Suns Win! Phoenix Suns 126, Dallas Mavericks 104

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 1, 2007 4:21 PM MDT in Phoenix Suns News

Let's compare MVP candidate performances today:

Nowitzki: 21 points, 33% shooting, 6 rebounds, 6 assists

Nash: 23 points, 64% shooting, 3 rebounds, 11 assists

Like I said previously, this is only one game and one game does not (at least, it should not) determine who the MVP is. But in a close race, a performance against your closest competitor in the MVP race could change a few votes.

But this game didn't come down to just a competition between Nash and Nowitzki. The Suns played like a team. The Mavericks played like each wanted to try and take over the game and win it single-handedly. And that was the difference.

For some reason, the Mavericks just fell apart in the 4th quarter. Dirk Nowitzki landed on Shawn Marion's foot and after that he spent more time complaining to the refs than actually playing. That hurt the Mavericks as a team and it seems like at that point the Suns started blowing the Mavericks out.

Shawn Marion had another awesome game shooting 80% from the field, scoring 20 points and getting 8 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire shot 10-13, scoring 24 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Leandro Barbosa scored 29 points on 10-17 shooting. Even Boris Diaw had 16 points on 6-9 shooting.

On the other hand, only Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse shot over 50% for the Mavericks. They shot 45.6% as a team. They allowed the Suns to shoot 64.8% as a team. Despite all of the talk about how well the Mavericks play defense, it was the Suns who kept the Mavs from shooting well while the Suns showed that they are a team to contend with.

One important thing to note: Erick Dampier did not play in the game today and that has to be accounted for in the analysis of the game. He would have made a difference in the game and while I still think the Suns would have won, it most probably would have been closer than it was. He would have clogged up the middle a bit more and made it harder for the Suns to drive to the basket.

I think the "experts" who have already given the Mavericks the trophy may be singing a different tune tomorrow morning. I'm definitely not saying the Suns are a shoo-in for the Finals yet. They still have a long way to go. But the Mavericks have shown that they will have their hands full if they meet the Suns in the playoffs.

One thing this game proved to me, I want the Suns to meet the Mavericks in the Western Conference finals if for no other reason than the entertainment value. Obviously I think the Suns would have a better chance to get to the Finals if they don't have to go through the Mavericks but it sure would be a fun series!

(There is no game reaction on the Mavs Moneyball site yet but I imagine it will be tomorrow. I can't think they will be happy about the loss but they just got off winning 9 in a row so they shouldn't be too down about losing this game with a poor performance by their MVP and without Dampier. Check out the site later tonight or tomorrow for reactions on the Mavs side.)

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Comments

Yeah , that is a sobering STAT - er , stat...

After the last loss to Phoenix , Dallas went 9 - 0.

That's focus and renewed determination.

Phoenix? 4 - 4....

As I said elsewhere , if you're going to call me...ask for Mr. Blue (I'm holding my breath!)

When Paxson went to the top of the key I knew we were dead.

by Jesus Nash on Apr 1, 2007 5:19 PM MDT reply actions

dirk jumpshot coming down on marion's foot

I wish I could view this a few more times. But I paid very close attention, since I already knew the Mavs and Mr. Frustrated (cuban) were crying about this happening before with other teams and they (dallas) was saying the other players were doing it on purpose. I haven't reviewed all of those, so no comment on it, but on this one, it was apparent that Dirk was behind the 3pt line when he took off for the jump-shot, when he landed on Marion's foot, it was inside the 3pt line. I need to see the video again, but from what I saw, Dirk jumped forward a foot or two. So the Mavs angle of it was the other guy playing dirty doesn't fly! (I need to see video again to be 100%, but I'm 80% now). If Diaw can stay aggressive and continue to go after the hoop to score, and we keep Marion involved, WOW, go SUNS!!

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 1, 2007 6:06 PM MDT reply actions

If you watch the replay

You'll see that Marion had planted his foot to go toward the basket. It's too hard to try and plant your foot under someone. And to think that Shawn would do it is just ludicrous. If the Mavs want to blame someone, they should go find a mirror. They didn't play good enough defense to win the game. That was their problem today.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 1, 2007 6:53 PM MDT up reply actions

Not to mention..

One of the Mavericks, I think Jason Terry, made almost exactly the same move against Barbosa on the very next play! Fortunately, LB didn't land on Terry's foot, but both guys fell down without a whistle.

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2007 7:22 PM MDT up reply actions

Not to mention..(2)

Actually, jason terry almost popped LB's knee backwards if watch the replay, which was scary being that it looked more like a payback play for crybaby No-Wit-skl.

by lalbert on Apr 2, 2007 6:42 AM MDT up reply actions

Marion's foul

Apparently the Mavs asked the league to review the play where Dirk landed on Marion's foot, and the league agreed that Marion committed a foul. Here is the link from the Mavs fan board.

http://startelegram.typepad.com/mavs_fullcourt_press/2007/04/marion_fouled_d.html

How many times have we seen an official miss a call or vice a versa? How many times did the Suns (or any other team) ask the league to review that play?

This seems really petty and unsportsmanlike to me.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 2, 2007 11:17 PM MDT up reply actions

All I have to say to that...

...is that I hope they also reviewed the play immediately after. Jason Terry hammered Barbosa, and there wasn't a call then either. And what did the Mavs expect the league to do anyway? Retro-actively give them two points for the foul shots Dirk may or may not have made? Ok, fine, we'll just say the final score was 126-106. I can live with that. :)

by TexSUN on Apr 2, 2007 11:41 PM MDT up reply actions

The game

TexSun,

I think this goes beyond the 2 points the Mavs would have gotten in that game (if the refs had called a foul). IMO this is an attempt to poison the officials' minds so that next time these teams play (in the playoffs, hopefully) the officials will call fouls on Marion relentlessly, even if he goes within one foot of Dirk. It will get so bad that Shawn will be frustrated, ineffective, and eventually foul out. This is a political game, otherwise why would a team that lost a game by 22 points approach a league about one play/foul?

My opinion (I hope the Suns are listening) is that the Suns need to retaliate by asking the league to review the Howard/LB play you mentioned. If they keep quiet, the key calls keep going against them as they have in the past (at least that's what I heard; I was not watching back then).

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 3, 2007 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions

well well well

Jason Terry couldn't make his usual post game reference to Jesus, but he did get a nice ride on Black Jesus's forearms for a SLAM AND ONE!

Always a pleasure to see the mares humiliated. Not that it's a telling game, because of Dampier's absence, but I was expecting more fight out of Dallus. I think they're kinda coasting as the season winds down, and could be much better come the playoffs. But the Suns have proved that they can whip those Cubans full strength or not, and on their floor too.

Now if the Suns can just beat Memphis, we'll avoid the let-down syndrome.

NEXT STEP TO THE 2007 NBA FINALS

LE BORIS DEEWOW AND HIS PHX SUNS

VS.

HAKIM "DIONNE'S SON" WARRICK AND HIS TENNESSEE URSINES

21 HOURS

by The Humongous on Apr 1, 2007 8:56 PM MDT reply actions

You ARE Butler

I'd recognize those all upper-case posts anywhere. Welcome to the bright side, dude. :)

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2007 9:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Oops, scratch that

I didn't realize there was now another all-uppercase poster on AZCentral these days. Sorry for confusing you with ALL-UPPER #1 (his player nicknames are different from yours). I don't hang out there much anymore, so didn't realized there were two of you now. The other guy's always saying "NEXT STEP TO THE FINALS" too, so it kind of stuck out. Anyway, whoever you are, welcome. :)

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2007 11:30 PM MDT up reply actions

The Lord Humongous?

The Warrior Of The Wasteland?
Tha Ay - a - Tollah....of Rock and Rollah?

When Paxson went to the top of the key I knew we were dead.

by Jesus Nash on Apr 3, 2007 2:04 AM MDT up reply actions

Funny thing...

The Mavs fans around the Internet are kind of being hypocritical at the moment. On the one hand, they're saying, "Well, the Mavs went 9-0 after the last Phoenix game and the Suns went 4-4 so who is the better team?" Then in the same paragraph/post/breath/etc they say, "The Suns won a meaningless regular season game. Who cares?"

So is it only the Suns/Mavs game that is meaningless? Why is it that the Mavs won 9 REGULAR SEASON games in a row after the last game between these two teams and that is important but when the Suns win two games in a row against the Mavs all of the sudden regular season games don't matter any more?

Just wondering if anyone can explain this.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 1, 2007 8:56 PM MDT reply actions

I agree it's a tad self-contradicting

On the other hand, the Mavericks would have to go on a 6-game losing streak now for the Suns to even tie them. Does make you wonder what might have been if the Suns had taken care of business against Sacramento, and gotten at least two of the GSW, Denver, and Detroit games. Would have made things interesting to say the least.

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2007 9:11 PM MDT up reply actions

Mavs fans are indeed hypocritical!

Mavs fans characterizing this today's loss are just poor sports. Give credit where it is due. Suns fans didn't give our players a pass when they had ugly losses to Detroit, Denver, etc. and Mavs fans should put the blame where it lies, upon the Mavs players.

by TwinnerA on Apr 2, 2007 12:30 AM MDT up reply actions

Mavs fans

Oops, I mean to say that Mavs fans charcterizing today's loss as meaningless are just poor sports.

by TwinnerA on Apr 2, 2007 12:31 AM MDT up reply actions

It was GREAT!

It was a great game. At half time I was thinking that the result won't matter because the game was so entertaining (that's not quite true though; I REALLY wanted the Suns to win). I was really proud of the Suns for the way they played. With 6-7 min. left the Suns were totally in control and finally it got a little boring, but I will take it any time.

One small note though- the Suns wanted/needed this win more. It was not going to make a difference to the Mavs. That showed in the way each team played. Still, I think with 65 percent shooting against a good defensive team, the Suns sent a message to the rest of the NBA.

Before the game I was standing outside, in the crowd, for the pregame show. Although I had set up my VCR to tape the game, I forgot that ABC was showing the Miami-Detroit game. So I have to ask everyone here- did you watch the pregame show on espn, or was it on FSN or My45? I would like to know if they showed the following:

There were some very creative posters being held up. The best one was a HUGE 7x7 ft (I am guessing) work of art, with Steve Nash painting, the Suns logo and a lot of other good stuff on it. They even had a little basketball attached to it, and it was moving back & forth. The artist received free tickets to one of the Suns game, as the prize for Best poster.

There were a couple of Mavs fans in the crowd. The Gorilla asked one of them to come forward, then he put on red boxing gloves and had a mock fight with the kid. It was pretty funny.

My second most favorite poster read: "It's easy as ABC; Steve Nash is MV3."

It was definitely playoff atmosphere at the US Airways center today. The crowd was great. As usual, a lot of Mavs fans sat in the row before me (I always get stuck with fans of the opposing team; I don't know why). However, they became silent as the game went on. They were not obnoxious like the Detroit fans; they were just cheering their team.

That's my report from the arena. You saw the rest on TV.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 1, 2007 10:33 PM MDT reply actions

I saw the ABC pregame...

In fact, as soon as I saw everyone standing out there with signs, I told my wife I should have tried to convince Vash01 to bring a huge sign that said BrightSideoftheSun.com. Free advertising on national TV!! :-)

I saw the Steve Nash is MV3 sign but I can't remember seeing the one with the basketball. Thanks for the report!

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 2, 2007 8:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Sign

What a great idea Dan! May be next time.

I had not even planned on being there with the pregame crowd. I got there early. The USAirways doors were not yet open, and I saw the crowd gathering outside, waiting for the TV people. So I decided to join them. It was a lot of fun. It was the first time I saw how they plan the pregame, depending on who is there (in the crowd).

I wish they had shown that HUGE poster (I saw the camera moving to that). I was impressed with how much work that fan had put into making it and then carrying it to the US Airways center.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 2, 2007 11:38 AM MDT up reply actions

Suns over mavs...

Being that the Suns haven't done too well since their thrilling win over the mavs a couple of weeks ago, seeing them wipe the floor with them was just as thrilling as the double OT. I liked the shot of mark cuban pouting. The thing I don't understand is, why pout when you have a winning team that has the best NBA record of the season up til "THE SUNS" yesterday. Money talks, bullshit walks, in mcubans case, its the opposite...

"GO SUNS!!!!!"

by lalbert on Apr 2, 2007 6:55 AM MDT reply actions

MIKE "DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST" D'ANTONI

Suns rolled over the mavs in high style. Return of THE SUNS and THE MATRICKS and SUNS D!

No question that the mares's vaunted D was exposed once again by the Suns. Season league record for shooting %!

And yes, how about our Defensive Playa of Tha Year the MATRICKS schooling Dirk at most every turn?

So now the tougher test comes...aginst the Griz. No letdowns this time, please.

NEXT STEP TO THE 2007 NBA FINALS

LE BORISS DEEWOW AND HIS AGGRESSIVE, BRILLIANT INSIDE ATTACK, PLUS HIS PHX SUNS

VS.

PAU "MUY MACHO" GASOL AND HIS BEALE ST. URSINES

30.5 HOURS

by The Humongous on Apr 2, 2007 11:32 AM MDT reply actions

one last thing from dallas jasonsun1

The last game I went to in Phoenix a year ago was the Suns against Dallas. I sat right behind 2 german girls who really had a thing for dirk plus a huge poster and other things. I have no problem with signs, the ones you mentioned sound very cool, but during the game while the team is going back and forth, the signs need to be down. I had paid $200 thru season ticket exchange and was in the 12th row, and had to deal with 2 girls holding up signs continuously, they didn't even speak English. A few other Suns fans and I had to get security to get them to control their signs better, they ignored us.
To hear about these Dallas fans in Phoenix, well, there's only one thing I can do. I'm going to convert some people over here to Phoenix fans! They'll see the light!

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 2, 2007 6:35 PM MDT reply actions

Some interesting numbers

Somebody on phxsuns.net posted a breakdown of various Suns' numbers vs. Dirk Nowitzki's in the four matchups this year. I won't post them all here (click the link to see), but for those looking for some ammunition in the Nash for MV3 campaign, here are some numbers you might like:

Nash
39.5 Min, .529 FG%, .588 3P%, .944 FT%, 12.3 Ast, 24.8 Pnts

Nowitski
45.0 Min, .424 FG%, .250 FG%, .886 FT%, 9.8 Reb, 28.3 Pnts

(I think he meant .250 3pt%).

Anyway, can't vouch for the accuracy, so take it for what it's worth. (And if you JUST went by the numbers in the matchup between the two teams, Amare's numbers would probably make him the MVP. :) ).

by TexSUN on Apr 2, 2007 8:24 PM MDT reply actions

Mavs site

There is a lot of whining going on.... as if the Mavs did nothing wrong but everything wrong is being done to them. (I posted a link re: Marion's foul on Dirk) earlier in this thread.

I wonder if this is Mark Cuban's influence?

Why can't they just accept that the Mavs were beaten by a better team that day? The Suns were hands down the better team on Sunday. When the Suns lose, we usually blame the Suns for not playing well.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 2, 2007 11:22 PM MDT reply actions

re: refs

I've noticed a trend: the owners/teams/coaches/players that seem to get the most love from the refs are also the ones that seem to complain the most ahemLakersPhilJacksonKobeBryant

Dallas does get a lot of zebra love...so this does not surprise me. And as a franchise goes, so does the fanbase...

flim springfield

by DrStrom on Apr 3, 2007 2:49 AM MDT up reply actions

marion and dirk ankle

Not sure how new this is, but on Dallas blog moneyball,

Money Ball

The league said it was a foul by Marion against Dirk, when Dirk came down on Marion's foot. Dallas seems to never stop complaining about things, it's obvious from the video that he jumped forward a foot or more,

alright, this is getting too involved, but here it is, a link to youtube video of Dirk, pay particular attention to 1:01 and where he jumps from and lands, but at 1:58, and when he's shooting 3's for 3-point competition, he jumps straight up and lands very close to where he jumped from. Again at 2:51 onje of his feet lands
easily a foot over line. I'll stop at that, just trying to make a point with facts. This is basketball, it gets physical, people get hurt. But
defenders shouldn't be scared to run up to a guy about to shoot because of where he might land. Only Cuban and the Mavs complain like this, they're quickly becoming a team I root against, nothing to do with the Suns, but because they give sportsmanship a bad name and are bad examples for
others.

Dirk video

And like another person on this site commented earlier, Marion is the last player to do this intentionally. But, Dirk did grab Marion on a break away, hmmmm... some things we'll never know.

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 3, 2007 1:10 AM MDT reply actions

Cuban

JasonSun, thanks for the links. I think the Mavs have taken on Cuban's personality. They will do anything - even off the floor- to get (not 'win') that championship trophy. It is absurd to complain so much about a game that is so physical. Do the refs have to watch every play in slo mo? In this case if they had, they would not have called foul (I have not watched my tape in slo mo yet). I think Cuban and the Mavs are trying to intimidate the refs, and that is bad for the league. If they call this a foul, they need to do that for every play in every game. This is getting ridiculous. Where is sportsmanship?

When I read stuff like this, I become convinced that I don't even want the Mavs to get to the WCF.

by Vash01 @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 3, 2007 9:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks, JasonSuns

It's a good point you make. A foul when someone has their foot under where you took off is one thing. To jump forward and land where the guy was defending you before you jumped and then blame the guy for being under your feet. But that's what happens when you try to "generate" fouls like many of the players do in the NBA.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on Apr 3, 2007 8:24 AM MDT reply actions