Mavericks @ Suns 10-17-18 (season opener)

[Yuma]

So are the Mavs supposed to be good this year?

Supposedly yes. Projected higher than us in final standing in preseason.

 

[SirStefan32]

35 assists!

Great distribution of assists too. Canaan, Booker, Ariza with seven each, Ayton with six, Anderson and Jackson with three each. Only 11 turnovers, and six of those were the predictable Warren and Jackson hard-headed plays.

 

[Shaggy]

Did you notice Booker give 5’s with his left hand @ 54.8 seconds left?

Did you notice he dribbled a lot with his left.

 

[SweetD]

So are the Mavs supposed to be good this year?

Nope

 

[Lefty]

Going to love watching Ayton grow. So glad the Suns did not take Doncic. I know it's only one game but Luka did not live up to the hype. The game is much faster here than it's in Europe.

 

[Yuma]

Booker just talked about how Ayton played well against Deandre so the reast of the season he should be OK.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Going to love watching Ayton grow. So glad the Suns did not take Doncic. I know it's only one game but Luka did not live up to the hype. The game is much faster here than it's in Europe.

Had some issues getting his shot over guys on step backs. He will have to get it off quicker at this level.

 

[Phrazbit]

The ball movement was beautiful.

And Booker... oh Booker. Booker "hot" is as hot as anyone in the league.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Did you notice Booker give 5’s with his left hand @ 54.8 seconds left?

Maybe it's a habit now, he was doing it the last couple of months last season too.

 

[Shaggy]

Nope

Well, are they supposed to be better then the suns?

 

[Hoop Head]

Ayton 18/10/6/1/1 debut.

Not bad. Way too hesitant underneath the basket on defense. He’ll eventually figure out when/how to defend there

He won't be going against an All Defensive/All NBA big like Jordan every game. That was a hard 1st game matchup but 18 & 10 is more than I would have thought he'd do.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This was the most fun watching the Suns in forever.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Maybe it's a habit now, he was doing it the last couple of months last season too.

Probably just being cautious as I don't think his hand is quite 100% yet.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I’m just so excited about the future of this team!

It was so fun to cheer for the team TO WIN for the first time in a few years. I missed basketball!

And to think we have assets to add to this group and Ayton should still improve and we’ve not seen the #10 pick in this past draft yet! Stoked!!!

 

[Folster]

Did you notice Booker give 5’s with his left hand @ 54.8 seconds left?

I imagine he's not ready to take super enthusiastic high-fives with his right hand yet.

 

[Yuma]

Seriously everyone talked all preseason how Ayton would foul out all the time. I could not see that from his AZ days. He plays defense non contact. If he plays all year just 2 fouls a game, I am happy.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Hey NBA get used to watching that Booker / Ayton high pick and roll for the next decade

 

[AzStevenCal]

Probably just being cautious as I don't think his hand is quite 100% yet.

Yeah but if I were him I might bubble wrap it for every non-essential moment of his NBA life.

 

[TJ]

Going to love watching Ayton grow. So glad the Suns did not take Doncic. I know it's only one game but Luka did not live up to the hype. The game is much faster here than it's in Europe.

Doncic will be fine eventually, but this game was evidence that Ayton is much farther along in terms of player development. Doncic was straight up erratic tonight

 

[Yuma]

Nuggets will be a good test for us to gauge the team.

 

[Mainstreet]

Booker said he felt sluggish tonight being out. I wonder how good he can play when he is in shape.

 

[1Sun]

Not surprisingly, it appears we are set at center, small forward and, of course, shooting guard, but we have gaping holes at power forward and, of course, point guard.

 

[Yuma]

Well, are they supposed to be better then the suns?

YES! Everyone projected Mavs as a possible 8th seed. Us as twenty+ game winners. Really. Look it up folks.

 

[BC867]

And the sweetest stat of all -- Bender - DNP.

 

[Hoop Head]

Well, are they supposed to be better then the suns?

Yes, they were pegged as winning 35-40, ahead of the Suns and a longshot for the playoffs. Jordan and Doncic were supposed to push things forward quite a bit for them and basically get them past rock bottom.