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

[HotRocks34]

Dorian Finney-Smith praises Luka's defense and activity level following Game 3. Starts like 1:00 into the video:

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[Johnny Firpo]

Have not watched the game, but box-score suggests the Mavs played like a team today and simply outplayed the Suns.

The defensive intensity from the Mavs was insane, the Suns really didn't look like they expected Dallas to play this kind of defense in any game. It's good to see, but once again Luka showed that his conditioning is not there. He played amazing defense today - for him -, and the shots suddenly didn't fall. It's both alarming and encouraging, alarming for this series, and encouraging for the future, because he obviously still has levels to go. I expect the Suns to put the stranglehold on this series on Sunday, but this was still a great game for us Mavs fans, because a lot of us expected this to be a sweep after the first two games.

[HotRocks34]

Kidd postgame on Luka responding well to Kidd calling him out for defensive issues in today's shootaround:

"he's one that's never run from criticism"

Kidd praised Luka's defense in the game

[HotRocks34]

Brunson postgame

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Says CP3 had an "uncharacteristic" game, and praised Bullock for his defense on CP3.

Said he played with more "hop in his step" in Game 3. More decisive. He said he was "terrible" in the first two games, and that it was "awful" to have to sit and think about how the first two games went before he broke out tonight.

[MrGoat]

Have not watched the game, but box-score suggests the Mavs played like a team today and simply outplayed the Suns.

Turnovers was the difference. CP3 had a nightmarish first half with his first career 7 turnover half, several of them unforced, and the Suns never really recovered from that. The Mavs committed their first turnover with about 10 seconds left in the first half on a 50-50 offensive foul call. The Suns outshot the Mavs from the field, from 3, and from the line, but the turnovers just did them in and they ended up only taking 76 total shots to the Mavs' 90. Way better defense from the Mavs too, it was only that close because their offense sputtered a bit

[Johnny Firpo]

Kidd postgame on Luka responding well to Kidd calling him out for defensive issues in today's shootaround:

"he's one that's never run from criticism"

Kidd praised Luka's defense in the game

Luka is a self-critical individual, I like that about him. He doesn't really shy away from criticism, and knows he has to be better in the future when it comes to his conditioning. It was also a little distasteful and frankly just blatantly false of the haters to jump on him for what was a truly awful defensive game, yes, but still only one game. Luka has played a good defensive season this year, but we've already seen this with Dirk and many other players. If you are a white European, you are put in a box as a cerebral, but no defense player. Luka is not an all-world defender, do not get me wrong, but he is actually average in that regard already on most nights, if not above average, so really doesn't deserve the treatment he sometimes gets.

[HotRocks34]

It was also a little distasteful and frankly just blatantly false of the haters to jump on him was what a truly awful defensive game

I was actually happy about it because it made him mad. And it will force him to get better.

Luka is super competitive. That's a very good quality in a baller.

[spanishninja]

He finished the game but something to watch moving forward

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that was so odd. Cassidy Hubbard reported on that after half time and right then and there the camera showed Bullock clearly on the court.

[Apz]

Have not watched the game, but box-score suggests the Mavs played like a team today and simply outplayed the Suns.

The defensive intensity from the Mavs was insane, the Suns really didn't look like they expected Dallas to play this kind of defense in any game. It's good to see, but once again Luka showed that his conditioning is not there. He played amazing defense today - for him -, and the shots suddenly didn't fall. It's both alarming and encouraging, alarming for this series, and encouraging for the future, because he obviously still has levels to go. I expect the Suns to put the stranglehold on this series on Sunday, but this was still a great game for us Mavs fans, because a lot of us expected this to be a sweep after the first two games.

Had nothing to do with it unless u think he were tired before the game started, since his shot were off from tipoff

[Statlanta]

I wanted to see the Mavs closed out but the guy from Wake Forest laid an egg on both sides of the ball. I just don’t think the mavericks have enough weapons to make this a series.

[LAL1947]

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I don't know how this is an offensive foul since CP3 was moving backward and moving obliquely along with Luka... and Luka was trying to get his elbows up and away from CP3's face... he was doing what he could to avoid contact with CP3.

Yet the refs let Giannis barge into players head-on... while leading with his elbows, without an attempt to avoid their faces... and even if the defenders already have position established and aren't moving obliquely.

Consistency from the referees, that's all we want. If this is an offensive foul, then they need to call offensive fouls every single frikkin' time Giannis makes contact using his elbows too.

[sasquatchBob]

Feels different from this end.....

Dallas was competitive this year, I believe they led going into the 4th in all 3 RS games. But the first two games, they appeared pretty badly outclassed even though they kept in close until Paul did Paul things in the 4th.

Suns are really really good. Bench let them down tonight pretty badly as nobody really contributed, but still a really nice team. Ideally they'd have a better backup guard than the two guys playing, but can't have it all.

The Suns weakness in these playoffs is Cam Payne. Pretty obvious too.

Payne was amazing in the playoffs last year, and his regression this year is a big reason the Suns bench has struggled in the playoffs so far, well that combined with Booker missing 3.5 games in the first round.

Shamet has also largely disappeared in the last few games.

Monty is loyal to his guys, so it would shock me... but if Payne doesn't turn it around, I'd imagine we see Aaron Holiday or Landry Shamet taking a lot of the backup PG minutes.

Shamet has been awful all year as has Payne really. I think no matter how this season ends, Cameron Payne is playing basketball in another uniform come November. Shamet is Monty's favorite player lol, he says he wants his daughter to marry the dude (not literally) so unfortunately he's here to stay. That's fine though as his niche is hitting 3's.

If he's hitting them, then he gets mins, if not he's done after the first 5. Payne is actually needed to give Chris rest. So if he sucks this series, it's a huge advantage to Dallas.

He said the same about Cam Johnson. Monty shopping out his daughters

[Freighttrain]

It's games like these that show Booker is a tier well below other young stars such as Tatum, Luka, Ja, etc. He's just not a superstar player that can lead a team as those guys can. After hitting those early 2 threes his presence was barely felt. Slandering Luka was perhaps justified, but even a bad Luka game is better than an average Booker game. The standards are way different.

I also just realized that no matter which team the Suns face if they were to move on, the best player will always be on the other team. Have we seen a team win in the last 20 years without having the best player since the second round? 03 Pistons?

[BoatsNZones]

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**** outta here “NBA 1st Team”.

[pj0tr]

It's games like these that show Booker is a tier well below other young stars such as Tatum, Luka, Ja, etc. He's just not a superstar player that can lead a team as those guys can. After hitting those early 2 threes his presence was barely felt. Slandering Luka was perhaps justified, but even a bad Luka game is better than an average Booker game. The standards are way different.

I also just realized that no matter which team the Suns face if they were to move on, the best player will always be on the other team. Have we seen a team win in the last 20 years without having the best player since the second round? 03 Pistons?

Pretty obvious this poster didn't watch Ja against Minnesota whatsoever, or Tatum against the Nets in round 1 last year, or Tatum against the Bucks in Game 1.

[pj0tr]

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**** outta here “NBA 1st Team”.

I respect how much you truly hate Chris Paul and the Suns. This much hate with your post history requires a level of respect.

[Archx]

I wanted to see the Mavs closed out but the guy from Wake Forest laid an egg on both sides of the ball. I just don’t think the mavericks have enough weapons to make this a series.

Mavs secret weapon Scott Foster still hasn't been used

[BoatsNZones]

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**** outta here “NBA 1st Team”.

I respect how much you truly hate Chris Paul and the Suns. This much hate with your post history requires a level of respect.

Haha. To be honest Booker’s game I actually love. Just a funny clip.

[pj0tr]

I wanted to see the Mavs closed out but the guy from Wake Forest laid an egg on both sides of the ball. I just don’t think the mavericks have enough weapons to make this a series.

Mavs secret weapon Scott Foster still hasn't been used

I get why Mavs twitter wants this badly, but Luka doesn't exactly have the greatest history with Foster. Be careful for what you wish for.

[dmakk]

Legler on ESPN postgame: Dallas dictated things with their defense and looked like the team we saw in the regular season

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