PHX Reporter

The Phoenix Suns’ 64-win season ended in humbling fashion when the Dallas Mavericks destroyed Phoenix 123-90 in Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals.

“I talked to them about all year long we’ve been hearing all the praises, winning all the games and setting records and all that stuff and we’ve been taking it,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said in story by ArizonaSports. “Well, tonight, you’ve got to take it. That’s a part of manhood. There are days where it doesn’t go your way and you gotta stand right there and show character and integrity and take it. That’s life.”

Williams called Game 7 the team’s “worst game of the season,” and took the blame for the team’s collapse during the series against Dallas.

“I’m the guy that’s responsible to have us ready,” Williams said. “And we were prepared all season long. That’s it. We did not have the rhythm that we had for whatever reason. That’s always who I have to look at.”

Point guard Chris Paul, who struggled throughout the series, refused to put the blame on Williams.

“I think that’s who Mont is at the end of the day,” he said. “But he can’t make shots, he can’t play. They can come up with a game plan but [Dallas] just executed better than we did.”

Phoenix scored only 17 points in the first quarter and trailed by 30 points by halftime in a game that was never close. The Suns trailed by as many as 46 in the game, and Paul scored just 10 points.

“I think we just came out and didn’t have enough,” Paul said. “I think Mont said that’s on him but I think that’s on me as the point guard, the leader of the team, to come out and make sure we're getting the right shots and all that. But that is what it is.”

The team praised Dallas, which was clearly focused and played as well as it could have during the series.

“They followed their game plan,” Suns guard Devin Booker said. “They did a good job of getting the ball out of my hands and trapping every action I was in. I’ve always said I’m not the person that’s going to go out there and try to shoot over eight people. I’m going to try to make the right play and it wasn’t the right play every time.”

Still, the Suns again have to wait until next year.

“It just sucks,” Suns player Mikal Bridges said.