Questions after Suns’ win vs. Mavs

What do we think we learned from the Suns’ 21-point win over the Mavericks on opening night? A lot. Maybe. It’s early. But here are some questions to ponder it all as we look forward. 1. What’s the biggest difference from last year?

Deandre Ayton said it best sitting in his locker after the game. “It was fun,” he said. “It was a great experience. A learning experience. We’re really happy for the fans.” 2. Did he say ‘fun’?

Yep. While Ayton was answering questions from the biggest throng of reporters that locker room has seen in years, Trevor Ariza made him get everyone towels.

No matter how well they play, rookies have to do their jobs.

Ayton was enjoying it. Grinning and playing along the whole time. 3. How’s Ayton look out there, anyway?

The big fella looked good. He had 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds and six assists. And he did it against DeAndre Jordan, one of the best post defenders of his generation.

Jordan taught the rookie some lessons, of course. Early in the game Jordan hit Ayton with a forearm that knocked the youngster flat at the top of the key. 4. Did that make him mad? Not at all.

“This is a man’s league,” he said. “I didn’t take offense to it. It’s just a man’s league. I was running in, thinking I’m gonna get this offensive board, and I just found myself on my butt.” 5. Has Ayton ever been smaller than an opponent?

If he has, he can’t remember it. Ayton goes 7-foot-1, 250. Jordan is listed at 611, 265. Those numbers didn’t look accurate when the two giants stood next to each other.

Jordan looked much, much bigger. 6. Was Ayton nervous at all out there? Yep.

“When I really started getting a little jittery,” Ayton said, “was the jump ball when I saw how big DeAndre Jordan was. … It makes me just want to get in the weight room even more.” 7. The M-V-P! chant was a little premature, right?

Absolutely not! After what this fanbase has gone through the last eight to 10 years, the reaction was completely appropriate! Devin Booker had a fourthquarter for the ages, scoring 19 in the final 5 minutes — with a surgically repaired shooting hand.

8. C’mon. Phoenix fans must have seen something like this from Booker before, right?

Actually, not really. All of Book’s star-making moments have come on the road. His 70-point game was in Boston. The famous P.J. Tucker practice was in Mexico City. The 3-point shootout was in L.A.

Finally, Suns fans got to see one of Booker’s famous flashes for themselves. 9. So the Suns are going to go 82-0?

Not even if a prime Charles Barkley and Steve Nash stepped into the starting lineup. But the Suns, finally, look like an NBA team with veterans and shooters, and an offensive identity … it was only one night, but it sure was nice. 10. Has Josh Jackson improved?

Sure looked like it. He went 3-for-4 shooting from 3-point range, including a pair late to help seal the win.

“I knew they were going in before I even got the ball,” he said.

He sounded calm and confident. 11. And what about that “edge” we heard so much about?

Jackson showed it against Dennis

Smith Jr.

The Mavericks’ guard picked Jackson clean at half court, but Jackson hustled back and blocked his rival’s shot.

“I always love a challenge,” Jackson said. “He ripped me up. There was no way I was gonna let him finish that layup, so I had to come get the block.” 12. How’s Coach Igor reacting to his first win?

Igor Kokoskov isn’t really impressed by any of this.

“It’s critical for us as a new staff … our credibility is zero,” he said. “Winning any game is good for us. Winning can only prove that you’re going in the right direction.” 13. But he’s going to celebrate, right?

Wrong. He said he learned from Dave Cowens, “players win the game, coaches lose the game.” 14. Well, are the players getting big heads?

Tyson Chandler has 17 years’ experience. Trevor Ariza has 14 years in. And Ryan Anderson has 10. They’re not getting too excited about one win.