Mavs Afternoon Drive: Mavs-at-Suns Preview

Results In 'Big Games'? In Last 18 TNT Appearances, Phoenix Is 0-18

Mike Fisher -- DB.com

   Because they boast the any-can-happen positivity of Steve Nash, a starting All-Star center in Amar’e Stoudemire and a backlog of years of big-game participation, the anticipation of meetings with the Phoenix Suns still have that certain glow.

   But in reality, the only think “certain’’ the 2009-10 Phoenix Suns – who play host to the Mavs tonight – are in steep decline. And even the “big-game’’ thing has become a myth: In nationally-televised games on TNT, as this one will be, the Suns have lost 18 consecutive games.

    Let me preface this by saying Phoenix’ issues this season certainly don’t preclude the 26-21 home team from beating Dallas tonight. (However: The Suns, losers of seven of nine, like to push pace. And the 30-15 Mavs are 17-3 when scoring 100 or more. So the way the numbers interlock might smile on Dallas).

   But big-picture: The team that started out seemingly promising it’d be right there? That would be the Suns, who started 14-3.

   Since then? Phoenix is rolling … downhill.

   In December, the Suns were 7-9 and if you are a contender it can’t get much worse than that. …

   In January, the Suns are 5-9. And it got worse.

   Phoenix is the No. 9 seed right now, and that beats none of the alternatives.

    Consider:

    *Amar’e presence really doesn’t fully constitute a positive. There are questions about his health and questions about his money and those questions really won’t go away until he does … so, Phoenix must brace itself for three upcoming weeks of Amar’e trade rumors … and even after the deadline, if he is not dealt, a spring dominated by questions regarding what to do with him this summer.

    And watch him tonight. Erick Dampier (knee) might not play. But Stoudemire can render that a non-issue depending on his interest in bothering. If Amar’e isn’t trying – and you’ll be able to tell – the Mavs can use JJ Barea at center and still outplay him.

    *Everybody makes runs. Everybody loses leads. But compare the numbers in Dallas to the numbers in Phoenix. …

     The Mavs have won an NBA-record 10 consecutive one-point games. Phoenix is among those victims, having lost 102-101 in Dallas in Dec. 8. Meanwhile, the Suns have in this month alone blown double-digit leads to lose games eight different times.

     *Steve Nash has been fine, averaging 18.5 points and 11 assists. But he’s about to get tired and broken-down. Right? One of these years? Seriously, Barbosa is out and Grant Hill is going to try to play with a bum heel – and to try to slow Dirk Nowitzki, too -- so a not-deep Suns team has a heavy load here.

     *The Mavs have won four of five and when in doubt, can hang their hats on owning a Western Conference-best 16 road wins. The Suns? They are about to embark on a four-game roadie at Houston, New Orleans, Denver and Sacramento. As they are presently 9-15 on the road, that doesn’t look promising.

    And really, in Phoenix, since that 14-3 start, nothing has.