Phoenix, AZ — The Dallas Mavericks (20-9) look to bounce back after a disappointing home loss to the Atlanta Hawks last night. Tonight they play the 9th seed in the west Phoenix Suns (15-14).
Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Rajon Rondo 8.4 PPG, 10.7 APG, 7.3 RPG
SG: Monta Ellis 21.1 PP,G 4.5 APG, 2.3 RPG
SF: Chandler Parsons 16.3 PPG, 2.3 APG, 5.2 RPG
PF: Dirk Nowitzki 18.5 PPG, 5.8RPG, 0.4 BPG
C: Tyson Chandler 10.6 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG
Suns
PG: Eric Bledsoe 15.8 PPG, 5.6 APG, 5.1 RPG
SG: Goran Dragic 16.0 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.4 RPG
SF P.J. Tucker 7.4 PPG, 1.6 APG, 5.9 RPG
PF: Markieff Morris 15.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.6 BPG
C: Alex Len 5.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.1 BPG
Game at Hand:
It’s hard to pinpoint what went wrong last night against the Hawks, but one thing is for sure. Our perimeter defense was terrible. That has to be improved tonight against the guard reliant Phoenix Suns. Goran Dragic torched us in the first matchup with 28 points and the Suns scored 40 points in the first quarter. Just like last night against Atlanta teams have been jumping out ahead way to frequently and it seems the Mavs are always left to play catch-up. The Mavs have to find a way to be competitive and then close out like we have been.
Rajon Rondo will have a busy night as he will take the lead in guarding eeitherEric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas or Goran Dragic. The Morris twins will also prove challenging with the Mavs current power forward situation. I’m afraid too often will we see either Richard Jefferson or Aminu guarding Markieff which could prove detrimental.
Regardless of the matchups one thing is for certain, Dallas did not play well last night and that has to change. Rick Carlisle put it perfectly in saying the Mavs have simply got to play better.
Carlisle: "We're just not playing very well. … We're not a finished product with this alignment."
— Bryan Gutierrez (@BallinWithBryan) December 23, 2014
Matchup of the Night:
What I will be looking for is our guards Rajon Rondo, Devin Harris and Monta Ellis versus the Suns, Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. If our guards defend like they did last night it could be a very difficult game to watch again. Dennis Schroder shredded us with 22 points on 9-15 shooting. While Schroder has a respectable game the Dragic, Thomas and Bledsoe are better. Without any backup big men our guards have to keep them out of the lane.
Mavs versus the Suns tips off at 8:00 CST and can be viewed on Fox Sports Southwest in US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
Photo Credit: Mavs.com
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