The Phoenix Suns got the job done in the first two games of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks. However, neither game was a picture of perfection and there was no shortage of worrisome moments. And the underlying problems that Phoenix overcame in Games 1 and 2 reared themselves in Game 3.
The Suns were the NBA's best team during the regular season and are still the favorites to win the NBA Finals. But nothing is set in stone and they are going to need to make some big-time changes if they want to reach the Finals, or take care of the Mavs for that matter.
Here are 2 adjustments the Suns need to make after losing to the Mavs in Game 3.
2 Adjustments the Suns need to Make
Limit Careless Turnovers
The Suns are typically strong in the turnover department. Chris Paul's stable presences helps Phoenix take care of the ball at a high level. But that has not been the case in the last 2 games of this series.
In Game 1, the Suns turned the ball over just 9 times which is par for the course. They also dished out 27 team assists which led to an excellent assist to turnover ratio.
But Phoenix's offensive stability fell by the wayside in games 2 and 3. Sure, perhaps some credit can be given to the Mavs' defensive effort. But the fact of the matter is that the Suns are not playing their normal brand of basketball.
Phoenix tallied 16 turnovers in their Game 2 win. Did if affect the final 129-109 victory? Maybe not, but some of the turnovers came of the “careless” variety which is an unusual sight in Phoenix. But many people felt as if the Suns would get back to their sure-handed ways in Game 3.
Instead, they turned the ball over 17 times compared to just 23 assists in Game 3.
Chris Paul coughed the ball up an unprecedented 7 times while Devin Booker totaled 5 turnovers. The rest of the Suns posted just 5 turnovers combined.
It should be noted that Paul and Booker are primary ball handers who face the most amount of defensive pressure on the perimeter. They are also playmakers who do what they can to get others involved. But 12 turnovers between the two of them won't suffice moving forward.
They should be able to bounce back in Game 4. But the pressure on both of them to take care of business is immense.
Keep the Foul Numbers in Check
The Suns were not awful in the foul department in Game 3. But they did just enough to shoot themselves in the foot.
Phoenix lost Game 3 103-94. Dallas took 13 free throw attempts and sunk 10 of those shots. Yes, some of those fouls came towards the end of the game but the point stands. The score could have been a whole lot closer had Dallas taken less free throw attempts.
Now, this is going to be more of a mental adjustment heading into Game 4. Because the truth is the Suns did not over-foul in Game 3. But if the Mavs get off to a hot start in Game 4 and the Suns find themselves laboring, frustration will begin to boil over which could lead to unnecessary fouls.
And the Mavs could earn a Game 4 victory if they are consistently at the free throw line.
The first thing I'm going to check at the end of Game 4 is how many turnovers and fouls the Suns committed. The results could very well decide who comes out on top in this pivotal fourth game of the series.
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