The Phoenix Suns have had an incredible season so far. They ran away with the best record in the NBA at 64-18 and secured the top seed in the West as a result. The Suns surprisingly had some issues with the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, but it was still a six-game victory. However, Dallas Mavericks have proven to be even more of a challenge in Round 2 as the series is now set to head to Game 7.
While the Mavs are a quality team and are playing at a high level, the Suns must be disappointed in their recent performance. The Suns were most recently blown out by a score of 113-86 in Game 6, with Phoenix never able to fight back into the game. The team continually shot itself in the foot, which was highlighted by the 22 turnovers. This was the highest turnover total the team has tallied throughout the entire season. Dallas showed a level of passion, effort, and execution that the Suns were unable to match, and they will need to turn things around as they travel back to Phoenix for Game 7.
The good news is the Suns have been a different beast at home in this series, but that doesn't make the Game 6 effort any less disappointing. There are several key members of the franchise to blame.
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Suns most to blame for Game 6 debacle vs. Mavs
It was an extremely disappointing performance from Devin Booker in Game 6. The Suns star played 39 minutes and tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. He shot just 6-for-17 from the field and was 0-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arc. He also turned the ball over eight times and was a game-high minus-19 in the box score.
The poor shooting was notable, but the turnovers were the most disappointing area in his game. Just like the Suns as a team, this was a season high in turnovers for Booker. The Kentucky product scored eight first-half points and then struggled to start the second half.
Booker also continues to have a notable spat with Luka Doncic, which is sure to continue moving forward. The greatest responsibility always falls on the team's superstar, and this is no different with Devin Booker. The Suns will need for him to return to his high level of production if they are to reach the level of play they desire as a team.
Chris Paul has done a masterful job balancing his playmaking and scoring roles for most of his time with the Suns. His ability to feel when he needs to take over and execute when it is time has been put on display throughout these playoffs,
Unfortunately, this was not the case in Game 6 and has not been the case since Game 2 of this series. CP3 never asserted himself offensively and shot the ball just seven total times. He ended with 13 points, four assists, and two rebounds overall. The Suns needed more from the veteran guard, but he was unable to produce in his 36 minutes of play.
Turnovers have been a problem in series for Chris Paul, which was shown by the seven first-half turnovers he tallied in Game 5. The 12-time All-Star improved on this to some extent but still ended with five turnovers in this matchup. The Suns will need a more focused and confident performance from Chris Paul in Game 7 after his sluggish performance since turning 37 years old on the day of Game 3.
There have not been very many questions about the decision-making of Monty Willimas during his tenure as Suns head coach. Williams just won Coach of the Year and has played a valuable role in ensuring the team is clicking on all cylinders. While the biggest reason for the loss is surely the execution of the players, Williams made some notable changes in Game 6 that did not work out.
This was the first game in the series that JaVale McGee was held out of the rotation as the backup center minutes were given to Bismack Biyombo. In 14 minutes of play, he tallied four points and three rebounds. He did not play poorly, but McGee has been more impactful in his minutes on the court. Biyombo was a minus-13 in his 14 minutes.
The Mavericks jumped out on massive runs throughout the game that electrified the home crowd. Williams was unable to find an answer for these and Dallas was able to create separation. For whatever reason, the Suns have come out flat in all these road games in Dallas. While the players must take accountability for this, the head coach also deserves blame for not being prepared and organized on the floor.
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Game 6 was a very disappointing overall performance for the Suns. They were held under 40% shooting from the field for the second time in the series, while the Mavericks nearly made (16) as many 3-pointers as the Suns attempted (18). The disappointing effort and execution must be turned around if they hope to win Game 7. The Suns certainly had control of the series early on, but it feels as if the tides have changed. The Mavericks are playing excellent basketball and Phonix has made some uncharacteristic mistakes. Look for the Suns to get reorganized and bring a focused effort in Game 7 on their home court, which has been a huge factor in this series.
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