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

[EricaLubarsky]

Assuming Pacers win-- they are kicking the crap out of the Knicks-- there will be five teams with two wins.

Mavs - Luka et al
Pacers - coached by Rick
Knicks - Brunson
Celtics - KP

Four out of the five have a Mavs connection.

[Melonhead]

Pacers might advance. Knicks missing 3 starters is catching up to them.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

Pacers might advance. Knicks missing 3 starters is catching up to them.

Slick Rick is hilarious. The guy goes from soooo terrible to suddenly being able to coach in 4 games.

I got issues with Kidd, but I'm glad we aren't on the RC rollercoaster anymore.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Slick Rick is hilarious. The guy goes from soooo terrible to suddenly being able to coach in 4 games.

I got issues with Kidd, but I'm glad we aren't on the RC rollercoaster anymore.

I for one always thought, even to the very end of his tenure here, that Rick was a pretty brilliant X's and O's coach. His rotations though, were often nonsensical and could blow not just games, but entire playoff series for us. He's also infamous for being one of the biggest assholes in the NBA and for being generally loathed by players. You can get away with that when the team is winning and the hate is accompanied by respect. When the team isn't winning though, the team will just tune you out and you'll lose the locker room really fast.

Kidd is tough to figure out. I think he's fine when it comes to game planning and calling plays out of timeouts and things like that. His rotations can also be very bad and detrimental to the team, although I think he's gotten better. I think my single biggest issue with Kidd is that he's way too slow to adjust when something isn't working. He eventually does, but we lose too many games in the meantime.

He does seem to know how to get the best out of his players though, gotta give him that. I was very skeptical of the hire, and he's driven me nuts many times, but we get to the conference finals in year one, year two is a disaster but I think that's more the FO's fault than his, and then year three the ship has been righted and things look really good. Might even get back to conference finals. 2 out of three years have been successful. He's doing something right.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

I for one always thought, even to the very end of his tenure here, that Rick was a pretty brilliant X's and O's coach. His rotations though, were often nonsensical and could blow not just games, but entire playoff series for us. He's also infamous for being one of the biggest assholes in the NBA and for being generally loathed by players. You can get away with that when the team is winning and the hate is accompanied by respect. When the team isn't winning though, the team will just tune you out and you'll lose the locker room really fast.

Kidd is tough to figure out. I think he's fine when it comes to game planning and calling plays out of timeouts and things like that. His rotations can also be very bad and detrimental to the team, although I think he's gotten better. I think my single biggest issue with Kidd is that he's way too slow to adjust when something isn't working. He eventually does, but we lose too many games in the meantime.

He does seem to know how to get the best out of his players though, gotta give him that. I was very skeptical of the hire, and he's driven me nuts many times, but we get to the conference finals in year one, year two is a disaster but I think that's more the FO's fault than his, and then year three the ship has been righted and things look really good. Might even get back to conference finals. 2 out of three years have been successful. He's doing something right.

Well said.

Kidd got what he wanted with defenders and big men finally and has lived up to his end by making it work for the most part.

In fact, I don't think the Mavs have ever played this type of defense since I've been following the team. Maybe 2011 which was a good but not like a great defensive team. Other than that, this is the defense we all dreamed of. And everyone has bought into playing it.

I saw a stat that the Mavs were 10 points better per possession defensively when Lively was on the floor this series. That's insane, and they need to keep relying on the young pup. He really is that good defensively.

[SMC0007]

Keep home court advantage and win b.a.m.n

[purplefrog]

Tonight will be an interesting game for OKC. PJ has been lighting it up and it is clear their game plan was to let him take those shots. Does OKC make an adjustment, and if so what would that be? Other than Dirty Dort, they really do not have a wing that is strong and long enough to guard PJ unless they try Jaylin Williams at PF (along with Holmgren at the 5). If they play PJ tighter, does that open things up for Luka and Kai? Or maybe tonight is the night DJJ puts on a highlight reel performance.

Mavs need to come out strong because OKC is going to be even more physical in game#4. If the Mavs can take the first punch or two and keep it close, then I think they go on to win it.

The X factor could be Holmgren from the 3pt line. He was 37% during the regular season and is shooting below 25% against the Mavs.

[EricaLubarsky]

I just want to win tonight and finish them off. Go up 3-1 and finish them Wednesday.

The longer we go, the more chance we have of luck running out and/or Luka going down for the count. Take care of business, because there is a real chance of losing this series.

If we somehow win this series, we will need all the rest we can get to prepare and get as healthy as possible.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

I feel a loss tonight, but not really going to freak out about it. I think the Thunder have taken a beating from the media and will come out strong.

Luka still hasn't really had a good game for ages now. He is also due a good one, hurt or not.

If they take away PJ, then the team will struggle. Other guys need to step up.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

Tonight will be an interesting game for OKC. PJ has been lighting it up and it is clear their game plan was to let him take those shots. Does OKC make an adjustment, and if so what would that be? Other than Dirty Dort, they really do not have a wing that is strong and long enough to guard PJ unless they try Jaylin Williams at PF (along with Holmgren at the 5). If they play PJ tighter, does that open things up for Luka and Kai? Or maybe tonight is the night DJJ puts on a highlight reel performance.

Mavs need to come out strong because OKC is going to be even more physical in game#4. If the Mavs can take the first punch or two and keep it close, then I think they go on to win it.

The X factor could be Holmgren from the 3pt line. He was 37% during the regular season and is shooting below 25% against the Mavs.

Not sure why their coach would change game plan now. Games have been close aside from game 1. They cant afford to tightn up on PJ yet have Luka and Kai get hot.

[Melonhead]

Feels like a big Kyrie game incoming. But it is the number 1 seed. I expect them to come out swinging. Mavs have to survive the first quarter

[blessednegr0]

I think we are getting signature Luka today. Let's go up 3-1. Kyrie will keep the closeout record going.

[Melonhead]

Funny enough that might?ve been two of Dorts softest fouls of the whole series and they called both

[BPo001]

I know he got fouled, but our bigs gotta convert these alley oops.

[BPo001]

Luka locked up SGA

[Melonhead]

They look good to start

[BPo001]

How was that not a charge lol

[Melonhead]

Luka looks fresh ish, playing inside out

im getting post trade matchup feels

[EricaLubarsky]

Damn Lively didnt have to do them like that

[EricaLubarsky]

I worry that when it's easy we fall asleep but

HELL YEAH

[Melonhead]

Do not let up. Step on their neck

[EricaLubarsky]

another rough scoring night for Luka

29% and 25%

[Melonhead]

Sloppy and now lively is hurt damnit

[JTmoney2424]

Luka seems like he has 0 lift on his jumpshot. Almost like he?s shooting a line drive.

[EricaLubarsky]

Lively injured

[Melonhead]

Exum is virtually unplayable. I don?t even trust him to dribble now

[EricaLubarsky]

4+ straight points from them

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by JTmoney2424

Luka seems like he has 0 lift on his jumpshot. Almost like he?s shooting a line drive.

Looked like the defender altered that shot cause it was a straight line for sure

[EricaLubarsky]

10-3 run

Taking the foot off the gas

[EricaLubarsky]

Five TOs in the first quarter

[EricaLubarsky]

Five TOs in the first quarter

[Melonhead]

Need that Luka and Kyrie penetration again.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

Exum is virtually unplayable. I don?t even trust him to dribble now

I need a lot more of this. Whatever you did worked.

[Melonhead]

Exummmmmm

[EricaLubarsky]

GAFFORDDDDDD

[Melonhead]

Great defense to close the quarter. Great defense the whole quarter

[BPo001]

Landlord showing up tonight!

[EricaLubarsky]

This team is such a trip.

Kyrie 0pts
Luka shooting 29%, 25% from three
Losing the TO battle 5-2

Up 10

[Melonhead]

Something that I noticed from game 1 to tonight

When shai drove baseline in game 1, Luka was slow to help and he was in the charge circle by the time Shai went up for a layup.

Tonight as soon as Shai got around his man Luka was out past the charge circle and forced him to pass. Locked in

[Melonhead]

Ugh come on Mavs you can pull away