Kokoskov makes striking first impression as Suns beat Mavs

PHOENIX — The Suns opened the Igor Kokoskov era on a heater a Vegas blackjack addict could be proud of.

By the end of a 37-point first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks, 11 of 14 field goals came off assists. Devin Booker scored nine of his eventual 35 points in the first quarter, finishing at the rim easily after taking elbow handoffs. His three-point stroke looked just fine despite a few strips of white tape linking his pinky and ring fingers.

Meanwhile, rookie and first overall pick Deandre Ayton jumped out to a fast start en route to a night of 18 points, 10 rebounds and six dimes.

By the end of Phoenix’s 121-100 win in the season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday, the Suns had 35 assists and had shot 54 percent overall, tying the NBA record for most made threes in a season-opener with 19 triples. It was their first taste of success under Kokoskov, albeit against another Western Conference squad projected as a lottery team by season’s end.

Still, how different a competent head coaching job looks.

The teamwork on offense might’ve even surprised the first-year head coach.

“That’s one thing that’s really kind of — I’m not going to say surprise me — it makes me happy because we can move the ball, share the ball,” Kokoskov said.

It’s been four years since Phoenix had opened the season with a win, let alone a game that wasn’t a blowout loss.

And for just the second time since two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash was traded after the 2011-12 season, Phoenix finished a game with 35 assists as a team.

“Everything felt like it was in rhythm. I never felt like anyone was going out of their way to shoot,” Ayton said. “Everybody was involved on both ends of the floor.”

And the Suns did it with a methodical, efficient offense that made Kokoskov’s teachings look ahead of the curve.

Kokoskov was hired in the offseason away from the Utah Jazz for this very reason. He has continued to promise the front office that finding a starting-caliber point guard wasn’t an absolute must, that he would make a weakness a strength. And while former GM Ryan McDonough and interim James Jones have reportedly searched for trade options, Kokoskov — yes, through one game — has made them look smart for remaining patient.

Before the game, Kokoskov remained firm that Booker wouldn’t take on too much, and he held true to his word, naming Isaiah Canaan the starting point guard with 205 NBA games under his belt.

With that, Phoenix finished with those 35 assists to just 12 turnovers and hit 19-of-34 threes, looking legitimately like the team with more firepower.

“It’s (a) pretty impressive (assist-to-turnover) ratio for our team that was the biggest problem that we had in the preseason games,” Kokoskov said.

Canaan held steady aside from a brief third-quarter talk with Kokoskov and a stretch run period with Booker at point, finishing with eight points, seven assists and six boards while holding second-year Dallas point guard Dennis Smith Jr. to 6-of-19 shooting.

And of the offensive end, the Suns ran circles around the Mavericks without Canaan taking on too much himself.

Wings Trevor Ariza, Josh Jackson and T.J. Warren respectively scored 21, 18 and 17 points — the latter two off the bench. Four starters recorded at least six assists.

The Suns survived a series of mental lapses — like a 7-0 Mavericks start of the second quarter — but pushed the lead back to double-digits, 56-46, by halftime as Ariza, who finished with 21, led the team with 14 points.

That held relatively well until seven minutes remained in the fourth quarter, when Dallas pulled within 94-90.

That’s when Booker scored 14 straight points from 6:44 in the fourth quarter to the 2:17 mark, and Josh Jackson hit two open threes as the Suns pulled away for good.

The coaching showed up on defense, too. Phoenix held Dallas to 43 percent shooting and just 10-of-33 accuracy from deep.

It’s also the first of 82, something that didn’t get past Kokoskov, who found plenty to nitpick.

He criticized Booker’s foul trouble and defense as the Mavericks targeted the 21-year-old by posting up Wesley Matthews. Kokoskov said the Suns left passes on the table on Ayton mismatches off switches.

The head coach added that Ayton’s challenge tomorrow is sitting down with assistant Corliss Williamson and going over the film of his missed opportunities defending the rim.

“When you have a veteran team and when you have a team that plays a couple years together, then you have a credibility,” Kokoskov said. “For us as a new staff and myself as a new coach, we have a new squad and a couple new guys, our credibility is zero.

“Winning only proves that you’re going the right direction.”

And after MVP chants for Booker rang out, the Suns’ best player and now-max contract star echoed his head coach while evoking the names of Nash, Dan Majerle and Charles Barkley, another good sign the franchise’s fortunes just might be turning.

“I know it’s been a drought and I know we have true basketball fans in this city,” Booker said.

“I’ve watched the film of those games, and I know those people are still around somewhere hoping, hoping we can turn this thing around. I think we’re in that position to finally make that move. It’s not going to be a one-day thing or an overnight thing. But we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”

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