 64-18 Phoenix team that is just better than they are.
Luka's 40/8/7 on 53/42/78 isn't enough. As I mentioned in another thread, it recalls Jordan's 43/6/5 against Boston in 1986. Jordan shined, the Bulls got swept, and Boston went on to win the chip.
You just have to tip your cap to the better team. In my opinion, the Suns playing like this can only be stopped by a full-strength Bucks squad that can work to exploit their (Milwaukee's) size advantage against Phoenix. And even that may not be enough as this year's Suns have McGee and Biyombo, unlike last year.
Phoenix is the current Vegas title favorite for a reason. The Mavs aren't stopping them (given current health levels for both teams; provided Phoenix stays healthy). The only question left is how many games will the series go.
I think it's over in 4.
Brunson, Dinwiddie and the rest of the Mavs will learn from this experience. Jordan went three years beating his head against the Bad Boys' wall before he broke through. But those battles helped forge the MJ we saw winning 6 titles in the years to follow.
I'm a Mavs fan. I'm not mad, surprised or disappointed. To be honest, I'm actually happy that the Mavs are struggling some. Struggle leads to growth.
