Western Conference | Round 2 | (1) Phoenix Suns vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks (MAVS WIN 4-3)

[Speadge]

You have right to believe whatever you want, just stop acting like you know what happened blindly defending potential harassment - that's all I saying.
It is what it is now. Let's move to game 5. Have a nice day.

[pj0tr]

If anyone wants to start talking about what the Mavs did to their gameplan to overcome the Suns the last 2 games (besides hitting a lot of 3's) that would be refreshing. I didn't watch the first 2 games that closely so it's tougher to asses. I've heard people talk on podcasts and such but I'm curious what some of the X's and O's experts here think is going on. This is quite a turn around! I'll be honest, I thought the Mavs had no chance whatsoever so I wasn't playing close attention to the series at first.

I'm also curious what you guys think the Suns might do to adjust. It's clear Kidd has found something that is working vs. the Suns, so it's time for Monty to make his own adjustments.

I think the Suns got into their own heads a little bit more. The defense, as bad as it looked in Game 4 at times, wasn't their biggest problem - of course, you cant defend the 3 point line like they did.

The Mavs decided to largely take away Mikal Bridges cutting and spotting up for corner 3s, and they've decided that they absolutely don't care about DeAndre Ayton if he catches it outside the paint. Ayton's touch has disappeared, and based on how the MAvs are defending it, they were banking on that.

Other semi interesting thing is that the Mavs are basically not playing Powell after the first few minutes - they have Kleber playing 30+ minutes at the 5, with DFS/Bertans sharing that role, and they're basically throwing all 3 of them onto CP3 mainly when they switch, and for whatever reason CP3 is hesitant to attack them.

Given all of that, CP3 had 7 turnovers in the first half of Game 3 (2nd most ever in his career), and 4 fouls in the first half of Game 4 (never happened in his career).

So some of it is small adjustments Dallas did - some of it is Phoenix coming back down to earth after shooting 8 straight games of 50%.

The crazy part is that Phoenix still outshot Dallas from the field in both Games 3 and 4 despite losing - but Phoenix also turned it over 17 times in both games, which they haven't done all year in back to back games.

I do like Phoenix to win tonight - I don't think CP3 has a 3rd bad game in a row, and I also think DA and Bridges step up their play, and play much better in front of the home crowd. I also don't think Dallas is shooting 20/44 from 3, including a 58% from 3 in the first half. I think you'll see Phoenix make a few more subtle changes:

- Biyombo over McGee - I don't think McGee will play much tonight, if at all. Biyombo has proven hes much more capable of defending Doncic driving, and also defending the perimeter, than McGee is.
- Aaron Holiday minutes - Monty did this in Game 5 against NO, when Payne was struggling, and Holiday delivered.
- Jae Crowder starts on Luka
- Mikal Bridges starts on Brunson
- Booker starts out on DFS.
- Phoenix plays more zone than we've ever seen them play, and starts trying to take away the 3, similar to what they did in Game 4.
- Phoenix stops trying to "soft" trap Luka, and lets him go Isolating on guys similar to what they did in Games 1 and 2.

[Bob8]

The key is Mavs' D. Mavs had good enough offense to win in first 2 games too, but they can't afford Suns scoring 120 points. It really doesn't matter, if Luka scores 40 or few others 20+, unless they stop Suns scoring, they're not winning this game. Keep Suns around 100 points and you will have chance to win. I don't believe coaches will surprise each other in this series anymore, it's more about execution.

I don't give Mavs much chance today. I hope they can defend home court in game 6 and then win series in game 7, when all pressure will be on Suns.

[HMFFL]

Ayton needs to be utilized better. Only giving him twelve field goal attempts per game won't be successful. Before game one, I mentioned, if Phoenix gives Ayton 20 attempts per game minimum they will be successful. Now, the series is 2-2, so we will see how Ayton is used tonight.

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[Apz]

Clearly cp3 need to lock up his wife and mom in his basement. Imagine not being able to take a walk or go to the store, since someone might accidently touch u? I hope the family make it a police matter, a few months in jail for threatening a kid seems appropriate. Also, could help mavs if cp3 got something like that to think about:)

Whats been in this series this far, is that first 2 games mavs starters got lots of fouls early and had to sit and mavs lost those games. Last game cp3 got his share and had to sit and they lost. Not sure about 3rd game tbh, cant remember the fouls so guess it wasnt anything special.

Mavs need to be on their toes and keep the defense up. Suns need to stop leaving shooters open.

[LAL1947]

Clearly cp3 need to lock up his wife and mom in his basement. Imagine not being able to take a walk or go to the store, since someone might accidently touch u? I hope the family make it a police matter, a few months in jail for threatening a kid seems appropriate. Also, could help mavs if cp3 got something like that to think about:)

IF all there is to this is just that shoulder tap... I think the people who reported this in what appears to be a grossly false manner are the ones who should be sued, not CP3. He may not have seen what actually happened or may have been misinformed about what happened by his mom, wife or other family members, and then reacted to it as any son would. So whoever misinformed CP3, Dave McMenamin from ESPN (who reporting it first without checking), other media outlets, and the people who were posting videos on Twatter and Reddit saying "here's the kid who harassed CP3's mom, wife, and made his kids feel unsafe", etc... they're the ones to blame.

Then there's the knights and grand-standers who are eager to take up arms... and need to have a word with themselves... but never do.

Oh, and for all the talking-heads who had lectures to give to the kid, what happens next? Will everyone who had something to say now apologize and give lectures to CP3's mom instead on what constitutes harassment?

Watch on YouTube

[JoeyLightYears]

Foster saved as a wildcard for game 6 (assuming the Suns win tonight which they will obviously). Good thinking Silver

[JoeyLightYears]

I don't give Mavs much chance today. I hope they can defend home court in game 6 and then win series in game 7, when all pressure will be on Suns.

All the pressure is on the home team in every game 7 and yet they somehow win 80% of the time

[Bob8]

I don't give Mavs much chance today. I hope they can defend home court in game 6 and then win series in game 7, when all pressure will be on Suns.

All the pressure is on the home team in every game 7 and yet they somehow win 80% of the time

I'm not saying that Suns aren't favourites, I'm saying that game 7 is the best Mavs chance, because Suns will be under much bigger pressure than Mavs, who have basically overachieved already.

[JoeyLightYears]

I don't give Mavs much chance today. I hope they can defend home court in game 6 and then win series in game 7, when all pressure will be on Suns.

All the pressure is on the home team in every game 7 and yet they somehow win 80% of the time

I'm not saying that Suns aren't favourites, I'm saying that game 7 is the best Mavs chance, because Suns will be under much bigger pressure than Mavs, who have basically overachieved already.

Yes but this is true for every game 7. The home team wins 80%. You know what the record is for home teams when the teams are tied 2-2 in game 5? 80%. All of this talk about pressure and gamesmanship is noise.

[Bob8]

All the pressure is on the home team in every game 7 and yet they somehow win 80% of the time

I'm not saying that Suns aren't favourites, I'm saying that game 7 is the best Mavs chance, because Suns will be under much bigger pressure than Mavs, who have basically overachieved already.

Yes but this is true for every game 7. The home team wins 80%. You know what the record is for home teams when the teams are tied 2-2 in game 5? 80%. All of this talk about pressure and gamesmanship is noise.

I don't believe past stats will help Suns in game 5 or 7. Bookies don't agree with you either.

I would be more than happy for Mavs playing against any kind of stats in game 7. And I'm sure Suns will do anything to avoid game 7, no matter how in favour stats are for home team in game 7.

I will gladly take the bet, if you give me 4:1 odds.

[Jadoogar]

I wonder if the Suns switch up their strategy to let Luka get his and limit the 3s.
I don't know if the Mavs can continue to shoot this well but the Suns were also shooting insanely well in the first 2 games

[spanishninja]

I wonder if the Suns switch up their strategy to let Luka get his and limit the 3s.
I don't know if the Mavs can continue to shoot this well but the Suns were also shooting insanely well in the first 2 games

i have no idea why we STOPPED doing that. why let his teammates go off?

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[Texas Chuck]

unwanted touching isn't cool guys. Stop minimizing it because you root for a certain basketball team. Gross.

[Bob8]

I wonder if the Suns switch up their strategy to let Luka get his and limit the 3s.
I don't know if the Mavs can continue to shoot this well but the Suns were also shooting insanely well in the first 2 games

i have no idea why we STOPPED doing that. why let his teammates go off?

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Do you know that Mavs had scored even more points in first 2 games than last 2 and that Suns have lost games because they had scored 30 and 20 points less?

[spanishninja]

I wonder if the Suns switch up their strategy to let Luka get his and limit the 3s.
I don't know if the Mavs can continue to shoot this well but the Suns were also shooting insanely well in the first 2 games

i have no idea why we STOPPED doing that. why let his teammates go off?

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Do you know that Mavs had scored even more points in first 2 games than last 2 and that Suns have lost games because they had scored 30 and 20 points less?

the Mavs being much more efficient per possession is preventing the Suns from leaking out for transition opportunities. Phoenix was able to run a lot more in the first two games.

[Bob8]

unwanted touching isn't cool guys. Stop minimizing it because you root for a certain basketball team. Gross.

My English is not the best so I apparently don't understand phrases, put hands on someone, unwanted touching... In Europe those are very serious accusations. On the other hand, kid tapping someone's shoulder, is for sure not falling under that. And for sure nobody in Europe is asking kid to meet outside, for doing that.

So this's not about rooting for different basketball team, but language and cultural barriers.

[Bob8]

i have no idea why we STOPPED doing that. why let his teammates go off?

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Do you know that Mavs had scored even more points in first 2 games than last 2 and that Suns have lost games because they had scored 30 and 20 points less?

the Mavs being much more efficient per possession is preventing the Suns from leaking out for transition opportunities. Phoenix was able to run a lot more in the first two games.

Mavs Off Rtg,

Game 1, 120
Game 2, 111
Game 3, 114
Game 4, 116

It looks to me that difference in result is not correlated with Mavs offense.

Suns on other hand. 130, 134, 105 and 108. A very big drop after game 2.

[MrBigShot]

unwanted touching isn't cool guys. Stop minimizing it because you root for a certain basketball team. Gross.

Like they teach you in kindergarten. Keep. your. hands. to. yourself.

And sorry, but the people expecting CP3 is gonna get arrested or lose a lawsuit for telling a college student i'll see you later are in for some disappointment. That's nothing.

[zshawn10]

How big of a chance are we giving the Mavs now to win the series?