A trip to the Western Conference Finals awaits the winner of the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns matchup.
The Mavs advanced to the second round for the first time since their 2011 NBA title run after defeating the Utah Jazz. Dallas’ main man Luka Doncic missed the first three games due to a strained left calf but he looked like his old self when he returned. Fortunately for the Mavs, Jalen Brunson emerged as a postseason star. In the end, their small-ball lineup left Donovan Michell and the Jazz in the dust.
Meanwhile, the Suns had their hands full against the scrappy New Orleans Pelicans. It also didn’t help that ace guard Devin Booker missed three games because of a right hamstring injury. It turned out to be a dogfight against the eighth seed with Brandon Ingram leading the way for the Pels. But the team with the best record has Chris Paul, who continues to cement himself among the game’s best point guards. He delivered clutch performances left and right, including a 14-of-14 shooting display in the close-out game.
Most compelling storyline
This series is bannered by stars Doncic, Paul, and Booker. They’ll grab the headlines and will surely be the primary reason that fans will tune in. And what makes them extra special to watch is how they all operate in the endgame. These are some of the best closers in the game. How they’ll carry their team in the clutch will dictate this series.
The Suns finished the regular season as the top team in crunch time with a 33-9 record in clutch situations (where the score is within five points in the last five minutes). All year long, they’ve relied on the direction of Booker and Paul to impose their style of play on the opposition even in the direst circumstances. Just in these playoffs, Paul delivered a masterclass in how to put away a feisty young Pelicans team.
In the postseason where every possession matters and the pace slows down, the Suns not only have elite ballhandlers in CP3 and Book, but they also happen to be top-tier shot creators. That’s a recipe for success.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are just as comfortable in the waning moments with Doncic leading them in the fourth quarter. Dallas won 57.9 percent of their regular-season games in clutch situations. Against the Jazz, they also leaned on the brilliance of Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie to carry them to victory.
What’s even more interesting for the Mavs is how they’ve looked comfortable in their small-ball lineups. To finish the Utah series, Coach Jason Kidd countered the height of Rudy Gobert with a versatile five-man roster of Doncic, Brunson, Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Reggie Bullock. Will they use the same strategy against Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton who is a better offensive threat than Gobert? We might see more of Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber in this one. Regardless, the Mavs can have a trusted small-ball lineup in their back pocket in case they want to shake things up.
X-Factors
The defense of Mikal Bridges on Luka Doncic will be telling in this series. Bridges, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has the quickness and the smarts to keep up with Doncic. In addition, the strength of his 6-foot-6, 209-pound frame is a little underrated. He’ll try to navigate all those screens and stay in front of Doncic.
For the Mavs, it’s a toss-up between Dinwiddie and Brunson. Even though Brunson blossomed into a postseason standout (27.8 points, 48.4 percent shooting, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists), the Suns will be on the lookout for him. And as opposed to the Jazz who rely heavily on Gobert on defense, the Suns have more tools defensively on the perimeter. Can he repeat the same kind of production in the second round?
In the case of Dinwiddie, he’ll need to make a huge impact in this series. Whether it’s being another playmaker especially when Doncic takes a seat or being a stopper versus the explosive Suns offense, he’ll have to bring his A-game. His defensive capabilities will be tested against a Phoenix team that uses a lot of trickery and creativity with their halfcourt sets. Can he keep up with Booker or CP3 as the duo look for their midrange shots?
Winning blueprint
The Suns are on their redemption season dating back to their runner-up finish in the 2021 NBA Finals. And at the forefront of their championship quest is Booker. He’s not on the final list of MVP candidates but it doesn’t diminish his MVP-like season. His stats of 26.8 points, 2.7 3-pointers, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals speak loudly about his production.
Aside from the numbers, it’s the manner in which Booker has played this season that makes him the trump card for Phoenix. He’s always had that edge and hunger within him, but now he also has a dangerous calmness to his game. There’s a different level of confidence to his shot-making that’s Kevin Durant-like. He knows he can get to his shot anywhere and anytime on the court. Supplement that with the Suns’ complex offensive sets, and he’s been unstoppable.
For the Mavs, it’s not rocket science. Everything starts and ends with Luka Doncic. He's fresh off his first playoff series win and the next natural step is to continue to elevate his play. The burden of any superstar is the mounting expectations especially as their team goes deeper into the postseason. It doesn’t matter if he scored roughly 30 points a game in the regular season and playoffs or hit those absurd game-winners in the past. The focus now shifts to whether he can do it again in the second round. And what better way to grow the legend of Luka Magic than to go up against the Suns who are determined to return to the Finals.
