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The Dallas Mavericks took care of business at home against the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Mavs won by a final score of 113-86 in a game that was never in much doubt. Luka Doncic came out on a mission and displayed zero intentions of ever letting Phoenix even think about making a comeback.
But why was it that the Mavs destroyed the Suns in Game 6? What led to Dallas being able to take down the West's best team in such dominant fashion?
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3 Biggest Reasons Mavs Destroyed Suns in Game 6
Luka Doncic: The Mavs' Floor General
Luka Doncic had an excellent performance from a statistical standpoint. The superstar dropped 33 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 8 assists. But Doncic's numbers don't tell the entire story.
Doncic has turned into a floor general who can dictate the tempo of a game. In all reality, his effect on a game is a lot like Chris Paul's. Their skill sets aren't all that similar, but both players understand how to set the tone of a game. However, Paul has struggled with that during this series.
Nonetheless, Doncic also never panicked even when Phoenix was seemingly on the verge of a run. He was able to slow the pace down and keep Dallas's confidence high. There are a number of players throughout the NBA who can post big stat lines, but there are few who know what it takes to win.
Luka Doncic has transitioned from stat-stuffer to winning player. He will aim to do the same in Game 7.
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Chris Paul is not Chris Paul Right Now
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Chris Paul is not always going to score 20 or more points. He wasn't that guy this year. But CP3 still knows how to impact a game based on his guard skills alone. The “point god” typically leads a team by limiting turnovers, dishing out assists, and controlling the game in similar fashion to what Doncic did for the Mavs in Game 6.
But Chris Paul has disappeared over the past few games of this series. His underperformance was especially apparent in Game 6. Paul tallied just 4 assists and turned the ball over 5 times. He finished with a plus-minus of minus-14. CP3 also took just 7 total shots from the floor and hit 4 of those attempts. So the Suns might have benefitted from a more aggressively-minded Paul performance in the contest.
There is no question that Phoenix will need Chris Paul to play like the star point guard that he is in Game 7.
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The Mavs have the Suns in Shambles
Phoenix was in shambles on offense and defense in Game 6.
Their usually consistent pick-and-roll based offense produced an unsightly 22 turnovers compared to just 18 assists. The Suns shot under 40 percent from the field and just 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Phoenix missed shots at the rim, and took bad shots from all over the court. They attempted unnecessary passes and could not overcome the Mavs' defensive pressure. This team looked like a shell of the squad that led the NBA in wins during the regular season.
And their defense was unable to bail them out. The Suns totaled just 3 steals and 2 blocked shots. The Mavs turned the ball over just 6 times in the game. Dallas shot over 45 percent from the field and over 41 percent from deep. Dallas came out with an elite offensive gameplan that left Suns coach Monty Williams and his staff shaking their heads.
The Mavs could realistically pull off a Game 7 upset if they play like they did in Game 6.
