Nothing beats the anticipation and the excitement of a Game 7 in the NBA Playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns are on a collision course in a free-for-all battle to determine who gets to enter the Western Conference Finals.
But, what do we make of a series that has swung every game like a pendulum? No team has yet to triumph on the road. The lowest margin of victory is seven points and that was way back in Game 1. The last two contests were absolute blowouts - they weren’t even close. Both teams have played exceptionally well and uncharacteristically poor. The adjustments and the game planning have been through the roof.
Heading into the decider, what can we expect?
Can the Mavericks replicate their success at home in Phoenix?
The Dallas role players have stepped up in a huge way when the series shifted to the American Airlines Center. Game 6 was again a prime example of the other guys not-named Luka Doncic hitting shots. Reggie Bullock was scoreless in Game 5 but poured in a playoff career-high 19 points in the must-win Game 6. Spencer Dinwiddie also came alive after five subpar games to erupt for 15 points. Again, there’s something different when you compete at home and the Dallas role players are a testament to that.
The defense also became a significant factor as the Mavericks forced the Suns to a season-high 22 turnovers which led to 29 points. They had 16 steals as they strangled the Suns’ offense.
Looking ahead to Game 7, Dallas needs a monumental game from Luka Doncic. Everyone knows he’s been shouldering a lot for his team, but he has to pull out all the stops in Game 7. He’s averaging 32.2 points on a 45.7 percent shooting clip, 9.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.2 steals. It’s crazy to think that he is still being asked to do more but against a dangerous team like the Suns, nothing is guaranteed. Dallas needs an all-time Luka Magic performance while getting enough contributions from Bullock, Dinwiddie, Jalen Brunson, Dwight Powell, and the rest of the crew.
Will we see a signature performance from the Suns?
Frankly speaking, the Suns didn’t look like the Suns in Game 6. Of course, we have to credit the Mavs’ in-your-face defense, but Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and the rest of the Phoenix players failed to live up to the moment. There were a ton of errors on the part of the Suns and a number of them were unforced. Whether it was a lack of urgency or just not getting to their usual spots, the offense was stagnant. Defensively, they weren’t ready for the scoring explosions from Dinwiddie and Bullock.
As for individual play, Paul needs to be impactful again. In the Phoenix losses, he scored a total of 30 points and dished out only 15 assists. His number of fouls and turnovers has also been a barometer of whether or not his team plays well. Will the Point God grace us with his presence in the final game of the series?
Booker, meanwhile, will also have to leave his mark. If Paul can’t find his groove, it’s up to him to carry more of the offense. So far, he’s putting up 25.5 points, 5.7 boards, and 5.0 dimes. It’s about imposing his will early to leave no room for a Mavericks upset.
At this point, both teams are very familiar with each other. You can expect minor tweaks here and there from the coaches, but probably not anything out of the ordinary. The two teams are too smart and can adjust mid-game.
More than the Xs and Os, however, a Game 7 will be determined by the intangibles. So when it comes down to it, the team that simply plays their game will eventually emerge victorious. Not groundbreaking analysis for sure, but with a series as shifty as water, the team that can steady its ship and rides the wave will be the victor.
