GDT: game 48 - Mavs (29-18) at Rockets (29-18) 6:30pm ESPN

[tgfan]

Originally Posted by csscza

mavericks are failing bad. why dont they ever play Boban!

Rick doesn't much believe in it.

[turin]

best 30 second spurt of the night for Brunson! Very nice time to show up!

[turin]

I just wish Maxi were in there right now with KP for defense down the stretch.

[Skywalker]

Originally Posted by turin

Well, Westbrick playing hero-ball in the last minute means you're never really out of it if you are within 3 pts.

Shit we better not foul him out

[turin]

damn, nice ball movement by Houston swinging it on that possession :-(

[BPo001]

Timmmmmmmah! Let’s get that 4 point play!

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by csscza

mavericks are failing bad. why dont they ever play Boban!

Because Boban doesn't run the floor quick enough to hang with the Rockets.

[turin]

THJ for 3!!!!! +1

[BPo001]

Dagger 3 by Harden

[turin]

time for Westbrick to force something.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by turin

time for Westbrick to force something.

Nah, they're sticking with Harden down the stretch.

[turin]

damn :-(

[Skywalker]

lol of course we leave harden open

[casper]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Had Boban played, we’d have won by 45

yeah, cuz Porzingis going 35 is totally normal

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by casper

yeah, cuz Porzingis going 35 is totally normal

Normal or average? Because he's done that a bunch in his career... Also, what does that have to do with Boban?

[BPo001]

I like the attack by Brunson. Defense made a play.

[turin]

well, not Brunson's best decision tonight. :-(

[tgfan]

I like Brunson's aggressiveness, but he should look for help before driving in on the giants.

[turin]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Normal or average? Because he's done that a bunch in his career... Also, what does that have to do with Boban?

I think it was a veiled reference regarding him going off having something to do with his size against a smaller Houston lineup. If KP can do it, why can't Boban be impactful?

Edit: Now that WCS is here, Boban will play even less moving forward, so I expect more DNP's here soon tbh.

[BPo001]

I thought we would get destroyed. Glad to see they fought all game. Nice to see KP beast on offense. It helped that Houston played small all game.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Normal or average? Because he's done that a bunch in his career... Also, what does that have to do with Boban?

because it shows the Rockets were most vulnerable in the paint. literally only way to lose this one was to go small.

[Underdog]

We would have easily won this game with Luka... Houston doesn't scare me at all in a 7-game series.

[turin]

Originally Posted by tgfan

I like Brunson's aggressiveness, but he should look for help before driving in on the giants.

yeah, driving into multiple defenders when down 5 wasn't smart. I'd rather have seen him pull up for a quick 3 than drive into a bunch of red jerseys. Also, a miss off of a 3 usually is a long rebound, so the Mavs would've had a better shot at a lucky bounce had he missed.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by casper

because it shows the Rockets were most vulnerable in the paint. literally only way to lose this one was to go small.

No comment

[tgfan]

Originally Posted by tgfan

Starting to look like the only way the Mavs win this is for Broehoff and THJ to go off on threes to match the Rockets.

Yup, from the box score, looks like the Rockets' 47% three point shooting was the difference.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by casper

because it shows the Rockets were most vulnerable in the paint. literally only way to lose this one was to go small.

Literally the only way to stop a team that is shooting almost 50% from beyond the arc is to go small -- you think Boban is going to affect that? The game is played on both ends of the floor.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by turin

I think it was a veiled reference regarding him going off having something to do with his size against a smaller Houston lineup. If KP can do it, why can't Boban be impactful?

Edit: Now that WCS is here, Boban will play even less moving forward, so I expect more DNP's here soon tbh.

I'm not even going to stress over boban not playing any more

It is what is the Mavs just prefer small ball regardless of matchups

I don't expect WCS to play heavy minutes tbh

So the question now has to be moving forward why does KP continually play well without Luka as opposed to with him?

He has repeatedly looked like the KP from NY as a legit #1 option with touches

But with Luka he looks like a shell of himself from those NY days.

How do the Mavs fix this moving forward

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

I'm not even going to stress over boban not playing any more

It is what is the Mavs just prefer small ball regardless of matchups

I don't expect WCS to play heavy minutes tbh

So the question now has to be moving forward why does KP continually play well without Luka as opposed to with him?

He has repeatedly looked like the KP from NY as a legit #1 option with touches

But with Luka he looks like a shell of himself from those NY days.

How do the Mavs fix this moving forward

Luka needs to sacrifice part of his game in order to fit KP in on offense, but that might take some time. Luka still has a lot of maturing to do as an NBA player, and we all forget how young he really is.

But it could also be linked to KP's healthy which is just now regaining form. Houston also doesn't have a center to speak of.

This loss doesn't really bother me at all with the way KP played. Talk about a breath of fresh air.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Literally the only way to stop a team that is shooting almost 50% from beyond the arc is to go small.

Yeah that clearly worked. Only 45 3 point attempts by the Rockets (of which over 20 successful).

[csscza]

carlisle cost themthis one

[turin]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Luka needs to sacrifice part of his game in order to fit KP in on offense, but that might take some time. Luka still has a lot of maturing to do as an NBA player, and we all forget how young he really is.

But it could also be linked to KP's healthy which is just now regaining form. Houston also doesn't have a center to speak of.

This loss doesn't really bother me at all with the way KP played. Talk about a breath of fresh air.

I think you're right on the first part. Luka is so ball dominant that he turns KP into the tallest 2-guard on the planet looking for catch and shoot 3's.

I really think the key is ball movement. I wouldn't mind at all if Carlisle told Luka to pass the ball to a teammate first every single time he crossed half court in a half court set. This would break the habit of dribble for 15 seconds, iso, drive to the rim possessions. Luka's overall numbers might drop, but the team as a whole would be more involved. For a "flow" offense, RC lets Luka stagnate it too much imo.

[tap2390]

Originally Posted by turin

I think you're right on the first part. Luka is so ball dominant that he turns KP into the tallest 2-guard on the planet looking for catch and shoot 3's.

I really think the key is ball movement. I wouldn't mind at all if Carlisle told Luka to pass the ball to a teammate first every single time he crossed half court in a half court set. This would break the habit of dribble for 15 seconds, iso, drive to the rim possessions. Luka's overall numbers might drop, but the team as a whole would be more involved. For a "flow" offense, RC lets Luka stagnate it too much imo.

Was just thinking this… We need to purposefully get the ball to Porzingis early in the shot clock.

[tgfan]

Originally Posted by turin

I think you're right on the first part. Luka is so ball dominant that he turns KP into the tallest 2-guard on the planet looking for catch and shoot 3's.

I really think the key is ball movement. I wouldn't mind at all if Carlisle told Luka to pass the ball to a teammate first every single time he crossed half court in a half court set. This would break the habit of dribble for 15 seconds, iso, drive to the rim possessions. Luka's overall numbers might drop, but the team as a whole would be more involved. For a "flow" offense, RC lets Luka stagnate it too much imo.

Or, just have a different guard bring up the ball and start the play from there. The bigs could set screens to get Luka the ball in good position to shoot or drive the lane.

[turin]

Originally Posted by tgfan

Or, just have a different guard bring up the ball and start the play from there. The bigs could set screens to get Luka the ball in good position to shoot or drive the lane.

Yeah, that would work also. Curry has the handles to do this, but I think I'd give Wright some more burn and let him try it for a stretch of 5-10 games at least. He doesn't give up as much on the defensive end. Personally, I'd like a bigger lineup, but then somebody starting now is going to have to sit.

I'd try Luka, Wright, THJ, KP, and WCS. That would put DFS coming in off the bench with Curry, which I don't mind at all. Strengthens our bench and the 2nd team would be better defensively with DFS and Maxi out there. However, I don't think that's ever going to happen. WCS will be relegated to 2nd team, and I'm still not sure how much burn he'll get as the season goes on. I can hope though.

[SMC0007]

I wouldn't get carried away with KPs game tonight. They have no center and had numerous terrible defensive lapses. It was good to see him cut to the basket and take advantage though. Unfortunately this production isnt remotely the same with Luka and they have got to figure that out. Again, no center, its going to inflate KPs scoring but there is more than enough film to study the difference with Luka and without and IMO a good coach like Rick should be able to get that done.

Without looking at the play by play, just under the 5 minute mark Delon and Curry had basically back to back crucial turnovers and thats where it became an uphill climb. Crucial late game turnovers has been the achilles heel of the season for us. Feels like half the games we have lost had a lot to do with that.

[MFFL]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

I wouldn't get carried away with KPs game tonight. They have no center

Yep

How many times did you see KP posting up on Westbrook or other similarly sized players? I think KP had more post ups this game than the previous 10 games put together

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

I wouldn't get carried away with KPs game tonight. They have no center and had numerous terrible defensive lapses. It was good to see him cut to the basket and take advantage though. Unfortunately this production isnt remotely the same with Luka and they have got to figure that out. Again no center is going to inflate KPs scoring but there is more than enough film to study the difference with Luka and without and IMO a good coach like Rick should be able to get that done.

Without looking at the play by play, just under the 5 minute mark Delon and Curry had basically back to back crucial turnovers and thats where it became an uphill climb. Crucial late game turnovers has been the achilles heel of the season for us. Feels like half the games we have lost had a lot to do with that.

The only two players on the team that understand how to run the offense are Luka and JJB, and Luka is so good that even he might not get it. Rick's offenses have often puzzled players, but you can't argue with how efficient it turns out to be.

Delon, Curry, and Brunson all suffer from the same issue. No clue how to run this team.

[Dallas41]

KP without Luka is becoming a thing

In the four December games Doncic missed with the ankle injury, Porzingis’ play jumped to another level averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 37 percent from three. My brow furrowed at that line at the time, but my eye brows are officially raised after Porzingis recorded 35 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 12-of-20 from the field.

Some of this is pretty clear: Doncic dominates the ball and Porzingis’ looks and opportunities are significantly fewer, but he looks natural running as the first option (sustainability is an entirely different question). I was initially worried about this matchup considering the Rockets were playing extremely small, and Porzingis has struggled all year to punish smaller defenders. But he gave himself easy chances around the rim and shot fewer threes (four to be exact) in exchange for 13 free-throw attempts.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

The only two players on the team that understand how to run the offense are Luka and JJB, and Luka is so good that even he might not get it. Rick's offenses have often puzzled players, but you can't argue with how efficient it turns out to be.

Delon, Curry, and Brunson all suffer from the same issue. No clue how to run this team.

I'm not even sure that its them not knowing how to run the offense as much as their ability to look underwhelming filling or subbing in after Luka leave the stage. He has a much higher level of awareness initiating sets and setting up his draw and kick. Instant decision making and remembering where everyone's at or headed is ridiculous. Not far from J Kidd level intuition already. So when these other guards come in there is a big ass drop off.

It's weird because Delon has games where he stops thinking and goes autopilot, just reacting and puts up 14pt,12rb, a handful of assists and steals. Other times he looks a little awkward and hesitant.

I do like seeing more of JJ though, offensively he is much more calming.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Yep

How many times did you see KP posting up on Westbrook or other similarly sized players? I think KP had more post ups this game than the previous 10 games put together

I'm going to go where few fans want to go

I believe KP can be a legit #1 for this team if more focus was given to him.

Now does that mean he's a better player than Luka probably not but I believe Luka needs to take a step back and become our Lebron while KP becomes our Davis

There should be of an effort to run the offense through KP 1st.

If you can get dude more consistent touches and more designed plays I believe it would benefit the team best to view him as a legit #1 option

Yes I know fans will go against this suggestion but the KP I saw in New York was the real deal and capable of being your #1 option

Luka can still get the glory but I think the mavs should start tweaking the offense to cater to KP more often