PLAYOFFS ROUND 2: #1 PHX (3-4) vs. #4 DAL (4-3) | DAL advances to WCF!

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think there is a chance Luka/JB/SD outplays Paul/Booker/Payne...maybe a good chance.   

I think we have to "Conley-ize" the offense of either Paul or Booker and then hunt the other one and let Luka wear them down.  But, our role players have to step up.   

Since the beginning of the year, Phoenix is only 1.8 points in Net Rating better than Dallas.  There is some noise there for both teams.  Dallas is 115/109.2 and the Suns are 116.7/109.1 since 12/30.  That is not insurmountable.  The trick is Dallas has been DOMINANT at home and about even on the road and Phoenix is +8.4 at home and +7.0 on the road.  

They will be happy to let Luka average 35 if they can shut down everyone else.

I suspect we will lose a game by more than 20 at some point along the line.  Phoenix can bury a team in a hurry (much like Dallas does at times).  If it happens, it is just one loss (especially if it happens in Phoenix).  There aren't extra points for margin of victory.  Just first team to four.
  
If we can get to a game seven, anything can happen.  The NBA could decide they want to help Paul finally get over the hump.  Or, karma could once again find a strange way to rob him of yet another opportunity.  Let's hope we get the opportunity to find out.

Some thoughts from prior to the series that have aged well.  I like the part about needing to "Conley-ize" Paul or Booker.  Wouldn't it be interesting if Crowder's tossing Frank to the ground actually hurt Paul's hand in a way that impacts game 7.  Kharma baby.

I didn't think we'd hold court at home and needed to win 1,2 or 5 on the road...ooops.  I've already said the info about Powell being able to score in the PnR over Ayton was wrong.  A slight adjustment for game six was to bring Powell back for much of the time Ayton sat.  +11 in 25 minutes was helpful, but the real story is it meant more time with Maxi against Ayton.  Ayton was -16 on the night and -11 of that was his shift in the second quarter when Maxi and the starters went on a 19-4 run.

Who had us winning by 20+ on a night Frank got 21 minutes and Dorian only played 25?  Not me.  Frank can't score, but he's allowing us to keep two strong wing defenders on the floor most of the time.  

Keys for game seven.  We have to play D.  We've held them to 94, 101 and 86 in the three wins.  Basically muck up the game without fouling.  Luka needs to be better than Booker.  Brunson better than Paul and we probably need three guys from Maxi, DFS, Reggie, Bertans and Dinwiddie to join along with efficient double digit scoring.  Tonight it was Reggie and Dinwiddie plus Maxi with 9.  Game four it was Dorian, Maxi, Dinwiddie and Bertans in double figures.  Game 3 it was Dorian, Reggie and Maxi.  In the losses, Brunson was awful and only Maxi and DFS got to double digits in game one.  Game two, Brunson was awful and only Dinwiddie and Reggie got to double figures.  Game five, Brunson got 21, but only Bertans joined the star guards in double figures.

I don't know what else we could have reasonably asked for up to this point.