NBA Handicapping Predictions – Mavs vs Suns
A few years ago a matchup between the Mavericks and Suns would have been a track meet, but both teams have changed their style of play.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns
10:30 PM EST on TNT
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Mavericks -3
Over/Under: 187.5
The Mavericks won the NBA title last year largely due to their defense. Phoenix has gotten older and they no longer try to run at every opportunity.
Both teams have been a bit of a disappointment so far this year. Let’s take a look at this late night matchup on TNT this Thursday.
Dirk Nowitzki carried the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA title last year, but he didn’t show up in top shape this year. Nowitzki struggled through the first few months, but he has gotten into a groove over the last few games. He has scored 40, 27, and 28 points in the team’s last three contests.
Offensively, Dallas hasn’t been nearly as crisp as they were last year. The Mavericks are shooting just 43.6% as a team. On the defensive end, the Mavericks are only allowing 91.6 points per game. Lamar Odom really needs to get it going, because he could be a key piece for this team moving forward. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Marcin Gortat is having a breakout season for the Phoenix Suns. Gortat averages 15.9 points and 10.6 boards per game.
Steve Nash is shooting 53% from the floor, but he is being a little less aggressive offensively. In addition, Nash is playing less minutes because of his age and the tough condensed schedule this season.
The problem that Phoenix has is they are not a very good defensive team, so now that they can’t pour in 105 points per game on a nightly basis they don’t really have anything to hang their hat on.
Channing Frye and Michael Redd have been two great three-point shooters in their career, but both are struggling to find a shooting rhythm this year.
The Suns haven’t been good on back-to-back situations, and I think that has to do with them being one of the oldest teams in the league. Look for Dallas to be too much here.
Prediction: Dallas 97 Phoenix 90
