11-22-2015, 12:58 PM
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#2
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Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brasil
Posts: 15,401
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No Durant tonight
Quote:
Spurned by DeAndre Jordan and all the other top free agents this offseason, the Dallas Mavericks were an afterthought in the deep Western Conference.
Kevin Durant's return made the Oklahoma City Thunder a popular pick to win it.
Yet it's Dallas developing the chemistry of a title contender as Oklahoma City stumbles while playing through Durant's latest injury.
The reigning champion Warriors are the only team hotter than the Mavericks, who visit the Thunder on Sunday night going for their longest winning streak since the season in which they won the title. Achieving that feat would surely be made easier if Durant is still unable to go.
There's a chance the former MVP will be back in action after missing the past five games. He was originally expected to miss 7-to-10 days after straining his left hamstring Nov. 10 in a win at Washington.
Oklahoma City is 2/3 since losing Durant, with the only victories coming against each conference's worst team -- winless Philadelphia and a New Orleans squad missing Anthony Davis.
"I think you gotta see the big picture, and realize it's tough to win especially when you've got your best player out," forward Nick Collison said after Friday's 93-90 home loss to New York. "... Really all you can do is control your effort and your concentration, and try to avoid other things that come in and distract you from doing that."
The Mavericks are no longer dealing with the distraction of questions about free-agent stars like Jordan, who again chose not to join them. Just enjoying playing together, according to offseason acquisitions Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia, has keyed Dallas (9-4) getting hot.
"I'm having fun right now, being a part of this team," Williams told the team's official website. "You know, we've talked about it a lot, but this is a great group of guys that we have in this locker room. It sounds cliché, but it's the truth. We all just enjoy each other, we all like each other and love playing for each other."
Williams set or tied season highs with 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in Friday's 102-93 win over Utah.
It was the Mavericks' sixth consecutive victory -- only Golden State is riding a longer win streak with its 14-0 start. Dallas hasn't had a longer one since having three win streaks of seven or more during its 2010-11 championship season.
"It's so much fun to play with these guys," Pachulia said. "Guys that we have in this locker room really know how to play, and they're unselfish guys. I definitely enjoy it."
Pachulia had 15 points and 12 rebounds Friday, and the Mavs improved to 6-1 when he gets a double-double.
As for 37-year-old Dirk Nowitzki, he's playing efficient basketball with a slightly diminished role. His averages of 13.2 field-goal attempts and 28.9 minutes are his lowest since his rookie season, but he's shooting a career-best 53.2 percent after hitting 17 of 26 in the last two games.
Dallas can further prove it is for real with a stretch of three road games in four nights, including stops in Memphis and San Antonio. The Mavs are 5-2 away from home.
"We've got to play with the same defensive energy and try to execute the game plan, as the opponents get tougher," Nowitzki said. "... If we run back and talk defensively and rebound with them, we've got a shot against anybody."
The Mavs have limited opponents to 40.5 percent from the field during their win streak.
The Thunder are shooting 41.9 percent in five games without Durant. Russell Westbrook is 11 for 37 from 3-point range in that span.
Oklahoma City's lone win in four meetings in 2014-15 was the only one in which Durant played. That Feb. 19 game turned out to be his last of the season due to a foot injury.
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http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828086
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11-22-2015, 01:00 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 41.21.1
Posts: 36,143
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Zombie Sonics gonna get Rick Grimes'd.
__________________
These days being a fan is a competition to see who can be the most upset when
your team loses. That proves you love winning more. That's how it works.
Last edited by Underdog; 11-22-2015 at 01:01 PM.
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11-22-2015, 01:50 PM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 11,831
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Those gifs sent me to youtube and I watched about 30 minutes worth of Mavs Thunder 2011 highlights.
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11-22-2015, 02:24 PM
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#5
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,908
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Watching Ibaka trying to guard Dirk is straight comedy. And no Durant tonight is a huge plus. Very winnable game now with how OKC has been struggling. We could end up 2-1 on this road trip which would be a huge success.
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11-22-2015, 03:20 PM
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#6
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BRAZIL
Posts: 3,760
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Isn't that first gif is from a game vs the Rockets?
Anyway, easy win
__________________
Quote:
Dirk Nowitzki is a monster of epic and unattainable proportion. Seriously, he must be stopped.
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11-22-2015, 03:37 PM
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#7
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: A Tiny Island Appropriate For Tiny J.J.B.
Posts: 1,082
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Westbroke will score 40, dish 12 assists, and grab 10 boards... the Mavs TEAM wins anyways...
Mavs - 107
SonicThunder - 100
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11-22-2015, 03:38 PM
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#8
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 5,502
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Westbrook and the rest of the Zombie Sonics always play super hard at home. Mavs have to be careful tonight. Let's get this W.
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11-22-2015, 04:23 PM
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#9
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Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brasil
Posts: 15,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skywalker
Isn't that first gif is from a game vs the Rockets?
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Its against Ibaka aka Blockbaka aka every 2nd block is a foul but the refs dont call it because if my reputation as a shotblocker
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11-22-2015, 04:43 PM
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#10
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BRAZIL
Posts: 3,760
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sefant77
Its against Ibaka aka Blockbaka aka every 2nd block is a foul but the refs dont call it because if my reputation as a shotblocker
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Checked it, it's really vs the rockets (sorry to be THAT guy)
video here https://youtu.be/dbkonzqYqZc?t=4m8s
__________________
Quote:
Dirk Nowitzki is a monster of epic and unattainable proportion. Seriously, he must be stopped.
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11-22-2015, 05:04 PM
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#11
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: A Tiny Island Appropriate For Tiny J.J.B.
Posts: 1,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skywalker
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Rockettes, SonicThunder, Spurts, Leakers... who cares??? They're all Dirk's illegitimate offspring!
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11-22-2015, 05:11 PM
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#12
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BRAZIL
Posts: 3,760
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CGM
Rockettes, SonicThunder, Spurts, Leakers... who cares??? They're all Dirk's illegitimate offspring!
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I dont give a f*ck really, its just that I was almost sure it was against the Rockets. And I love that gif so the more times its posted the merrier
Here's a lovely one against Ibaka though
__________________
Quote:
Dirk Nowitzki is a monster of epic and unattainable proportion. Seriously, he must be stopped.
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Last edited by Skywalker; 11-22-2015 at 05:13 PM.
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11-22-2015, 05:35 PM
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#13
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Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brasil
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Ah crap i mixed it up with this other gif...rofl
I thought its the same play...him smiling and Ibaka waiving like an idiot
Last edited by sefant77; 11-22-2015 at 05:36 PM.
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11-22-2015, 05:36 PM
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#14
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,475
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LSMF
Westbrook and the rest of the Zombie Sonics always play super hard at home. Mavs have to be careful tonight. Let's get this W.
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Agree...anytime a key player is out it concerns me. Just remember Indy game in Dallas last season when all 5 starters were out.
They are still a talented team without Durant and they are at home so it won't be an easy game for the Mavs.
Last edited by rimrocker; 11-22-2015 at 05:39 PM.
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11-22-2015, 06:25 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Berlin / Germany
Posts: 765
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Javale active tonight at limited minutes. Let's see if he gets some action.
__________________
True basketball fans -> Tube
Dallas Mavs Supporter, Berlin/Germany
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11-22-2015, 06:26 PM
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#16
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Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 41.21.1
Posts: 36,143
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaknaf3in
Javale active tonight at limited minutes.
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Easy win.
__________________
These days being a fan is a competition to see who can be the most upset when
your team loses. That proves you love winning more. That's how it works.
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11-22-2015, 06:58 PM
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#17
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Banned
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,379
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Go Mavs! They gotta contain Westbrook all game.
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11-22-2015, 07:02 PM
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#18
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Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brasil
Posts: 15,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yahyes
Go Mavs! They gotta contain Westbrook all game.
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Let westbrook have his and contest the others
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11-22-2015, 07:11 PM
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#19
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BRAZIL
Posts: 3,760
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__________________
Quote:
Dirk Nowitzki is a monster of epic and unattainable proportion. Seriously, he must be stopped.
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11-22-2015, 07:14 PM
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#20
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,908
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Great to see Wes knock down his first shot
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11-22-2015, 07:17 PM
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#21
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Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brasil
Posts: 15,401
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lol at this turnover
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11-22-2015, 07:22 PM
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#22
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,908
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D-Will with a few really ugly turnovers so far
Last edited by Vinsanity; 11-22-2015 at 07:22 PM.
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11-22-2015, 07:26 PM
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#23
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,496
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Finally stopped the turnover fest.
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11-22-2015, 07:28 PM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 509
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@Parsons
Mavs may not have gotten Jordan but they did get his free throw shooting in Parsons... Seriously, whats wrong with his free throws?
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11-22-2015, 07:29 PM
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#25
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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Parsons shooting Rondo like FT% this season. WTF is wrong.
He was never a great FT Shooter but alteast hit 70%.
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:30 PM
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#26
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,908
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JaVale McGee sighting!
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11-22-2015, 07:31 PM
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#27
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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McGee Sighting
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:31 PM
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#28
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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1 Min into the game 2/2 and no Shaqtin a Fool Moment.
Already more than expected
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:33 PM
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#29
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,496
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Wow. McGee looks like a beast!
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11-22-2015, 07:34 PM
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#30
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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Haha McGee is beastin out there.
Wouldnt that be sth. if he could go 20-25min a game
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:36 PM
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#31
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Golden Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,908
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In case you're wondering why Harris took that contested shot and didn't pass to a wide open Dirk... it's in his contract to take the last shot of every 1st/2nd/3rd quarter. It's also in his contract that he has to miss the shot.
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11-22-2015, 07:36 PM
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#32
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,496
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OKC offensive rebounding has to be gotten under control.
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11-22-2015, 07:36 PM
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#33
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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Too bad we refuse to play D tonight.
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:36 PM
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#34
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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You know its bad when Nick Collison is lighting up the paint and boards.
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:41 PM
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#35
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,496
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OKC doesn't miss. SMH
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11-22-2015, 07:44 PM
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#36
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Germany
Posts: 387
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Lazy defending.
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11-22-2015, 07:44 PM
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#37
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 992
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turin
OKC doesn't miss. SMH
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Not too hard. 0 Defense and no Rebounding by the Mavs so far.
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Baller from the G'
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11-22-2015, 07:48 PM
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#38
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,496
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Barea-Powell connection looking good. Barea is continuing strong play from last game. Not forcing it.
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11-22-2015, 08:02 PM
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#39
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Diamond Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,475
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When did Ibaka become a sharp shooter?
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11-22-2015, 08:03 PM
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#40
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Guru
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brasil
Posts: 15,401
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Harris taking the last shot, Harris bricking the last shot
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