Suns 106 Mavericks 102 Game Review
By: Yann Wong
Tags: NBA, Phoenix Suns, Game Review, Dallas Mavericks

The game was tied at 100 apiece with 1:59 left to go, and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Chris Paul, one of the greatest clutch players ever, versus Luka, one of the worst clutch performers last year. This won’t go well. The Mavs will go on to lose yet another close game (further cementing their reputation as one of the worst clutch performing teams), but this was a good enjoyable game and we should all be happy that basketball is back, something we shouldn’t take for granted given how the Rockets-Thunder game was postponed just a few hours earlier.

The Suns are good and deserved the win.

Chris Paul in the clutch is as good as advertised (a key steal with 3 min left put the Suns up 100–96), and while Booker had a relatively quiet second half, he was ridiculously efficient inside the two point line (6–9 for the game) including the deciding elbow shot where he rose above Brunson to put the Suns up 105–100 with 40 sec to go. However, what really got my attention were the Suns role players, particularly Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, who made big plays on both ends and the solid contributions from Cam Payne and Langston Galloway. Jevon Carter was a really pesky defender which Brunson and Burke struggled against. The Suns are really deep at the guard and wing positions. Bridges was a big reason Luka had a 0–6 start, and should get more public recognition as an elite perimeter defender this season when the Suns make their playoff push.

If the Suns have a weakness, it’s their big man rotation. Ayton still fouls too often, and Damion Jones, the first big of the bench, is even worse. Both got into foul trouble in the first quarter forcing rookie Jalen Smith (goggles are back in the NBA!) to play heavy minutes, to mixed results. On offense however, Ayton was a complete monster in the post, out-muscling Kleber for easy buckets , and is just as scary as a wrecking ball in transition. If Ayton can stay on the floor, the Suns will be a hard matchup for anyone.

The Mavs really miss Kristaps Porzingis.

Last season, the Mavs are an elite offensive team and an average defensive team with Kristaps. Without him, they drop to merely good on offense and below average on defense. This season’s addition of better wing defenders will increase their defensive floor, but the offensive burden on Luka is too high without Kristaps back on the floor, especially if Luka’s not hitting his step-back threes.

Talking about which, I don’t blame Luka for taking those threes this game, even if he did go 0–6. They were all good looks, and he can’t let the defense sag back and play him for the pass. This is just one game (and he’s probably not in the best shape at the start of the seasons), but he didn’t shoot well from the three either last season. How much more efficient Luka becomes as a 3-point shooter will decide how well the Mavs can stay afloat when Porzingis is out. That said, whenever Luka is able to drive into the paint, he is still amazing at using his size to bully defenders inside. The Suns chose to defend the perimeter instead of helping on Luka when he drives, allowing Luka to draw fouls or feast on easy baskets (and often times both). Porzingis is probably most missed for the spacing he provides in the half-court (Kleber shot 2–6 from three, and Dwight Powell was completely ignored).

Talking about Powell, he really didn’t play well. It may be due primarily to Phoenix’s paint clogging defense, but if post-surgery Powell is unable to be the roll man and lob threat he once was, he will likely be replaced by Willy Cauley-Stein who played really well in limited minutes this game (leading the team in plus/minus!) and who’s new contract at $4m per year is starting to look like a real bargain. I also really like James Johnson and the energy, defense and ball-handling he brought (although his flagrant-1 on Cam Johnson would prove costly in such a close game) which leads me to wonder if Carlisle would consider using him as a small-ball five in the reserve unit. Jalen Brunson also deserves a mention in how he single-handedly brought the Mavs back scoring 10 straight points in the start of the 4th quarter. That kid doesn’t have the best physical gifts, but he has heart and toughness, and doesn’t shy away from attacking a big man like DeAndre Ayton on the switch.

Luka needs to improve his shooting, but the Mavs are deep and good even without Porzingis.

Mavs fans got to be disappointed with the loss, but give Phoenix the credit they deserve — they are going to be a force in the western conference this year. As for the Mavs, the poor shooting night from Luka is worrying, but it’s only the first game, and there’s no need to overreact. Luka does need to get better on his step-back threes, but there’s much to be optimistic about. Josh Richardson makes a big difference on defense and (other than Dwight) the role players look steady if not good. This is a deep deep team. With rookies Josh Green and Tyrell Terry waiting in the benches, the upside is still high for this team even if Porzingis is out.