Game 56: Phoenix Suns (33-22) @ Dallas Mavericks (32-23) l Thursday l 5:30pm l TNT

[SunsRback4Good]

Who: Phoenix Suns @ Dallas Mavericks

When: Thursday, February 22nd 5:30pm (7:30ET) l AZFamily l TNT

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX







Phoenix Suns starting lineup:


C- Nurkic

F- K. Durant

F- Allen

G- Beal

G- Booker



Reserves: Gordon/Royce/Okogie/Young





Dallas Mavericks starting lineup:


C-Gafford

F- Washington

F- Green

G- Kyrie

G- Doncic


Reserves: Hardaway/Kleber/G.Williams/Hardy


Good luck charm!!!

[SunsRback4Good]

Huge game tonight with playoff implications. LETS GOOO!!!

[Iceman36]

Isn't it on Thursday?

[Stix]

Let's hope Brad doesn't break a nail if he returns.

[sunskerr]

Isn't it on Thursday?

Indeed it is

[Ghost of Kleine]

This will actually be a pretty huge test for us given the Mvs stellar trade deadline additions that really addressed some big holes with adding Washington and Gafford too. We'll need to shoot the leather off of the ball, AND control the paint getting rebounds and limiting easy scores around the rim to win this game! But If we play optimally, I think that our goods are good!

[Stix]

This will actually be a pretty huge test for us given the Mvs stellar trade deadline additions that really addressed some big holes with adding Washington and Gafford too. We'll need to shoot the leather off of the ball, AND control the paint getting rebounds and limiting easy scores around the rim to win this game! But If we play optimally, I think that our goods are good!

I like how you left defense out of the equation. God only knows we're not getting that.

[Ghost of Kleine]

This will actually be a pretty huge test for us given the Mvs stellar trade deadline additions that really addressed some big holes with adding Washington and Gafford too. We'll need to shoot the leather off of the ball, AND control the paint getting rebounds and limiting easy scores around the rim to win this game! But If we play optimally, I think that our goods are good!

I like how you left defense out of the equation. God only knows we're not getting that.

LOL!!! For sure you're right about that being important too man. And though it should be clearly implied, How much hope should we really hold out for them to actually do that well??? As opposed to the frequent outscore/ outshoot or bust strategy.

[bigfoot]

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

[sunsbg]

Nurk is normally handling quite well traditional bigs like those Mavs Cs. It'll be interesting to see Drew and Thad battle for the rest of the mins on this position. It's more important to not let Mavs get hot from 3 than them score inside. They have a few 3 and D or only 3 players, we do too. So it comes down to the star players. Luka is the system there and he'll get his 30, 40,...doesn't matter. They still need to make him work on both ends and target him in Q4 when he's tired. Recently Bucks did it successfully by forcing a lot of switches with Luka defending Dame in Q4. Big 3 are better defenders, so as long as they try on D and play intelligent basketball on offense it should be a Suns win.

[lilfishi22]

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

Pretty interesting. Even expanding it to 20 games (around start of the year), we're still 7th in DRTG. I honestly didn't expect us to be here. I thought it would be a job well done if we were even in the low teens. Coincidently, we're also 7th in ORTG in that same span.

We're slowly but surely improving and moving up into the elite echelons which is where we want to be heading into the playoffs. We have a very tough schedule in the back third of the season so we might not get to the top 5 in the net rating but I would like to see a steady improvement in our offensive rating (our bread and butter) and try staying in the top 10 of defensive rating.

[Ghost of Kleine]

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

Pretty interesting. Even expanding it to 20 games (around start of the year), we're still 7th in DRTG. I honestly didn't expect us to be here. I thought it would be a job well done if we were even in the low teens. Coincidently, we're also 7th in ORTG in that same span.

We're slowly but surely improving and moving up into the elite echelons which is where we want to be heading into the playoffs. We have a very tough schedule in the back third of the season so we might not get to the top 5 in the net rating but I would like to see a steady improvement in our offensive rating (our bread and butter) and try staying in the top 10 of defensive rating.

Very interesting! I suppose if we cand find a way to get one more 7 rating, then we'd have three 7 ratings or "777" which is good for a jackpot........right? Meaning maybe metaphorically we should win it all???

[Saberestar]

Thaddeus Young is expected to sign with Phoenix Suns within the next couple of days and be with the team for Thursday's game at Dallas Mavericks coming out of NBA AllStar 2024 break, sources inform @azcentral.

[sunskerr]

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

Pretty interesting. Even expanding it to 20 games (around start of the year), we're still 7th in DRTG. I honestly didn't expect us to be here. I thought it would be a job well done if we were even in the low teens. Coincidently, we're also 7th in ORTG in that same span.

We're slowly but surely improving and moving up into the elite echelons which is where we want to be heading into the playoffs. We have a very tough schedule in the back third of the season so we might not get to the top 5 in the net rating but I would like to see a steady improvement in our offensive rating (our bread and butter) and try staying in the top 10 of defensive rating.

This is pretty nice to see. Nice find bigfoot. If we can maintain this form we'll have a sample size of over half the season which is pretty reliable. I'm guessing our defensive improvement has been lost amongst the noise of the NBA in general just being insane offensively right now.

This will be imo one of the toughest championship runs ever if a western team wins it all beating the Celtics in the finals (imo the best team in the league by a somewhat decent margin). The west is really close with a lot of good teams.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Thaddeus Young is expected to sign with Phoenix Suns within the next couple of days and be with the team for Thursday's game at Dallas Mavericks coming out of NBA AllStar 2024 break, sources inform @azcentral.

This will certainly help as he's a solid positional defender with a bit more size on the wing than what we had in previous matchups! I hope he's ready!

[bigfoot]

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

Pretty interesting. Even expanding it to 20 games (around start of the year), we're still 7th in DRTG. I honestly didn't expect us to be here. I thought it would be a job well done if we were even in the low teens. Coincidently, we're also 7th in ORTG in that same span.

We're slowly but surely improving and moving up into the elite echelons which is where we want to be heading into the playoffs. We have a very tough schedule in the back third of the season so we might not get to the top 5 in the net rating but I would like to see a steady improvement in our offensive rating (our bread and butter) and try staying in the top 10 of defensive rating.

This is pretty nice to see. Nice find bigfoot. If we can maintain this form we'll have a sample size of over half the season which is pretty reliable. I'm guessing our defensive improvement has been lost amongst the noise of the NBA in general just being insane offensively right now.

This will be imo one of the toughest championship runs ever if a western team wins it all beating the Celtics in the finals (imo the best team in the league by a somewhat decent margin). The west is really close with a lot of good teams.

I can only imagine the extra defense provided by Royce O'Neale is going to propel the Suns into the top 5. Exactly two months and 27 games before the playoffs start ... plenty of time for the Suns to fine tune everything for a championship run.

[Stix]

If we make it through the West, and beat the Celtics... that would be the ultimate championship redemption from '76.

[Calvin Klein]

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-ranking-last-10-games

even better if you go last 15 games.

Last 30 games is 8th as well, so not too bad.

[RaisingArizona]

Bruh

[SunsRback4Good]

Bruh