The NBA has a longstanding rule of thumb that the team that plays better almost always wins a playoff series.
Notice that theory doesn’t say that the better team almost always wins.
Right now, nobody can say with certainty who the better team is in this Western Conference semifinals between the Mavericks and Suns. But the team playing better – at the moment – is the Mavericks, thanks to their 113-86 spanking of the Suns in Game 6 Thursday.
Phoenix’s gaudy 64-18 regular-season record means nothing now. This series is tied at three wins apiece.