Mavs @ Warriors Game #2

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

I don’t see the harm in putting Chriss in Powells minutes. Stay glued to Looney.

Just try something else before my brain explodes watching layup drills in the western conference finals

Love Kirk Henderson's tweet tonight saying Maxi was running an escort service to the rim tonight LMAO

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by Zeus

We need to all chill. We are going to look back on this run in a few years and be amazed that Luka took a team full of basically league average players all the way to the conference finals. We just don't have enough talent.

and in few years will still be saying that?

it just feels like for 4 years now the consistent response is we don't have enough talent to compete.

I mean we all appreciate what the Mavs have done this year but opportunities to get to the finals or even the WCF's again aren't guaranteed.

I'm enjoying this run but it's gut wrenching to blow a 19 point lead because if you close out this game then you go back home 1-1.

Just a tough pill to swallow and instead of focusing on the future down the road hopefully the team is saying why not us right now

[Dallas41]

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2022/5...-score-126-117

What worked in the first half was ball movement and attacking the paint. The Mavericks didn’t just shift from it, they went away from it almost entirely.

Bigs problem

Depth at center has been a big question mark for the Mavericks since trading Kristaps Porzingis. This series felt like the best opportunity for starter Dwight Powell to contribute since the opponent wasn’t relying on a dynamic center starter. But he hasn’t been a plus. The Mavericks have ridden Maxi Kleber for the whole postseason, but tonight exposed a variety of issues in only having him to rely on. He hasn’t stretched the floor enough to play Looney off the floor, and his help defense hasn’t been effective in slowing guards down or keeping Looney out. Kleber was slow reading any movement in space, and there was no one helping behind him. Too many easy baskets for the Warriors when the Mavericks were hurting for points of their own.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by BPo001

You agree that we shot poorly tonight? 47.4% FG / 46.7% from 3

I heard that exact segment and he was speaking on the 2nd half. Anyone who watched that game knows what he was saying. They started off hot and it fizzled. Just like most jump shooting teams.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

I don’t see the harm in putting Chriss in Powells minutes. Stay glued to Looney.

Just try something else before my brain explodes watching layup drills in the western conference finals

Normally I feel bad suggesting they put in some of their guys who routinely get DNP's but I really don't understand how Powell can get minutes but Chriss can't.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Looney destroyed us tonight.

He did and he's a solid rotational BIG but he surely isn't Gobert and Ayton and typically I think you'd want Looney to be the one to go off on you and you keep everyone else in check. Problem is the "everybody else in check" part lol.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by FreshJive

Kidd: “Warriors are good. We got great looks but we have to understand when you miss 3 or 4 looks from three, you have to get to the paint and free throw line.”

The Mavs have two of the best paint scoring guards in the league. They have the personnel to do other things. Their best defenders are primarily three point shooters though (not uncommon), so they are going to have to hit them.

Yeah and I think Dinwiddie has the ability to attack the basket too. I don't agree with the strict offensive approach of jump shots they seem to be on. I get its gotten them here to this point but Warriors are just a well coach and smart defensive team.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Yep

Sure we shot great in the 1st half but when you score just 13 points or something in the 3rd qtr and miss mostly all of your 3's that wipes out what you did to start the game.

I agree with Sha they shot poorly when it mattered most and I blame it their refusal to keep attacking the paint and Luka didn't post up at all when Curry had 3 fouls

Locked On Mavs is also questioning why they completely abandoned the offense that worked in the `1st half

Drive and kick out or take the layup and then they decided it would be smart for Luka to ISO looney just because he's a big.

I agree.

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Looney is a big man

You are right he is a BIG. But he's just a decent one. If it wasn't him it would've been someone else going off. I think the issue is more so Wiggins, Poole AND Looney. Too many role players going off. Can't happen at our place. Ours have to step up now.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by Dtownsfinest

Normally I feel bad suggesting they put in some of their guys who routinely get DNP's but I really don't understand how Powell can get minutes but Chriss can't.

At least Chriss will bring some attitude into the game.

Powell just runs up and down floor for 8 minutes a night.

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by Zeus

We need to all chill. We are going to look back on this run in a few years and be amazed that Luka took a team full of basically league average players all the way to the conference finals. We just don't have enough talent.

I think they have a very good team. I think even myself I've underrated them. I think Brunson is the real deal. I think DFS and Bullock are great role players as well. But with Luka's skillset and with the type of offense they're running they don't need great players. I do think they are one big time player away like a Bradley Beal away from being legit......but this run doesn't shock me. Luka and a bunch of 3 point shooters will get you far as long as the jumper I falling.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by Dtownsfinest

He did and he's a solid rotational BIG but he surely isn't Gobert and Ayton and typically I think you'd want Looney to be the one to go off on you and you keep everyone else in check. Problem is the "everybody else in check" part lol.

The backup big's have outplayed Powell this post season

Whiteside
McGee
Biyombo
Looney

None of those guys make much money at all compared to Powell but they offer better rebounding and defense.

I know big's can get wrecked in the playoffs vs smaller teams at times but when you look at this dallas team just having someone who could rim protect and rebound for 10-12 minutes would be a huge bonus for this team.

I hope they go into next year thinking Powell is good enough because they got to the WCF's with him.

Mitchell Robinson and Mo Bamba might be two guys who can do those things in limited minutes vs small ball teams

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

and in few years will still be saying that?

it just feels like for 4 years now the consistent response is we don't have enough talent to compete.

I mean we all appreciate what the Mavs have done this year but opportunities to get to the finals or even the WCF's again aren't guaranteed.

I'm enjoying this run but it's gut wrenching to blow a 19 point lead because if you close out this game then you go back home 1-1.

Just a tough pill to swallow and instead of focusing on the future down the road hopefully the team is saying why not us right now

I totally agree there is no guarantee and we might not make it back at any point during the Luka/Mavs era if we don't actually build a team around him. Having said that, my point still stands that we will look back in a few years when many of the current roster are out of the league and wonder how did Luka take them this far or Finals if we rally. I will never get over the failure to turnover the roster and lock down a young core around Luka in the 2019/2020 period.

[SMC0007]

Have the Mavs stopped launching 3s this morning? Ffs. I woke up and turned on ESPN to see if there was a live look in at the arena. They started the 3rd quarter locked in on shooting only 3s for the rest of the game and I figured they love it so much they just might keep shooting them through the night.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by BPo001

You agree that we shot poorly tonight? 47.4% FG / 46.7% from 3

Yeah, shooting that high of a percentage on a high volume should yield a win 99% of the time.
It was the wide open lane leading to 62 points in the paint that sealed our fate.

I think the high respect our defense gave the Warriors 3 point shooting helped Looney have a career game.

[rimrocker]

We seemed to be in their heads the 1st half and they got into ours the 2nd.
They are a well-coached, highly skilled veteran team with tons of PO experience that will be tough to defeat.
I just hope we don't get swept.

Kidd will have to pull a rabbit out of his hat to strategize and motivate this team to overcome this enormous hurdle.

[dirt_dobber]

With almost 6 min left in the 3rd quarter we were in the bonus...
Should have been attacking the rim on every possession - we didn't.
Very impressed with Bullock. He leads the league in playoff MPG (40 MPG). He often guards the opposing team's best players, and he's averaging 11 ppg on 40% from 3.
So close to being 1-1.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

With almost 6 min left in the 3rd quarter we were in the bonus...
Should have been attacking the rim on every possession - we didn't.
Very impressed with Bullock. He leads the league in playoff MPG (40 MPG). He often guards the opposing team's best players, and he's averaging 11 ppg on 40% from 3.
So close to being 1-1.

And Kidds post game comments might be irritating him: Reggie Bullock on Jason Kidd saying the team didn’t play defense when they couldn’t score: “Um, I think we competed but if coach saw that, then that’s what happened.”

I think both things can be true. Hope he’s not taking it personal. Dude is giving it his all for sure.

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Have the Mavs stopped launching 3s this morning? Ffs. I woke up and turned on ESPN to see if there was a live look in at the arena. They started the 3rd quarter locked in on shooting only 3s for the rest of the game and I figured they love it so much they just might keep shooting them through the night.

Very frustrating to say the least

Had they just kept driving and worked inside out like they did in the 1st half there's no way in hell they blow that 19 point lead.

The Warriors were going to make run regardless but you keep them at bey by attacking the rim and forcing Curry to make a decision with his 3 fouls. He's not going to risk that 4th foul in the 3rd qtr by contesting any shots in the paint.

But the Mavs decided to get cute and try to prove that Looney couldn't stay with Luka or JB in ISO.

I hate when they both try to prove a point that big's can't defend them then they take it personal.

Just keep doing what you got you the lead the Warriors played zone and box & 1 defense in the 1st half to that crap they did in the 3rd qtr the Mavs had already seen it before in the 1st half and sliced them up.

But they got trigger happy with settling for 3's and ISO plays for Luka vs the big man.

J.Kidd in the post game said he even warned them to chill out on the 3's and get back to attacking the paint doing that qtr.

[Dirk41legend]

Pretty crazy that the Warriors have their #2 overall pick coming back next year too. Just a stacked team.

Mavs have neglected the center position since 2011, and today Mark Cuban got to sit on the bench and watch his team get obliterated in the paint to the tune of 62 points. Hopefully was an eye opener for the FO heading into the offseason.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Dirk41legend

Pretty crazy that the Warriors have their #2 overall pick coming back next year too. Just a stacked team.

Mavs have neglected the center position since 2011, and today Mark Cuban got to sit on the bench and watch his team get obliterated in the paint to the tune of 62 points. Hopefully was an eye opener for the FO heading into the offseason.

And it's crazy that fans on twitter, respectable ones I might add, talk about adding another 3nD wing. Like really? I feel like we have almost too many of that type of player. DFS, Bullock, Frank, Green, Kleber, Brown...

Center, center, center. That's what we need more than anything.

Staying committed to Powell might cost us a ring.

[JTmoney2424]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

And Kidds post game comments might be irritating him: Reggie Bullock on Jason Kidd saying the team didn’t play defense when they couldn’t score: “Um, I think we competed but if coach saw that, then that’s what happened.”

I think both things can be true. Hope he’s not taking it personal. Dude is giving it his all for sure.

He still had his own issues with containing drives. Steph, Klay, and Poole had 0 issues beating their man off the dribble all night. At this point, I’d take my chances with giving them a little space and taking a chance with them shooting 3s then having these drives that lead to easy layups and dunks.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by JTmoney2424

He still had his own issues with containing drives. Steph, Klay, and Poole had 0 issues beating their man off the dribble all night. At this point, I’d take my chances with giving them a little space and taking a chance with them shooting 3s then having these drives that lead to easy layups and dunks.

This seemed to be RC’s philosophy. Might do us some good vs the warriors. Also, anyone know how many minutes the Mavs have played zone? Another wrinkle for the Poole layups

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by Dallas41

Very frustrating to say the least

Had they just kept driving and worked inside out like they did in the 1st half there's no way in hell they blow that 19 point lead.

The Warriors were going to make run regardless but you keep them at bey by attacking the rim and forcing Curry to make a decision with his 3 fouls. He's not going to risk that 4th foul in the 3rd qtr by contesting any shots in the paint.

But the Mavs decided to get cute and try to prove that Looney couldn't stay with Luka or JB in ISO.

I hate when they both try to prove a point that big's can't defend them then they take it personal.

Just keep doing what you got you the lead the Warriors played zone and box & 1 defense in the 1st half to that crap they did in the 3rd qtr the Mavs had already seen it before in the 1st half and sliced them up.

But they got trigger happy with settling for 3's and ISO plays for Luka vs the big man.

J.Kidd in the post game said he even warned them to chill out on the 3's and get back to attacking the paint doing that qtr.

Yea. I'm putting some of this on the coaching staff. We have to call timeouts to regroup and to adjust strategy.

Instead, we run about 10 pNrs with DFS AND Luka to try and get Steph on the switch, whixh they played almost perfectly on most of them. None of those times did DFS cut to the rim or present any sort of threat, nor did anyone else cut. Somehow Looney stifling our 1v1 over and over again isnt a good enough sign to stop trying it for a while.

We severely lack 3 things:
1. Center
2. Motion on offense
3. Sizeable guys with even high school level handles.

Dfs and Bullock can't floor thr ball even remotely. So when JB or Luka have to pass and Dorian and Bullock don't have a clear open shot...they hold it and wait for them to free back up and pass it right back. Rinse repeat. No threat whatsoever to floor the ball even while the Defender is over running the close out.

There's just NO WAY we can afford to spend 18 seconds on each possessions with Luka and who tf ever trying to run PnR. It seems obvious that we have to mix up our offense more and installing a handful of competent playoff level motion offense sets isn't reasonable. Therefore, post up Luka and get the ball back in JBs hands to initiate.

Lastly, Luka played better individual defense in 1v1 situations...in the first half, but that effort and effectivenessdropped way off in the seconds half. JB keeps letting up and falling asleep on D. I've watched him give away so many buckets by simply losing track of his man.