The 2022-23 NBA season was a major disappointment for the Dallas Mavericks and their star player Luka Doncic. After making it to the Western Conference Finals the previous year, missing the playoffs was a bitter pill to swallow. However, their misery was somewhat alleviated by the Phoenix Suns’ Game 6 elimination against the Denver Nuggets, as it brought a smile to the faces of the Mavs players and fans.
In the first two games of the series, the Suns looked strong, but after winning Games 3 and 4 on their home court, they were expected to come out with the same level of intensity in Game 6, which was a do-or-die situation for them. However, they failed to deliver, falling behind by 30 points in the first half and ultimately ending their season with a whimper.
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Mavs players Theo Pinson and Reggie Bullock couldn’t resist poking fun at the Suns’ terrible performance at home with their season on the line. On Theo Pinson’s Run Your Race podcast, Bullock joked that the Suns must have been smoking something called the “Phoenix pack,” prompting laughter from Pinson.
It’s not surprising that the Mavs players took pleasure in the Suns’ elimination, especially considering the heated rivalry between the two teams during the 2022 NBA Playoffs. In that series, the Suns, led by Devin Booker, talked trash to Doncic and the Mavs, but ultimately, it was Dallas that came out on top.
While the Suns’ loss was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow, it’s clear that the Mavs’ disappointment from their own season made them appreciate any small victories, even if they were at the expense of another team. It’s also a reminder that in the NBA, teams can quickly go from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley in just one season, and the Mavericks will be looking to bounce back in the upcoming year.
The Rise and Fall of a Basketball Legend: Kevin Durant’s Rocky Road with the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns’ championship dreams were crushed once again with a humiliating 125-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets, leading to eulogies that will not be kind. The Suns were the favorites to win the Western Conference but were eliminated in the second round, leaving fans heartbroken and angry. The region has gone 55 years without an NBA championship and owns the longest championship drought in the NFL and an embarrassing NHL franchise.
Fans are yearning to send beloved commentator Al McCoy into retirement with a long-awaited championship ring. The biggest problem wasn’t the bench or role players, but rather the ongoing struggles of Suns star Kevin Durant, who failed to live up to the hype after joining the Suns in February. To his credit, Durant shouldered the blame and refused to make excuses.
Durant and a marginalized Devin Booker struggled in tandem, with the Suns giving up 44 points in the first quarter and trailing by 30 points at halftime, leaving the court to a chorus of boos. Head coach Monty Williams took responsibility, but the same thing happened last year, and he deserves a hefty portion of the blame.
The disgust among fans is palpable, with Durant’s struggles intensifying the loss of fan-favorite Mikal Bridges and the uncertain future of Chris Paul. Deandre Ayton tapped out of Game 6 with a rib injury, and his future with the team is in doubt. A major shakeup is coming this summer, and former NBA great Isiah Thomas is shadowing the team, likely carrying significant weight in his opinion of general manager James Jones and head coach Monty Williams.
However, there is a silver lining. The new owner Mat Ishbia is wealthy, ambitious, and impatient. He has the ascendant Booker for another five years and Durant for another three. With the right additions, the Suns should be a strong contender for the elusive championship next season. The fans may have lost heart, but the team has not lost hope.
