Suns notebook: Awards, playoff seeding have ties to Suns-Mavs game

The biggest game of the NBA season so far will live up to its billing only if the Suns win.

If not, the Dallas Mavericks will have a five-game lead for the league’s No. 1 record — and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs — virtually wrapped up.

Still, even if the Suns don’t come through, fans nationwide will get a glimpse of some topics of interest.

• The MVP vote.

Steve Nash once again has proven indispensable. But with the Mavericks bearing down on one of the league’s best records ever, this could be Dirk Nowitzki’s year.

So says Nash himself, reiterating strongly what he’s said on the subject in the recent past: “I think Dirk should win it. He’s had a great year and his team has had the best season. I’d give it to him.”

Nowitzki is merely averaging 25.0 points on 50 percent shooting (42 percent on 3-pointers) plus 9.5 rebounds.

“He’s playing the best basketball of his career,” Nash said. “He’s shooting a higher percentage. His passing is better. His post game is improving. He’s been fantastic.”

• Sixth man of the year.

Leandro Barbosa’s recent numbers are so staggering that it’s hard for Suns fans to believe there even are other contenders (though there are in Manu Ginobili of San Antonio, David Lee of New York and, perhaps, Jerry Stackhouse of the Mavs).

Tonight, Barbosa will have a national stage after averaging 27.7 points on 56 percent shooting (54 percent on 3-pointers) in the past three games.

In five games in March, he’s averaged 23.4 points on 56 percent shooting (49 percent on 3’s) in 35.4 minutes.

Says Nash, “It’s one thing to be on a shooting streak ... but he’s developed into a better player, making decisions, handling the ball, playing the point.

“He’s expanding his team. It’s exciting to watch him develop and be his teammate.”

• The league’s best record.

As stated, the Suns have to win to pull within three games and make things interesting. Then they’ll have to beat the Mavericks again, at home on April 1.

The Suns, predictably, downplayed any lasting significance from tonight’s game.

“It’s a chance to measure ourselves against them in the middle of March,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said.

“We can learn about some matchups and where the two teams are.

“Other than that, it will be a fun night.”

Nash said, “It will be a playoff atmosphere. After the game, who knows what it will mean?”

MINUTES FOR EVERYONE?

Even a skeptic of how D’Antoni divides time between his players had to nod approvingly after Wednesday night’s win over Houston.

That’s when eight players got at least 17 minutes while workhorse Shawn Marion strolled though just 35 minutes of action.

D’Antoni reminded anybody who would listen, loudly, that he actually played “NINE players!”

“I was going to use 12, but I got kicked out.”

More seriously, he hinted he would like to share the wealth like this as the Suns come down the stretch.

“I would love to have minutes like that. It was distributed about right.”

This will be the case, he indicated, as long as his eight-deep rotation comes through.

“I would love to do that, but it’s based on performance.”