If you could paint a picture of Game 1 of the Western Conference semis between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, what would it look like?
Would it have all five Suns players keeping an eye on Luka Doncic as the Mavs playmaker squeezes his way into the paint? That would be a good snapshot of what happened. After all, Doncic scored 45 points and almost had a triple-double with 12 rebounds and eight assists but still lost.
Or would that picture have Phoenix spread out, the ball blurry after being whipped to the other side with accuracy and precision as the Mavericks try desperately to defend? That would summarize the 69-point first-half onslaught by the Suns.
Both pictures tell the story of the singular brilliance of Doncic and the masterful performance of the Suns.
Luka Magic was in full effect by the sheer numbers he had on the box score. He even took 15-of-30 shots and shot 36 percent from beyond the arc. You could somehow forgive the five turnovers since he always had the ball in his hands. But in playoff basketball, the star power of a frontman could only do so much against a fully coordinated band like the Suns.
It’s easy to point out that Doncic needs help in carrying the offensive load. Maxi Kleber’s 19 points and five triples were extra gravy – a bonus if you’re the Mavericks. The same goes for known defensive specialist Dorian Finney-Smith’s 19 points. What you’re missing is the production from Jalen Brunson. After being a flamethrower against the Utah Jazz, he was checked by the Phoenix defense and was limited to 13 points on 16 shot attempts. Spencer Dinwiddie also had a quiet eight points in 30 minutes of action.
That being said, you don’t need more offense if you’re Dallas. What you need is better defense. Luka can score 40 a game and it would simply give you a fighting chance. Brunson and Dinwiddie can have 20 points each but it still won’t guarantee a victory. It’s the defensive end that contains the other half of the story.
“I think I missed a lot of layups that I should have made but I don’t think the offense was the problem,” Doncic said postgame. “I think it [was] on the defensive end. I think everyone was just a little bit lazy in the first half and we gotta change that.”
The Suns came out scorching and proved why they’re the team with the best record in the league. They started the game 9-0, never trailed, and led by as many as 21 points. Even as the Mavericks had multiple comeback attempts, the Suns would counter with a run and build the lead back up.
The Mavericks have vastly improved their defense towards the tail end of the season, finishing second in opponents’ points, allowing just 104.7 per game. They also ranked seventh in defensive rating at 109.1. But now, that defense is being tested by the offensive ingenuity of the Suns.
“Communication wasn't good at all today, especially in the first half. It’s a loud building, the fans are very loud here. It’s gonna be tough. I think we just gotta be more together,” Doncic said about his team’s defense. “Communication is gonna be key in the next game.”
As much as Doncic can call his own number and get a ton of buckets, it wouldn’t be enough to overpower the Suns. Every one of the Mavericks has to be on the same page defensively. Yes, Doncic needs help on offense, but it’s the defense that’s more alarming.
Just ask the Suns. Their trademark offense of passing, cutting, and moving without the ball were on full display in Game 1. They scored 121 points on 50.5 percent shooting from the field and dished out 27 assists as a unit. Yet, it was their defense that paved the win.
“Our biggest thing was our defense early in the game,” Chris Paul said.
The Suns put the clamps on the Mavericks in the opening period, which led to their hot start. Their offense was clicking, but it was the defense that started it all.
“We gotta defend. That’s what we’ve stood on all season long,” Paul went on. “They got up 39 3s so just keep trying to slow down the other guys. We know Luka is gonna take his shots and whatnot, but just try to make it tough on him.”
At the end of the first game, we can talk a lot about Doncic’s 45 points or the six Phoenix players in double-figures led by Deandre Ayton who had 25 points. The Suns’ offense was quick and decisive like a robot. There’s also room to discuss how much Doncic needs the support of Brunson and Dinwiddie.
But through it all, the defense of both teams will be the difference-maker in this series. If the Game 1 trend continues, the picture that will be left hanging on the wall is the one where Mikal Bridges is right up on Doncic’s grill flanked by other Suns players waiting to help. That’s a perfect summation of the Suns' defense.
