Updated: May 24, 2006, 2:20 PM ET
Scouting report: Suns vs. Mav
Scouts Inc.
Both of these teams were involved in grueling seven-game series which took its toll on each team, both mentally and physically. It will be interesting to see how quickly each team gets over its last series and on to the Western Conference finals.
This series may take on the look of a YMCA pick-up game. The pace of the game, the high scores, the lack of defense, no true centers on the court for long periods, will make for some interesting basketball.
As we approach the matchups for this series, it is important to understand that there will be a lot of cross matching between the Mavs and Suns. Devin Harris will guard Raja Bell, Steve Nash will guard Jason Terry, Bell could guard anybody, and so on. So watch the matchups, because they will change throughout the game and traditional positions are somewhat irrelevant.
Point Guard: Devin Harris vs. Steve Nash
Mavs: The insertion of Harris into the Mavs' lineup in Game 2 of the Spurs series was pure genius on Avery Johnson's part. It changed the entire series. But Harris struggled in the latter games of that series as the pressure mounted. He will cause the Suns some problems with his speed and athleticism but he is not ready for the pressure that comes this deep into the playoffs. Look for the Mavs to utilize Harris on both Nash and Bell in this series. Nash will abuse him in pick-and-rolls and could frustrate this young guard.
Suns: Nash is the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and he will be going up against a combination of Harris and Terry at the point. No contest, Nash wins this matchup hands down. Nash has been struggling physically of late, but he did not look injured or fatigued in Game 7 vs. the Clippers.
The Suns will need him at his best if they have any chance of knocking off the Mavs. Everything Phoenix does offensively begins with Nash -- he is the creator. He pushes it in transition, probes, circles and runs pick-and-rolls. Without him, this machine would come to a grinding halt.
Nash is not stopping anyone on defense. Look for Harris or Terry to have big numbers in this series.
Advantage: Suns
Shooting Guard: Jason Terry vs. Raja Bell
Mavs: We saw the importance of Terry in both Games 6 and 7 of the Spurs series. The Mavs were a completely different team with him on the floor. His ability to score and create his own shot takes a lot of offensive pressure off Dirk Nowitzki. Terry is averaging almost 19 points in the playoffs and is a deadly outside shooter. Look for a lot of pick-and-rolls with Terry and Nowitzki in this series.
Suns: Bell is a tough, versatile player and he will be assigned defensively to the top perimeter player for the Mavs. He was matched on Sam Cassell in the Clippers series and against Kobe Bryant in the Lakers series. Look for him to be on Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and possibly Nowitzki. Bell has played great for the Suns in the playoffs since his suspension in the Lakers series. He has been consistent on offense, averaging 15.8 points and shooting the 3-ball at a 49 percent clip in the playoffs.
Advantage: Mavs
Small Forward: Josh Howard vs. Tim Thomas
Mavs: The Spurs were kicking themselves all series that they did not draft this all-around player. Josh Howard is a steady, reliable wing player who defends at a high level, rebounds and takes quality shots. He has delivered 16.4 points per game throughout the playoffs for the Mavs and Johnson will utilize him on Tim Thomas, Shawn Marion and even Boris Diaw if needed.
Suns: Thomas has been reborn in Phoenix. Mike D'Antoni stated recently he is not worried about what Thomas can't do but more concerned about what he can do. D'Antoni has played Tim about 30 minutes per game in the playoffs and he has contributed mightily for the Suns with 15.1 and 7.0 averages. In addition, Thomas fits right in with his athletic perimeter skills and his ability to knock down the 3-ball.
Advantage: Mavs
Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Shawn Marion
Mavs: This guy may be the MVP of the playoffs if he continues to play at this level. He has matured as a basketball player because he understands exactly what is needed to win. Nowitzki has diversified his game. He can shoot it from the perimeter, back you down and shoot over you or drive it to the hole. One stat that tells you Dirk's growth as a player is free-throw attempts. He is attempting almost 11 per game in the playoffs and he had 16 versus the Spurs in Game 7.
In addition, Nowitzki's willingness to mix it up inside and get on the glass has been devastating because of his height advantage.
Offensively, the Mavs love to run pick-and-rolls with Nowitzki and a small to create the switch and allow Dirk to roll toward the hoop and shoot over his mismatch. Nowitzki will be challenged defensively in this series because there is no one for him to guard. Every frontline player for the Suns is too quick and agile for him.
Suns: Marion had been struggling from the perimeter in the Clippers series but he may have gotten hot at the right time for the Suns. His 30-point performance and 3-point shooting (5-for-9) in Game 7 may be exactly what gets Marion back on track. Marion's speed and athleticism will tax any Mavs player who matches up with him. He needs to utilize his drive game more in this series and get to the rim. Look for Marion to match up on Nowitzki because of his length and athleticism.
Advantage: Mavs
Center: Erick Dampier/DeSagana Diop vs. Boris Diaw
Mavs: The Mavs have used a two-headed center throughout the playoffs, but that may come to an end vs. the Suns. The Mavs cannot afford to have Nowitzki and a big, slow center on the court at the same time versus the Suns' small-ball running game. Look for Johnson to utilize Keith Van Horn or play with three guards and Nowitzki and Howard up front.
Suns: How the Suns have advanced to the Western Conference finals without Amare Stoudemire and no true inside player is astonishing. However, Diaw's presence and improvement as a player have enabled the Suns to play small and make their opponents adjust to them. Diaw's stats throughout the playoffs tell the story. He is averaging 16.4 points on 52 percent shooting (66 percent from the arc) and six rebounds. He distorts the center position with his spacing and perimeter shooting and the Mavs will be forced to play without a center throughout this series because of him.
Advantage: Suns
Bench
The Mavs play anywhere from 8-10 guys a game, whereas the Suns only go about seven deep. This may be a factor especially early and late in this series. Both teams are weary physically and mentally from their seven-game series and the Mavs' deeper bench may prove to be the difference in the early games of this series. In addition, as this series moves on, Nash, Marion, Thomas, Bell and Diaw will be logging big minutes again. The fatigue of this series and the cumulative affect of the entire year may finally catch up to them.
It will be interesting if Kurt Thomas will be available in this series. It would give the Suns another frontcourt player to utilize and give Diaw, Marion or Tim Thomas some needed rest.
Advantage: Mavs
Coaching: Avery Johnson vs. Mike D'Antoni
On display in this series we have the NBA Coaches of the Year for the past two years. So no one has the advantage in this one. Both of these two coaches are bright, well-liked by their players and tested. Both Johnson and D'Antoni have shown the ability to think outside the box. They understand mismatches, and how small-ball combined with speed and athleticism can affect the outcome of a game or series. In addition, each coach has a superstar to lean on and give the ball to at the end of games to create a positive result.
Advantage: Push
This will be an entertaining series for the players, coaches and fans. There will be plenty of scoring with every game in the 115-125 point range. Do not look for any defensive struggles.
I think the Suns are very vulnerable at this point in the season. They are going up against a team that can play big or small, and has speed, athleticism and depth. I would not be surprised to see Dallas get up 2-0 in this series and then go out to Phoenix and win a game there. I do not think this series will go the full distance.
Pick: Look for the Mavs to win this in five
Scouting report: Suns vs. Mav
Scouts Inc.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Both of these teams were involved in grueling seven-game series which took its toll on each team, both mentally and physically. It will be interesting to see how quickly each team gets over its last series and on to the Western Conference finals.
This series may take on the look of a YMCA pick-up game. The pace of the game, the high scores, the lack of defense, no true centers on the court for long periods, will make for some interesting basketball.
As we approach the matchups for this series, it is important to understand that there will be a lot of cross matching between the Mavs and Suns. Devin Harris will guard Raja Bell, Steve Nash will guard Jason Terry, Bell could guard anybody, and so on. So watch the matchups, because they will change throughout the game and traditional positions are somewhat irrelevant.
Point Guard: Devin Harris vs. Steve Nash
You must be registered for see images
Mavs: The insertion of Harris into the Mavs' lineup in Game 2 of the Spurs series was pure genius on Avery Johnson's part. It changed the entire series. But Harris struggled in the latter games of that series as the pressure mounted. He will cause the Suns some problems with his speed and athleticism but he is not ready for the pressure that comes this deep into the playoffs. Look for the Mavs to utilize Harris on both Nash and Bell in this series. Nash will abuse him in pick-and-rolls and could frustrate this young guard.
You must be registered for see images
Suns: Nash is the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and he will be going up against a combination of Harris and Terry at the point. No contest, Nash wins this matchup hands down. Nash has been struggling physically of late, but he did not look injured or fatigued in Game 7 vs. the Clippers.
The Suns will need him at his best if they have any chance of knocking off the Mavs. Everything Phoenix does offensively begins with Nash -- he is the creator. He pushes it in transition, probes, circles and runs pick-and-rolls. Without him, this machine would come to a grinding halt.
Nash is not stopping anyone on defense. Look for Harris or Terry to have big numbers in this series.
Advantage: Suns
Shooting Guard: Jason Terry vs. Raja Bell
You must be registered for see images
Mavs: We saw the importance of Terry in both Games 6 and 7 of the Spurs series. The Mavs were a completely different team with him on the floor. His ability to score and create his own shot takes a lot of offensive pressure off Dirk Nowitzki. Terry is averaging almost 19 points in the playoffs and is a deadly outside shooter. Look for a lot of pick-and-rolls with Terry and Nowitzki in this series.
You must be registered for see images
Suns: Bell is a tough, versatile player and he will be assigned defensively to the top perimeter player for the Mavs. He was matched on Sam Cassell in the Clippers series and against Kobe Bryant in the Lakers series. Look for him to be on Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and possibly Nowitzki. Bell has played great for the Suns in the playoffs since his suspension in the Lakers series. He has been consistent on offense, averaging 15.8 points and shooting the 3-ball at a 49 percent clip in the playoffs.
Advantage: Mavs
Small Forward: Josh Howard vs. Tim Thomas
You must be registered for see images
Mavs: The Spurs were kicking themselves all series that they did not draft this all-around player. Josh Howard is a steady, reliable wing player who defends at a high level, rebounds and takes quality shots. He has delivered 16.4 points per game throughout the playoffs for the Mavs and Johnson will utilize him on Tim Thomas, Shawn Marion and even Boris Diaw if needed.
You must be registered for see images
Suns: Thomas has been reborn in Phoenix. Mike D'Antoni stated recently he is not worried about what Thomas can't do but more concerned about what he can do. D'Antoni has played Tim about 30 minutes per game in the playoffs and he has contributed mightily for the Suns with 15.1 and 7.0 averages. In addition, Thomas fits right in with his athletic perimeter skills and his ability to knock down the 3-ball.
Advantage: Mavs
Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Shawn Marion
You must be registered for see images
Mavs: This guy may be the MVP of the playoffs if he continues to play at this level. He has matured as a basketball player because he understands exactly what is needed to win. Nowitzki has diversified his game. He can shoot it from the perimeter, back you down and shoot over you or drive it to the hole. One stat that tells you Dirk's growth as a player is free-throw attempts. He is attempting almost 11 per game in the playoffs and he had 16 versus the Spurs in Game 7.
In addition, Nowitzki's willingness to mix it up inside and get on the glass has been devastating because of his height advantage.
Offensively, the Mavs love to run pick-and-rolls with Nowitzki and a small to create the switch and allow Dirk to roll toward the hoop and shoot over his mismatch. Nowitzki will be challenged defensively in this series because there is no one for him to guard. Every frontline player for the Suns is too quick and agile for him.
You must be registered for see images
Suns: Marion had been struggling from the perimeter in the Clippers series but he may have gotten hot at the right time for the Suns. His 30-point performance and 3-point shooting (5-for-9) in Game 7 may be exactly what gets Marion back on track. Marion's speed and athleticism will tax any Mavs player who matches up with him. He needs to utilize his drive game more in this series and get to the rim. Look for Marion to match up on Nowitzki because of his length and athleticism.
Advantage: Mavs
Center: Erick Dampier/DeSagana Diop vs. Boris Diaw
You must be registered for see images
Mavs: The Mavs have used a two-headed center throughout the playoffs, but that may come to an end vs. the Suns. The Mavs cannot afford to have Nowitzki and a big, slow center on the court at the same time versus the Suns' small-ball running game. Look for Johnson to utilize Keith Van Horn or play with three guards and Nowitzki and Howard up front.
You must be registered for see images
Suns: How the Suns have advanced to the Western Conference finals without Amare Stoudemire and no true inside player is astonishing. However, Diaw's presence and improvement as a player have enabled the Suns to play small and make their opponents adjust to them. Diaw's stats throughout the playoffs tell the story. He is averaging 16.4 points on 52 percent shooting (66 percent from the arc) and six rebounds. He distorts the center position with his spacing and perimeter shooting and the Mavs will be forced to play without a center throughout this series because of him.
Advantage: Suns
Bench
You must be registered for see images
The Mavs play anywhere from 8-10 guys a game, whereas the Suns only go about seven deep. This may be a factor especially early and late in this series. Both teams are weary physically and mentally from their seven-game series and the Mavs' deeper bench may prove to be the difference in the early games of this series. In addition, as this series moves on, Nash, Marion, Thomas, Bell and Diaw will be logging big minutes again. The fatigue of this series and the cumulative affect of the entire year may finally catch up to them.
It will be interesting if Kurt Thomas will be available in this series. It would give the Suns another frontcourt player to utilize and give Diaw, Marion or Tim Thomas some needed rest.
Advantage: Mavs
Coaching: Avery Johnson vs. Mike D'Antoni
On display in this series we have the NBA Coaches of the Year for the past two years. So no one has the advantage in this one. Both of these two coaches are bright, well-liked by their players and tested. Both Johnson and D'Antoni have shown the ability to think outside the box. They understand mismatches, and how small-ball combined with speed and athleticism can affect the outcome of a game or series. In addition, each coach has a superstar to lean on and give the ball to at the end of games to create a positive result.
Advantage: Push
This will be an entertaining series for the players, coaches and fans. There will be plenty of scoring with every game in the 115-125 point range. Do not look for any defensive struggles.
I think the Suns are very vulnerable at this point in the season. They are going up against a team that can play big or small, and has speed, athleticism and depth. I would not be surprised to see Dallas get up 2-0 in this series and then go out to Phoenix and win a game there. I do not think this series will go the full distance.
Pick: Look for the Mavs to win this in five
