<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> PHOENIX ? If he thought a little bit more like Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and a little less like a coach, Mike D'Antoni would have taken the leap and guaranteed a Phoenix victory in Game 5. As it was, the Suns coach walked right up to the line. "We don't have to have gimmicks," D'Antoni said of preparations for tonight's game with the Mavericks. "We don't have to change things up. If we're ready to roll, I really don't think they can beat us. "But we have to be ready." The Suns weren't as defiant as D'Antoni's comment sounds. If anything, they were amused by suggestions that the Mavericks had hit upon a defensive formula in Game 4 that will serve them for the rest of the series. The Mavericks did a good job in that game of clogging the middle to keep the ball out of Amare Stoudemire's hands while staying at home on the Suns outside shooters. The strategy transformed Steve Nash from a distributor into a scorer. The Mavericks want Nash to shoot more and pass less. But the idea that they are fine holding him to 48 points a game is comical. The Suns didn't lose because Nash had more turnovers (nine) than assists (five) for the first time all season. They lost because the defense was soft and they allowed the Mavericks 16 offensive rebounds. Phoenix lost because it scored only two points off the fast break in the first half and because several players floated through the game as if they were facing Golden State in February. Still, that didn't keep center Erick Dampier from saying the Mavericks found a solution during their 119-109 victory in Game 4 and are going to stick with it. Josh Howard said Nash can have his 40-plus points as long as five assists and nine turnovers are part of the package. "I see where they say they might have us figured out," D'Antoni said. "Give them credit. They're playing well. "But 109 points? I don't think they've figured us out." </div> Source
Dallas has NOT figured out the Phoenix Suns, but they did find a way to win game 4, and that's all that counts. As for D'Antoni's other comments, he is right. They don't need "gimmicks" to win against the Mavs, and why should they because they are the favorites. They should be able to beat the Mavs playing them straight. However, they will have to do it with one less starter, and an overworked point guard. I'm not saying the Mavs should be favored because they are most definitely the underdogs here, but I do like their chances. The Suns are a great team (62 games prove it), but I hope the Mavs just find a way to win. That's all that counts.
Bah...for the sake of good basketball the Suns need to win. The suns have the best chance at taking out the Spurs...
