2024 Playoffs Round 2: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

[FreshJive]

Round 2 series vs. OKC

Dereck Lively II +71
Daniel Gafford -58

[DevinHarriswillstart]

God, I've kept my mouth shut about the refs for the most part, but jesus christ, they were definitely in on the parlays tonight. Fuckers.

BUT A WIN IS A GODDAMN WIN BABY!!!!!

[EricaLubarsky]

This team is just something. Great defense even when the refs messed with us.

PJail shut down by refs with three garbage fouls? Doesn't matter. DJJ steps up to put up 22pts.

22pts, 4reb, 2ast, 1stl, 1blk for a guy basically earning the minimum

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by FreshJive

Round 2 series vs. OKC

Dereck Lively II +71
Daniel Gafford -58

Kid can't even drink until next Valentines day and already looking like prime Tyson.

[EricaLubarsky]

LWWLWW
LWWLWW

Looks like we have a pattern

[Melonhead]

Holy shit my heart fluttered when he threw that heave. Got a flash of the Cavs game winner

[DevinHarriswillstart]

It's too bad we totally embarrassed ourselves tanking those two games last season. What a horror show that turned out to be.

[SMC0007]

How did we win with 67 turnovers? Defense and clutch plays, probably

What a fucking roller coaster ride. My heart rate was elevated for a cpl hours

[EricaLubarsky]

As soon as we find out our opponent, it looks like Melon needs to make another thread.

Series starts Wednesday in either Denver of Minny. We will have four days of rest. Our opponent will have three.

[Dallas41]

OKC has to feel like Dallas felt 3 years ago vs the Warriors.

I remember the mavs kept giving up offensive rebounds to Looney that broke their backs in that series

That's what Lively and Gafford did to the Thunder all series 😂

[MFFL]

FUCK YEAH!

Mavs advance again

[MFFL]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

This is really remarkable. Kid is going to be defensive player of the year sooner rather than later...

https://x.com/DL2Muse/status/1791509715421131119

Honestly I'd rather have Lively than Holmgren.

[Murphy3]

Not bad. I?m looking forward to seeing what Lively turns in to.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Honestly I'd rather have Lively than Holmgren.

I wouldn?t, but the fact that I had to sit here and think about it for a sec just demonstrates how good lively is.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

We knew what Lively was that first game against the Spurs.

[BPo001]

LFG! WCF baby!

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

But we haven't lost 2 in a row in the POs. This is also following the same pattern as last series.
Loss
Win
Win
Loss
Win
Win

Look who called it

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Playoff PJ: 40% from three
Last 25 games PJ: 39% from three

I thought he was bad but just had a shooting streak, but he?s been good for a while. Maybe I just developed my conception of his game early and he?s quietly just an excellent shooter now?

And another 40% night for him

PJ remains a 40% shooter in the playoffs from three

[Melonhead]

Man it?s really unbelievable. I?m kinda in shock.

I?m so happy for the players they give so much and it?s good they can celebrate getting to this point.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Well Luka looking more like 85% versus 40% really helped, but the players of this game were DJJ and Lively.

I remember being ecstatic that we got DJJ instead of Thybulle.

[SMC0007]

Also, huge Kudos to Hardy. That kid made some big plays!

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Also, huge Kudos to Hardy. That kid made some big plays!

Kidd has finally realized that THJ can't play. Who knew amirite?

[Thespiralgoeson]

Mavs advance to the WCF and the ONLY thing the media is talking about is how bright the future is for OKC. Fuck right off. I swear, you'd think the Mavs were a subplot in this series.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Also, huge Kudos to Hardy. That kid made some big plays!

Totally agree. You wouldn't know it if all you looked at was the box score, but he was great in his 11 minutes. I'm really hoping he gets 20-25 minutes a game next year, consistently. There's no reason he can't be an elite sixth man.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Apparently Lively is only the third rookie since 1971 to have consecutive double-doubles in the playoffs while coming off the bench. The first two- Charles Barkley and Robert Parish.

[blessednegr0]

Let's go boys. On to Minnesota or Denver! Hell of a win. Refs be damned.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Mavs advance to the WCF and the ONLY thing the media is talking about is how bright the future is for OKC. Fuck right off. I swear, you'd think the Mavs were a subplot in this series.

They did this shit in 2011 too. "Worst team to ever win a ring" from what seemed like everyone.

But we all know it's rocket fuel for the team. Mavs always play better as underdogs.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

PJ Washington's play at the end of the game was just incredible. He was taken out early with foul trouble, but it really only matters what you do in the end.

That offensive rebound then hitting two threes but the great D on SGA.

What he does really doesn't come through in the box score.

PANDAHANK time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA8q...el=PandaHank41

[MFFL]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

Mavs advance to the WCF and the ONLY thing the media is talking about is how bright the future is for OKC. Fuck right off. I swear, you'd think the Mavs were a subplot in this series.

Because that team has next season's MVP on it.

Our best player is playing hurt and should be out for a couple weeks because of health and we are missing also a rotation player. OKC was healthy all year and the Mavs were a mess the first half. Our core is just about as young as their core but THEY have the bright future?

But who cares that the Mavs whooped them?

I'm not even sure that OKC would have beat NO if Zion wasn't hurt. They probably would have but the OKC weaknesses would have shown up early.

[tap2390]

Is there anyone here who would take Chet over Lively? Lively being left out of the future bigs of the NBA debate is nonsense.

We?re also not getting enough credit for beating the number 1 seed in the toughest conference in a decade. All the takes that revolve around OKC?s youth can suck it. They?re not beating us next year either when Luka is fully healthy, Lively is starting, and OMax is in the rotation.

Great, great feeling. WCF will be tough, but I think we make it competitive and maybe steal it.

[Melonhead]

Lively is going to be so good, look how quick he improves. Hell his free throws have been a problem all season then he locks in during hack a shaq and by the time it was 4th quarter last night I had no doubt he?d sink those.

Year 1 doing things only a few centers have done in the playoffs as a rookie.

Oh and he?s warming that 3 ball up for next season.

Both guys have bright futures but im taking Lively obviously. Love that dude.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Kidd has finally realized that THJ can't play. Who knew amirite?

One more year on his contract?

[Dallas41]

Originally Posted by MFFL

FUCK YEAH!

Mavs advance again

I will be the 1st to praise J.Kidd

As a coach he's become the 1st mavs coach to advance his teams to the WCF"s twice.

He takes a lot of unfair heat despite having two 50 win series in 3 years.

He's not an emotional coach and sometimes fans don't see that as a good thing because he won't argue with refs or scream at players.

But he's a players coach and with guys like Luka and kyrie you need that type of coach. They both praise J.Kidd big time

This is huge because Luka clashed with Rick doing his tenure here and old school coaching methods.

Kidd helped this franchise win their 1st ever ring and I don't expect his fanbase to grow hear on these boards or amongst mavs fans in general.

But he should start getting some more respect

[MFFL]

Originally Posted by tap2390

Is there anyone here who would take Chet over Lively? Lively being left out of the future bigs of the NBA debate is nonsense.

We?re also not getting enough credit for beating the number 1 seed in the toughest conference in a decade. All the takes that revolve around OKC?s youth can suck it. They?re not beating us next year either when Luka is fully healthy, Lively is starting, and OMax is in the rotation.

Great, great feeling. WCF will be tough, but I think we make it competitive and maybe steal it.

Doncic is seven months younger than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while Dereck Lively is two years younger than Chet Holmgren

[Scoobay]

Originally Posted by MFFL

Doncic is seven months younger than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while Dereck Lively is two years younger than Chet Holmgren

Tale of the Tape

Chet
Ht - 7'1"
Weight - 207
Wingspan - 7'6"
Vertical - 27"
Standing Reach - 9'6"

Lively
Ht - 7'1"
Weight - 230
Wingspan - 7'7"
Vertical - 40"? (can't find a reliable source)
Standing Reach - 9'4" (how does he have a longer wingspan but a shorter standing reach?)

[BPo001]

I was just looking back through the box score and the Mavs absolutely abused OKC on the boards last night. 47 Mavs / 31 OKC. Mavs with 15 offensive boards (4 each from Lively/Gafford). It?s so refreshing to finally have 2 bigs.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by BPo001

I was just looking back through the box score and the Mavs absolutely abused OKC on the boards last night. 47 Mavs / 31 OKC. Mavs with 15 offensive boards (4 each from Lively/Gafford). It?s so refreshing to finally have 2 bigs.

That is the difference this series.

Game 1 - LOSS
-13

Game 2 - WIN
+3

Game 3 - WIN
+7

Game 4 - LOSS
+2 (and our FTs killed us)

Game 5 - WIN
+13

Game 6 - WIN
+16

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

LWWLWW
LWWLWW

Looks like we have a pattern

Hmmm...does this mean we should hope for a first game loss?

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by BPo001

I was just looking back through the box score and the Mavs absolutely abused OKC on the boards last night. 47 Mavs / 31 OKC. Mavs with 15 offensive boards (4 each from Lively/Gafford). It?s so refreshing to finally have 2 bigs.

And to think OKC helped facilitate Mavs acquisitions of both of them

[Scoobay]

Any issues with Kidd's rotations?

game clincher and THJ gets 6 minutes, Hardy 11 minutes, and Exum nada
This is one of the things many of us were upset about from earlier in the season... and one of the reasons folks were calling for kidd's removal.

Hardy - he's looked good. nice dishes to set up his bigs for easy dunks. competing on defense. shooting could be better but he could go on a heater any time.

I still think Exum can contribute but obviously the leash is shorter. Same for THJ. And that's really all most of us would have asked. Glad Kidd is willing to try other options.