5 adjustments Dallas Mavericks must make in playoff Game 3 vs. Suns

Adjustment Dallas Mavericks must make in Game 3 vs. Suns: 3. Fast start

In Game 1, the Suns led 9-0 just two and half minutes into the contest, and it got worse from there. Dallas trailed by 14 less than seven minutes in, and they never recovered.

The Mavericks had their sights set on a better start in Game 2 before being punched in the mouth again and trailing 9-0 after 150 seconds. Luka Doncic and company bounced back quicker in Game 2, but they cannot afford to spot the best team in the NBA nine points in the opening minutes.

The Mavs need to grab the early lead in Game 3. They have lost the opening tipoff and allowed Phoenix to score on their first possession in each of the first two games. Even if that happens again on Friday night, Dallas must answer with a bucket in their first possession.

They need to get a few early stops and grab the advantage. The American Airlines Center crowd will be rocking to start Game 3, but if Dallas falls down by nine in the first three minutes for the third straight game, a lot of the life will be taken out of the crowd. The Mavericks want the building to be loud, so they must keep the crowd in it.

Changing the opening moments will be a start, but that is just one piece of Dallas defeating the Suns in Game 3.