Dallas Mavericks 'still very alive' in series vs. Phoenix Suns, Nick Wright says

FS1's Nick Wright was slammed by Suns and NBA fans for a couple of his takes on the Phoenix vs. Dallas Mavericks series after Game 1.

He'll likely get slammed again for his comments after Game 2.

On his show on Thursday morning, First Things First, the sports TV personality said that the Dallas Mavericks were still very alive in their series against the Suns, despite being down 2-0 in the series.

"I thought you were going to offer me a legitimate olive branch and I was going to maybe take it," Wright said after Chris Broussard said he would allow Wright to change his pick to the Suns beating the Mavericks in the NBA Playoffs series. "Because I've got to tell you, the Suns look pretty good and I'm not sure the Mavs are going to be able to fix this defense in the next 48 hours."

He continued: "Here's the deal. The Mavs are in a rough spot. Luka's (Doncic) one weakness as a player is he is not a great defensive player … They are in a rough spot because the Mavs right now have one way to score and it is Luka because Jalen Brunson has yet to show up in the series. It's exhausting. He's not naturally a great defender to begin with and Chris Paul, because he is as smart of a basketball player as we've ever had this side of LeBron James, waits and waits and waits and then in the fourth quarter, when Luka is his most tired, and the Mavs are their most desperate, he just tortures them. It's almost a little unfair what they are doing. These constant pick and rolls, the constant targeting. I would just say, if you are truly the best team in basketball, beat them straight up, not with this gimmicky stuff, but that is what they are doing.

"The Mavs are going to have to adjust, I will admit that. And Luka might have to take his hand off the joystick a little bit on offense, so he has a little more in the tank in the fourth quarter. Because yesterday in the fourth quarter it was a total disaster. I will admit that. However, folks thought this was happening last year in the finals. Suns were up 2-0. And then an all-time great came through with a masterpiece. So I am not abandoning hope. I am not taking your olive branch. … I don't care about your olive branch. Go ahead and give your game analysis. I think the Mavs are still very alive."

More: Nick Wright responds to 'gimmicky' criticism from Phoenix Suns fans, calls out local media

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More: Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic will win series vs. Phoenix Suns, Nick Wright predicts

More: Phoenix Suns explode in fourth quarter to take 2-0 lead on Dallas Mavericks

Wright later guaranteed a Mavericks win over the Suns in Game 3.

During Game 1, a game that Phoenix won 121-114, Wright tweeted: "Mavs should feel fine. Suns have no answer for Luka. Phoenix got every rebound & hit 3 desperation end- of-shot clock shots in the 2nd half that killed any comeback attempt. This series is going the distance, and I like Luka’s chances at the end of it."

More: NBA Twitter marvels at Chris Paul's fourth quarter for Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks

Wright doubled down on his take on his show after Game 1 on Tuesday morning, saying that "Chris Paul is shook and rightfully so."

"This is that first series in years Chris Paul is not the best point guard in the series and he knows it," Wright said. "And Chris Paul also understands the Suns are the better team. The Suns have home court. The Suns have the better roster. The Suns might have the better coach. And that's the exact scenario that led to the Suns losing the finals because a transcendent, peak of his powers apex predator took the championship from them.

"And when Luka Doncic goes 45, 12, and eight and seems to have left some meat on the bone offensively. Did it despite Jae Crowder going full Chris Paul and kicking him in the groin mid-game. Does it despite the fact that Jalen Brunson can't make a basket to save his life. When all of that happens, Chris Paul, he's not throwing out Theo Pinson's name for no reason. He's doing it because he's trying to play some mind games that will not work with the Dallas Mavericks … This series is going to be a war. This series is going to go seven games. And Chris Paul knows he will have his hands full. …"

More: Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks picks, predictions, odds: Who wins NBA Playoffs Game 3?

Broussard had a very different take than Wright on the same show, saying that the series will go "five (games) at the most."

NBA Twitter slammed Wright's takes after the Suns' 129-109 win in Game 2.

Will Wright be forced to change his tune about the Suns after Game 3?

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dallas Mavericks 'still very alive' vs. Phoenix Suns, Nick Wright says