NBA Playoffs WCSF, Game 5: Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns (2-2), Tues 5/10/22

[Drewsprocket]

As for DA

Does "received passes" not include the ones he doesn't catch?

Their answer was to defend the pass and lob very well. Then Suns adjust by making shit/lazy passes to a turnover. If they take the pass to Ayton away and push Book or Paul out of their shooting spot, it’s on our wings to knock down their shots. Clearly it’s working for the Mavs.

[Nodack]

I hope this game isn’t decided by the best floppers. I watched the end of the Warriors game and Curry won it with a flop.

[Superbone]

If we are struggling this much with Dallas, I have a hard time seeing us even getting to the Finals, much less winning it. We really need a bounce-back game today.

This. They had too much trouble with a 36 win team, this Dallas team is a great matchup for the Suns and they are still having trouble. Something feels off, did everyone play over their heads last year? The bench specifically. They need a guy like Dario, a 5 that can stretch it out.

Stop it with the 36 win team BS. The national media is bad enough but you know better. We all know that win total wasn't indicative of the Pels team we faced in the playoffs.

They were a .500ish team post trade. Still not great. It's not like they were winning at .750 clip like their opponents. For a team that was a dominant as it was til the last month, this whole run has been underwhelming thus far, they look much more like the team that played the last month than the one that ran through the league the first 5.

Agreed. For the "best Suns team ever and best NBA team this season" we haven't played like it for more than a game here and there for about 6 weeks.

I'm talking about the Pelicans. Not us.

[Flagrant Fowl]

As for DA

Does "received passes" not include the ones he doesn't catch?

Their answer was to defend the pass and lob very well. Then Suns adjust by making shit/lazy passes to a turnover. If they take the pass to Ayton away and push Book or Paul out of their shooting spot, it’s on our wings to knock down their shots. Clearly it’s working for the Mavs.

You nailed it, but the adjustment needs to come from Ayton. Instead of only looking for the lob that the Mavs are focused on taking away, he needs to get inside position and seal his defender. Recently he'll just run to the outside of the rim and let his defender not only stay in position to take away the lob but also maintain rebounding position.

[Shabazz]

Canadiens just won the NHL Draft lottery so vibes are good in the Shabazz household. Trying to extend that good juju for a few more hours.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Ayton isn't an All-Star (yet). Booker pulled his weight in Game 4.

But I get the sentiment here. Everyone said the Luka needs more help after Game 2 and the other guys stepped up in Dallas. Where's the Suns help for Paul and Booker?

[Gladiator]

Massive game as all Game 5s are when it’s 2-2.
More than anything for us I see it about intensity across the four quarters (it’s great to be great in crunch time but we can step up before then too) and focus - don’t worry about the refs, the Mavs, the stakes: just do what we do well.
Take care of those elements and I like our chances.

[SunsRIt]

So it already started on the first offensive set of the game.

[Vladimir_Taltos]

2 fouls on DA in the first 5 minutes? What in the literal...

[Indy]

Not great.

[Vladimir_Taltos]

Not great.

Profound understatement?

[Indy]

Chris is the pigeon.

[Indy]

Book heard Chuck,

[Indy]

I hate when cobras *sting* me, Reggie.

[Indy]

Has Jae been our best players in teh first 4 games?

[Indy]

Nice to see Mikal hit his first 2 threes

[Indy]

So many wide open 3s for Dallas yet again.

[Indy]

Kind of need to do that every time guys. Can;t let them make us match small.

[Indy]

Not a jump ball? WTF?

[SunsRIt]

Doesn’t fit the narrative