By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor
Phoenix Suns: 1st Seed, West (62-20)
Dallas Mavericks: 4th Seed, West (58-24)
(Basketball News) - The top-seeded Phoenix Suns bring their high-scoring act to the Western Conference semifinals, as they meet the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the best-of-seven series.
This is the first time that the teams will be meeting in the postseason.
The Suns are playing in the postseason after a one-year absence. In the 2003 playoffs, Phoenix was eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the first round after going 44-38 in the 2002-03 regular season.
Phoenix has made it to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2000, when it was eliminated in five games by the Lakers. The Suns have lost their last three trips to this round, as they fell to the Lakers, and Houston in 1994 and 1995.
The last time the Suns advanced to the Western Conference finals was in 1993, as they beat San Antonio, 4-2, in the semis and went on to defeat Seattle in seven games in the next round.
After a dismal 29-53 season in 2003-04, the Suns went out and signed free agents Steve Nash, who was named this year’s league MVP, and Quentin Richardson to lucrative, multi-year deals. Add Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion to the equation, and Phoenix became the best team in the NBA during the regular season. In fact, the Suns were the only team in the league to have three players in this year’s All-Star Game as Marion, Nash, and Stoudemire were all participants for the Western Conference during February 20th’s contest.
The MVP Nash played the first two years of his career with Phoenix, before being traded to Dallas in June 1998. Nash was a two-time All-Star as a member of the Mavericks and left after six seasons to sign with the Suns on July 14, 2004. At 6-foot-3, Nash became the third shortest MVP in league history. He is the second MVP in Suns history (Charles Barkley in 1992-93) and just the fourth point guard in the award’s history.
The Suns tied the franchise record for most wins in a season. In the 1992-93 campaign they also went 62-20 in the regular season and advanced to the NBA Finals. Phoenix lost in six games in the championship round to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
In the first round, the Suns swept the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Phoenix won the four games by a total margin of 44 points. Marion, Nash and Stoudemire played like the All-Stars that they are in the opening round. Stoudemire led the club in scoring (22.8 ppg), while Marion grabbed a team- best 12.5 rebounds per game and Nash dished out a team-high 11.3 assists per contest.
Joe Johnson and Richardson, the Suns other starters, also had a solid showings versus Memphis. Johnson poured in 20.3 points, pulled down 5.5 rebounds and handed out 3.5 helpers per game in the set, while Richardson averaged 15 points and 4.8 boards.
Phoenix scored and average of 113.8 points against Memphis, while it surrendered 102.8 points to the Grizzlies in the four contests.
The Suns own home-court advantage in this series. They were 31-10 at home during the regular season, and had the same impressive record as the visitor.
The Mavericks had a fantastic regular season as they were 58-24, which was the second-best record in franchise history. They won a franchise-best 60 games in the 2002-03 campaign.
Dallas had entered the postseason as the hottest team in the NBA, winning its final nine games of the regular season. But, the Mavericks are lucky to be alive, as they survived the first round by defeating No. 5 Houston, who won Games 1 and 2 at Dallas, in seven games.
With the victory over the Rockets, the Mavericks became just the third team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two games at home. The others were the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969 and the Rockets in 1994.
All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, who shot a dismal 35 percent from the field in round one, led the Mavericks in scoring (21.3 ppg) and rebounding (8.9 rpg) against Houston. Nowitzki did have problems getting good looks at the hoop as the Houston defenders clamped down on him and were able to keep him off balance throughout the series.
Guard Jason Terry, who averaged 12.4 points during the regular season, scored 31 points in Game 7 versus the Rockets and picked up some of the load on offense for the struggling Nowitzki. He posted 18.3 points and a team-best 4.3 assists. Twenty-five-year-old Josh Howard, who netted 21 and grabbed 11 boards in the decisive game against Houston, contributed 13.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest in round one.
The Mavericks, who fell in five games to Sacramento in the first round of last year’s playoffs, have reached the conference semifinals for the seventh time in franchise history. They are 2-4 all-time in this round, as they defeated the Denver Nuggets in six games in 1988 and ousted the Kings in seven contests in 2003. Dallas fell in seven games in the 1988 West final to the Lakers and lost to San Antonio in six in 2003.
Dallas was an impressive 29-12 at home and on the road during the regular season.
FRONTCOURT: Marion, Richardson and Stoudemire are dynamite for Phoenix. The Suns’ trio works unbelievably well together. All three are very athletic and they excel in the fast-paced style that Phoenix plays. Stoudemire, who averaged nine rebounds and 2.5 blocks against Memphis, patrols the middle and is one of the most intimidating players in the league. The 6-10 Stoudemire is a monster on the glass and is almost unstoppable when he gets the ball within six feet from the hoop.
Marion, who averaged 21.3 points per game in the first round, and Richardson can both knock down the three and are also able to drive to the basket with great results. The two team with Stoudemire to give Phoenix the most exciting frontcourt in the NBA.
Nowitzki teams with center Erick Dampier and Howard to give Dallas a solid frontcourt. The 7-0 Nowitzki can play inside or outside. His game is complete and because of his versatility and size he creates major matchup problems. Howard is athletic and is a perfect complement to his frontcourt partners. He can get out in the open court for some east hoops and is also a decent defender.
The Mavericks have a center in Dampier, who averaged just 6.3 points and 6.4 boards against Houston, that gives them the presence down low that they have lacked in past playoff runs. Dampier is a strong rebounder and will be able to hold his own in the paint and on the blocks. He did shoot 63 percent from the field in the first round, but he needs to be more productive for Dallas to be successful.
The Suns are too athletic up front for Dallas. The tempo that will be played in this series favors the Suns’ frontcourt. Dampier could struggle big-time in this one.
EDGE: PHOENIX
BACKCOURT: Nash, who netted 15 points per game versus the Grizzlies, has played like an MVP for Phoenix all season long and into the postseason. The Suns’ offense follows Nash’s lead. He is the catalyst and controls the tempo and flow of the game for Phoenix.
Johnson teams with Nash to give Phoenix an excellent starting duo. Johnson does not have star power like some of his teammates, but he is a solid player who knows and understands his role. He made an impressive 53.7 percent of his shots against Memphis, and if he gives the Suns a repeat performance this round it will make Marion, Nash and Stoudemire that more dangerous.
Terry and Michael Finley, who averaged just 13.1 points against the Rockets, are a solid duo. Terry will need to keep playing like he did against Houston, while Finley needs to pickup his scoring. If Terry does not have a repeat performance from round one, Dallas will be in trouble.
Nash will breakdown Terry, and Johnson will tire out Finley as this series progresses.
EDGE: PHOENIX
BENCH: An overwhelming majority of the minutes for Phoenix goes to its starters. Veteran swingman Jim Jackson, center Steven Hunter and guard Leandrinho Barbosa will play the minutes that the Suns’ starters can’t.
Jackson had a solid series against the Grizzlies, as he averaged 11 points and 2.8 rebounds in just over 21 minutes of action per game. He is a decent player around the perimeter and can light up the scoreboard if he finds his range. Hunter, who fills in for Stoudemire and Marion when called upon, scored seven points and grabbed 3.8 boards per game against Memphis, while Barbosa played just over six minutes per contest.
The Mavericks are as deep as any team in the league. Jerry Stackhouse, who averaged 13.9 points against Houston, can play shooting guard or small forward. He gives Dallas instant offense off the bench.
Guards Marquis Daniels, Devin Harris and Darrell Armstrong are also solid reserves. Like Stackhouse, Daniels can play shooting guard or small forward, while the rookie Harris will see his minutes at the point and the 36-year-old Armstrong has plenty of experience. Veterans Shawn Bradley and Alan Henderson will eat up some minutes up front when needed.
Dallas forward Keith Van Horn suffered a sprained ankle in the first round and could return at some point in the playoffs. He would give the Mavericks another outside threat, as well as a player who can play either forward spot.
EDGE: DALLAS
COACH: Mike D’Antoni became the 12th head coach of the Suns on December 10, 2003, and was just 21-40 after he replaced Frank Johnson during the 2003-04 campaign. When the Suns signed Nash and Richardson in the offseason, D’Antoni realized the type of club he had and allowed the explosive Suns to run wild on offense this season. His philosophy of an up-tempo style is perfect for his squad and he has shown that he is a smart coach by playing to his teams strengths all season long.
Avery Johnson, who became the fifth rookie head coach in NBA history to win a Game 7, has convinced the Mavericks that they have to play defense in order beat the best teams in the league. He has Dallas playing with more energy, enthusiasm and intensity. Johnson won a title during his playing days as a member of the 1999 San Antonio Spurs NBA Championship team.
EDGE: EVEN
PREDICTION: This could be one of the highest scoring best-of-seven series in NBA history. Even though Dallas has improved defensively under Johnson, it won’t be able to stop the high-powered Suns. The Mavericks have enough scorers to make this a series, but this one will go to No. 1 Phoenix.
It will be fun to watch!
PHOENIX IN SEVEN
Dallas Mavericks 
Phoenix Suns 
