After finishing first in the West this season, the Phoenix Suns went into the playoffs with championships aspirations. Now, they are being sent home in shame after losing in a second-round blowout to Dallas.
The tide has turned quick for the Suns, who showed little fight in their must-win game on Sunday. After the game (final score 110-80), Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and the rest of the crew were completely flamed by fans, players, and some analysts who could hardly swallow the stunning result.
Damn
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 16, 2022
Probably recency bias, but this feels like the most shocking NBA game I've ever watched. Just unfathomable play from the Suns tonight.
— Zach Kram (@zachkram) May 16, 2022
“Who you cooking on the Suns?”
Luka: pic.twitter.com/le77hDT8r9
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 16, 2022
Y’all remember that AD quote where he said we would’ve beaten the Suns if he didn’t get hurt right? That’s aging like fine wine 🍷
— Dom (@Dom__) May 16, 2022
Let’s go mavs chants up in here…
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) May 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/ajspercss/status/1526022498222977024https://twitter.com/RSonthestorm/status/1526022755862183936https://twitter.com/JackFro43417339/status/1526022708747767808https://twitter.com/ohitsabe/status/1526022746014068736
THE SUNS ARE FRAUDS GOING TO CANCÚN‼️‼️‼️#RallyTheValley #MFFL pic.twitter.com/7iGOq8OxGN
— Bones🦴 (@Boness305) May 16, 2022
This is an absolute nightmare for the Suns. After working so hard and dominating the league for months, they got smacked by Luka Doncic in Game 7 and are being sent to vacation in just the second round.
As for Dallas, they are riding the powers of Luka Doncic, who propelled his team to a win with a 28-point, 11 rebound performance. Already, he is proving to be a generational superstar and could end up somewhere pretty high on the all-time list if he keeps it up:
Speaking on ‘The Odd Couple’ with Rob Parker, Broussard said he doesn’t think Luka can join the GOAT conversation but gave him high praise regardless, describing him as a new-age Larry Bird, and suggesting he could end his career as a Top 10 player of all time.
“I think he could be a Larry Bird,” said Chris Broussard on Doncic. “I think he’s a new age version of Larry Bird. He could be, perhaps, top 10 player of all time. I don’t think he could be in the GOAT conversation ever, but obviously at 23 years old, he’s doing a lot.”
It is true that Luka has done a lot already. He’s a 3x All-Star, 2x All-NBA player, and a career 26.4 point per game scorer. He will keep the Mavs good for years to come.
Even still, Doncic and the Mavs have to keep their focus on the next round. They will have their hands full against the Warriors, but Doncic and guys like Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson are proving that the Mavs are ready to compete for the prize and should not be taken lightly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrqshKEpPcA
