RealGM

Who: Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns

When: Wednesday, October 19th @ 7:00 (10:00ET) l ESPN

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ








Dallas Mavericks starting lineup:


C-Wood

F- Finney-Smith

F- Bullock

G- Dinwiddie

G- Doncic



Reserves: Hardaway/McGee/Kleber/Green/Bertans





Phoenix Suns starting lineup:


C- Ayton

F- CamJ

F- Bridges

G- Booker

G- CP3



Reserves: Landale/Payne/Shamet/Biyombo/Lee

Dinwiddie might need a face Anyhow, without that second creator in Brunson, Dallas isn't as potent as last postseason. Phoenix takes the victory in this one.

I really want to win this game and get the season off on the right foot even if it’s only 1/82.

That said, the Suns have started slow the last 2 years, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we take a few games to really get going.

Golanator wrote:I really want to win this game and get the season off on the right foot even if it’s only 1/82.

That said, the Suns have started slow the last 2 years, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we take a few games to really get going.

If wouldn't surprise me if they slogged along to a .500 record for the first month or two. It's been a long and weird off-season.

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WeekapaugGroove wrote:

Golanator wrote:I really want to win this game and get the season off on the right foot even if it’s only 1/82.

That said, the Suns have started slow the last 2 years, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we take a few games to really get going.

If wouldn't surprise me if they slogged along to a .500 record for the first month or two. It's been a long and weird off-season.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Nothing would surprise me really. Being that low would surprise me a little. But I could see us hovering around 5-7 in the standings. I could also see us hitting the ground running and clicking on all cylinders like last year.

Often times in the past, when we ran wings (more like 3s) at 3 and 4, we crushed competition. As long as Cam/Bridges/Book help out with the boards.

I hope that my thoughts about how this game will go will be proven wrong. Suns ball is back...but I can't muster up any CAPS or exclamation marks for it until they show me somethin'

Jesus_H_Macy wrote:I hope that my thoughts about how this game will go will be proven wrong. Suns ball is back...but I can't muster up any CAPS or exclamation marks for it until they show me somethin'

I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative and then if things get better you will realize you had too little belief in the team.

No matter what happens, it's 1 game.

One year we started 1-5 and won 62 or 61 games I think. I think it was the 06-07 year. We could start out in a funk but I don't anticipate it would last long, as long as Paul is healthy. He won't let it happen.

bwgood77 wrote:

Jesus_H_Macy wrote:I hope that my thoughts about how this game will go will be proven wrong. Suns ball is back...but I can't muster up any CAPS or exclamation marks for it until they show me somethin'

I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative and then if things get better you will realize you had too little belief in the team.

No matter what happens, it's 1 game.

One year we started 1-5 and won 62 or 61 games I think. I think it was the 06-07 year. We could start out in a funk but I don't anticipate it would last long, as long as Paul is healthy. He won't let it happen.

"I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative" <-- Oh that's very safe to say

I just think that the psychology of this game is very important. The game at Portland is just 1 game. I think this game matters a lot more. These guys aren't robots. If it's a lackluster performance where we get clowned by this team again I think that's very significant. Of course I reserve the right to be wrong

I think we should be fine against the Mavs they added Wood, but lost Brunson that little guard is a killer. As long as we avoid Adelaide 36ers over the course of the season, we should easily finish top 4 in the west.

Jesus_H_Macy wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:

Jesus_H_Macy wrote:I hope that my thoughts about how this game will go will be proven wrong. Suns ball is back...but I can't muster up any CAPS or exclamation marks for it until they show me somethin'

I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative and then if things get better you will realize you had too little belief in the team.

No matter what happens, it's 1 game.

One year we started 1-5 and won 62 or 61 games I think. I think it was the 06-07 year. We could start out in a funk but I don't anticipate it would last long, as long as Paul is healthy. He won't let it happen.

"I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative" <-- Oh that's very safe to say

I just think that the psychology of this game is very important. The game at Portland is just 1 game. I think this game matters a lot more. These guys aren't robots. If it's a lackluster performance where we get clowned by this team again I think that's very significant. Of course I reserve the right to be wrong

McGee will come out and outboard and play with more energy than Ayton, but he will get gassed fast. Ayton is used to having to play more minutes..of course they have very good C depth so can always stay fresh, so he will need some help on the boards from the rest of the team. They will play big and Luka alone averages 8 or 9 boards.

We really do need a bigger PF or one of our players to really focus on rebounding like 6'5 Barkley and Tucker did or even guys like Harden and Westbrook do.

bwgood77 wrote:

Jesus_H_Macy wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:
I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative and then if things get better you will realize you had too little belief in the team.

No matter what happens, it's 1 game.

One year we started 1-5 and won 62 or 61 games I think. I think it was the 06-07 year. We could start out in a funk but I don't anticipate it would last long, as long as Paul is healthy. He won't let it happen.

"I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative" <-- Oh that's very safe to say

I just think that the psychology of this game is very important. The game at Portland is just 1 game. I think this game matters a lot more. These guys aren't robots. If it's a lackluster performance where we get clowned by this team again I think that's very significant. Of course I reserve the right to be wrong

McGee will come out and outboard and play with more energy than Ayton, but he will get gassed fast. Ayton is used to having to play more minutes..of course they have very good C depth so can always stay fresh, so he will need some help on the boards from the rest of the team. They will play big and Luka alone averages 8 or 9 boards.

We really do need a bigger PF or one of our players to really focus on rebounding like 6'5 Barkley and Tucker did or even guys like Harden and Westbrook do.

Won’t McGee go against Biyombo with 2nd unit over facing Ayton. Unless McGee starts but I believe Woods will start at Center. Last game of preseason McGee did start while Woods came off the bench so I’m not certain who Kidd will insert at C next game.

SunsRback4Good wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:

Jesus_H_Macy wrote:
"I think it's safe to say at some point in the game you will be very negative" <-- Oh that's very safe to say

I just think that the psychology of this game is very important. The game at Portland is just 1 game. I think this game matters a lot more. These guys aren't robots. If it's a lackluster performance where we get clowned by this team again I think that's very significant. Of course I reserve the right to be wrong

McGee will come out and outboard and play with more energy than Ayton, but he will get gassed fast. Ayton is used to having to play more minutes..of course they have very good C depth so can always stay fresh, so he will need some help on the boards from the rest of the team. They will play big and Luka alone averages 8 or 9 boards.

We really do need a bigger PF or one of our players to really focus on rebounding like 6'5 Barkley and Tucker did or even guys like Harden and Westbrook do.

Won’t McGee go against Biyombo with 2nd unit over facing Ayton. Unless McGee starts but I believe Woods will start at Center. Last game of preseason McGee did start while Woods came off the bench so I’m not certain who Kidd will insert at C next game.

I thought they told JaVale he was going to start. If he does I bet he sits before the 5 minute mark. Probably won't play more than 25 minutes a game.

^^^^ you’re probably right…1 I wasn’t paying attention to their team. But yeah, McGee will get winded going up against Ayton I can see two quick fouls on him within first 3-4 min of play. I just can’t believe he’s no longer with us, had such a promising season, but showed nothing in the postseason which is why his career with us was short lived.

My expectations are Suns start hot, hitting 3s and feeding Ayton. Mavs' starting five is generally worse and keeping up with Suns will depend on Luka hitting the early shot clock, left corner, step back three. Then they come back with second units clearly a Mavs advantage. Maybe Shamet has another good game here. Suns win the game with less than 10pt difference.

sunsbg wrote:My expectations are Suns start hot, hitting 3s and feeding Ayton. Mavs' starting five is generally worse and keeping up with Suns will depend on Luka hitting the early shot clock, left corner, step back three. Then they come back with second units clearly a Mavs advantage. Maybe Shamet has another good game here. Suns win the game with less than 10pt difference.

Shamet is out tomorrow. Mavs have a couple injuries of their own. Kleber not being able to go would be really big.

Last playoffs was such a let down and the overall offseason was less than inspiring, I can't quite get myself outta bed to get excited about this one. I'll still watch it for the young guys' development but yeah can't say I'm as excited as I was the last couple of seasons.

My money is on Ayton coming out hot showing all sorts of offensive moves and threes, with the Suns losing a close game due to the bench. Monty will them come out and say that while Ayton was great that's not Suns basketball and make him go back to his role from last year.

On paper we are the best team, but I thought the same a few months ago in the playoffs and they kicked our asses.

Just win...I don't care if it's a pretty win or not, we play at home and other than Shamet we have everyone healthy.

Vegas says Suns -4 1/2

My bet….
CP over 8 1/2 assists

Saberestar wrote:On paper we are the best team, but I thought the same a few months ago in the playoffs and they kicked our asses.

Just win...I don't care if it's a pretty win or not, we play at home and other than Shamet we have everyone healthy.

We’re the best team on paper Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s just in todays league if your team can’t hit threes you won’t go far and that’s what happened in the playoffs. Mavs were hitting 17+ threes at ease while Suns barely averaged 8 to 10 a game.