Basically, basketball is a simple game, the orange ball has to go into the basket – as often as possible and at the right moment. If you only look at the game from this perspective, it can be said without a doubt: Maxi Kleber had another hell of a good day in the first game of the quarter-final series in the NBA playoffs against Phoenix. The only problem was that the opponent got an even better one at 121:114 and thus took the lead in the best-of-seven duel. It means Advantage Phoenix. “We’re happy to take the win with us, even if everything wasn’t so nice,” said Suns conductor Chris Paul.
He understated it, because what Phoenix threw through the trap in front of their own fans was quite remarkable. For the seventh time in a row, the Suns converted more than half of their attempts – only a team in history (the Lakers in 1984) was so accurate in the knockout round. The yield of the points read accordingly: Almost every Phoenix professional sunk his throws reliably, more balance is hardly possible. It was different with the Mavericks. And so to glue.
The second best-known Würzburg basketball player (this time the best-known watched from the stands) has developed into a real special agent in Dallas. His favorite position is far out at the three-point line, where he patiently waits and pulls the trigger after the block-and-roll. In the first round against the Utah Jazz he scored eight goals outside the line 7.24 meters from the ring.
Maxi Kleber again sinks threes in a row in the NBA playoffs
This time it worked excellently again against the Suns: After just a few minutes, the 30-year-old had netted three times from “Downtown”, in the end he had 19 points and five three-pointers hit (in eight attempts). Kleber benefits from the focus on Luka Doncic, the Mavs’ solo entertainer, who is often attacked by opponents with several men at the same time. But this time the young Slovene’s 45 points, twelve rebounds and eight assists were not enough.
“Maxi and Luka kept us alive in the early stages,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd, “otherwise we would have fallen even further behind.” The Mavericks’ problem: They could never control Phoenix’s variable, always dangerous offensive, and at times the gap grew to over 20 points.
Like a swarm of aggressive wasps, the Suns buzzed through the Dallas defense and collectively took their stings. In particular, the interaction was more effective, the regular season’s best team had 27 assists – compared to 16 for the Mavericks. “We trusted each other and let the ball go,” said Suns top scorer DeAndre Ayton (25 points).
The moment things went quiet in Phoenix: Kleber hits the ground on his back after a dunk.
(Photo: Matt York/AP)
In the further course of the series, it should be decisive whether Dallas finds ways to stop the flow of attacks from the Phoenix squadron – and to be more than just a Luka Doncic show. “We need more guys at the party,” was the analysis of coach Kidd, a former Suns driver himself.
Maxi Kleber has proven himself as an adjutant, in the final quarter he even sank an “alley-oop” when Doncic served him a lob pass to the basket. The German’s backward impact on the floor looked nasty, but he got back to his feet to the applause of the arena and continued playing. Basketball really hurts sometimes.