(1) Phoenix Suns vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks West Conf Semifinals Thread

[ArbitraryWater]

Pelicans weren't a "scrub team". Foolish.

Who said that?

[FultzNationRISE]

I've decided: Suns in a soft 6. Closer to 5 than it is to 7. Some double-digit wins in there.

This is what I’m leaning toward as well.

Of course as a Lone Star resident Id love to see the Mavs pull the upset. But Im just not convinced they can match up with Phoenix.

Hopefully Im wrong.

[kentatm]

It’s hard to say. This current Mavs team is very different from the one the Suns have had success against. The Mavs are no longer saddled w/a gimped KP for Ayton to eat up and their defense has massively improved over the course of the year.

[ArbitraryWater]

Jeff always changes the series threads to some weirdly shit format

[BarberSchool]

Kleber and Powell and Luka will be guarding Ayton.

Luka did well guarding Rudy, but Ayton ain’t Rudy.

Also, Booker is clearly still very hurt.
Phoenix have many long wings who on paper should do a decent job on Luka.

But this team rotational defense we’re seeing from Dallas is finally coming together after the Zingis trade.

I think we are watching the phasing out of rim protecting bigs, in favor of stretch bigs who are decent in pick and roll D.

And Dallas has plenty of those and other 3 & D guys.

What Ayton does on the perimeter defensively, and how healthy & effective Book can get against this Dallas perimeter D, will be the two deciding factors in this series.

[Doomsday Dallas]

[90sgoat]

Who is going to gas first, Luka or Paul?

[kawhileonard2]

I think Suns should win this handily. Only Warriors out West have a chance against Suns. Any East team could beat Suns though.

[BarberSchool]

I think Suns should win this handily. Only Warriors out West have a chance against Suns. Any East team could beat Suns though.

Did you see how badly Book was favoring the one leg ? Book is clearly still very hurt.

[highwhey]

i don't even want to buy tickets until i see how the suns play in game 1. feel like the mavs can and might give them the business

[ArbitraryWater]

i don't even want to buy tickets until i see how the suns play in game 1. feel like the mavs can and might give them the business

thats right boy thats what we're gonna do

[ImKobe]

I see a competitive series, but the Suns have had the Mavs number the last 2 years, something like 6-0 vs them in that span (I think Luka missed 2 of those games). Seems like a bad matchup for the Mavs.

This is true. However, all the RS match-ups have been within single digits, even the two without Doncic this season, and we haven't seen the post-KP Mavs play the Suns (their last game was on Jan 20th).

With Booker not at full strength, this is a very close series. Mavs have enough pieces defensively to limit CP3 and a hobbled Booker. Ayton and McGee will have big games, but I trust Doncic to be the best player in the series and make up for that size advantage.

[BigShotBob]

thats right boy thats what we're gonna do

"we're"?

[ArbitraryWater]

@Indian guy I told you to come in here and vote, smh

"we're"?

lol you're new to ish, don't worry

[highwhey]

thats right boy thats what we're gonna do

i'm taking my girl to game 2, hoping booker is healthy. should be a fun series if both teams are healthy.