Game Day: Mavericks (25-24) @ Suns (25-24), Thurs 1/26/23

[Superbone]

Time: 8:00 pm AZ (7:00 pm PT/10:00 pm ET)
Place: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV: TNT

The Mavericks return to the scene of the crime Thursday night for a showdown of the two 25-24 teams on TNT. Dallas has been in a bit of a funk as of late while the Suns have won four in a row after a brutal stretch of losses. Ayton is probable.

‪https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/suns.pdf
‪https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/mavericks.pdf

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'm keeping an eye on Cam Johnson defending Luka. I think he's the Suns best shot at slowing down Luka in a series, and Luka ate his lunch last summer.

[Superbone]

I'm keeping an eye on Cam Johnson defending Luka. I think he's the Suns best shot at slowing down Luka in a series, and Luka ate his lunch last summer.

I’d like to see Okogie on him as well.

[Flagrant Fowl]

The effort will certainly be there, but Okogie lacks the height to contest Luka's step back jumper really well.

[Mori Chu]

Call me a weirdo, but I kind of liked Ayton guarding Luka. I know positionally that's crazy, but I think you need some height and length or else Luka will just shimmy and pull up over you all day. Luka can get by Ayton, but Ayton is pretty athletic, so he isn't a total turnstile.

But the above is basically an admission that we totally can't guard Luka. He's a matchup nightmare.

[Split T]

We actually do fine against him when we keep Mikal/Ayton in him and don’t switch the others. I’d just trap if they try and get CP3 or CamJ on him. Let the other guys try and beat us. I don’t think they can

[Superbone]

[Superbone]

[wpmiller42]

Kid germs are no joke for real.

[Drewsprocket]

The effort will certainly be there, but Okogie lacks the height to contest Luka's step back jumper really well.

The problem with Luka is his host of moves. It would seem defenders do better when they limit what they bite on.

[Split T]

I think you need to keep size on him…can’t let him just push his way into the paint and either hit an easy 12 footer or send help and give up an open catch and shoot 3. I’d trap anytime he tries to get a switch onto a small and only switch if you’re switching a big onto him. He’ll hit his fair share of step backs, but I think you live with that over the alternative

[TOO]

Kid germs are no joke for real.

Yep. The devils germs.

[JeremyG]

[JeremyG]

Ayton says everyone is going to guard their man straight up tonight. Hmmm.

[specialsauce]

Ayton says everyone is going to guard their man straight up tonight. Hmmm.

That’s what I’ve been yelling for all along.

Let Luka go off without letting the rest go off.
Or commit to getting the ball out of Lukas hands and let the others go off. Don’t half ass both of those

[ShelC]

I want to see anything other that what we've done in the past defensively, but I also get not wanting to show them any adjustments or schemes.

[Superbone]

He can Luka for his own shots. Doncic on screens!

[TOO]

He can Luka for his own shots. Doncic on screens!

I hope someone throws a tomato at you.

[Superbone]

He can Luka for his own shots. Doncic on screens!

I hope someone throws a tomato at you.

<ducks>

[Split T]

Ayton says everyone is going to guard their man straight up tonight. Hmmm.

The real question is what they do on screens. I assume that means Ayton will drop and Mikal needs to fight over. I wonder what we will do if CP3s man sets the screen.