2024 Playoffs Rd 1 Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

Unfortunately listening to hoop collective this morning and brace yourself.

Harden hit 11 floaters the entire regular season. The entire regular season.

Hit 5 in the 4th yesterday.

What is it with coaches and centers on this team? I'm convinced Kidd hates centers. He damn near ruined Gafford before amazingly deciding that starting him might get us wins.

Now Lively is in the 15-18 minute range? Esp when Gafford is obviously hurt and ineffective in this series?

We drafted Lively specifically for RIGHT NOWWWW.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

What is it with coaches and centers on this team? I'm convinced Kidd hates centers. He damn near ruined Gafford before amazingly deciding that starting him might get us wins.

Now Lively is in the 15-18 minute range? Esp when Gafford is obviously hurt and ineffective in this series?

We drafted Lively specifically for RIGHT NOWWWW.

I feel like im losing my mind with this. Because even if Kidd says I?ll live with twos instead of hardens threes, why not have an actual fn center that could at minimum challenge his floater at the rim.

This is the same defense he?s using when they had that horrible defense post all star break. It?s maddening. We have real centers now. Make an adjustment for fucks sake.

[purplefrog]

In the series so far - Clippers 3pt% = 43.3%
Clippers two wins - LA 3pt% = 56% (50% and 62%)
Clippers two losses - LA 3pt% = 30.6% (26.7% and 34.5%)

I think they are a streaky 3pt shooting team and when they are hot, they are are really hot. I see no reason for Kidd to be keeping Gafford/Lively out of the fourth quarter with the hope of keeping them off the three point line. The defense on PG and Harden was pretty good beyond the arc in game four and the Mavs still got torched. Might as well try to take away the drive to the basket with a big guy patrolling the paint. PG was just otherworldly in game four.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by washedklean77

Luka looks completely beat down, broken and out of shape. How will he hold up for the remainder of this series, let alone subsequent rounds should the Mavs prevail? One of the very few superstars that falls out of shape as the season progresses.

Luka Unquestionably falls out of shape as the season goes on. My guess is poor eating habits. Also can't help that our system is "watch Luka, then let Kyrie". Year after year he looks beat down by season end and the talk is always about off season Luka innthe gym yada yada.

Much like slow starts, complaining and not getting back on defense. Its rinse repeat about Luka not taking elite fitness seriously on any consistent level.

[EricaLubarsky]

I agree that Luka looks broken down. Im not sure he deserves the hate, though.

Dude had to play
24 games without Kyrie
53 games without PJ
53 games without Gafford
27 games without Lively
27 games without Exum

Without centers, he had to do our rebounding. Without scorers, he was forced to put up 50pts a night for us to have a chance.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Well injuries and being worn down can you make you make poor basketball decisions. You see that time and time again. Just look at Embiid. Super frustrated that he isn't himself playing hurt.

Unfortunately, bad decisions can determine the outcome of a series. Not saying Luka had a ton last night, but I forgive some step back threes since they are easier than struggling through attacking the rim over and over again. It makes sense.

I'm actually glad we have a few days off for Luka to get at least a little right.

[Melonhead]

I agree Luka is worn down again. I don?t see a reprieve for him either. Got the extra day but not enough for him to regress to the mean of his normal dominating self.

Next season I expect Kyrie to play the same amount of games with 58-60. But at least we?ll have lively and Gafford for a full offseason and season.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

I agree Luka is worn down again. I don?t see a reprieve for him either. Got the extra day but not enough for him to regress to the mean of his normal dominating self.

Next season I expect Kyrie to play the same amount of games with 58-60. But at least we?ll have lively and Gafford for a full offseason and season.

We need a solid 15 ppg g/f like Bogdan on the Hawks. That's the one thing with the decline of THJ that we're missing.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

I agree that Luka looks broken down. Im not sure he deserves the hate, though.

Dude had to play
24 games without Kyrie
53 games without PJ
53 games without Gafford
27 games without Lively
27 games without Exum

Without centers, he had to do our rebounding. Without scorers, he was forced to put up 50pts a night for us to have a chance.

Its not hate. Everyone here loves Luka.

What you said is fair regarding his workload... but really doesnt explain how he does all of that stuff yet looks 10lbs heavier.

It would explain how he is a bit run down. However, would he be this worn out if he got super fit, and maintained it during the season? I'm not convinced he keeps a strict diet once the season is under way.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

We need a solid 15 ppg g/f like Bogdan on the Hawks. That's the one thing with the decline of THJ that we're missing.

Between DJJ and PJ we should be able to get 25-28pts consistently. We just dont run enough plays that can get them easy looks. We run PnR at the top and hope those 2 can knock down 3s if the defense collapses.

DJJ has attacked the basket several times and paid off with huge momentum baskets. Those weren't by design though. If we had more motion and off ball movement between djj and PJ it would at the very least put more pressure on defenses. It just seems like the coach views that as clogging spacing up keeping Luka from PNR.

Idk, a lot of things we do seem to contradict. Luka having the ball so much seems like we value posessions by keeping it with Luka, yet he has some silly turnovers at terribly timed moments. Similar for kai on a smaller scale.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Between DJJ and PJ we should be able to get 25-28pts consistently. We just dont run enough plays that can get them easy looks. We run PnR at the top and hope those 2 can knock down 3s if the defense collapses.

DJJ has attacked the basket several times and paid off with huge momentum baskets. Those weren't by design though. If we had more motion and off ball movement between djj and PJ it would at the very least put more pressure on defenses. It just seems like the coach views that as clogging spacing up keeping Luka from PNR.

Idk, a lot of things we do seem to contradict. Luka having the ball so much seems like we value posessions by keeping it with Luka, yet he has some silly turnovers at terribly timed moments. Similar for kai on a smaller scale.

Exum before he got injured was that guy though. He just isn't consistent enough to do it though.

I agree mostly though with what you're saying.

I'm just not super confident this postseason. Team is still too inconsistent on offense. Perhaps that changes...perhaps not.

Wednesday is going to be a bloodbath.

[Melonhead]

Another thing re Harden?

Most points he?s ever scored in a single quarter in the paint. Entire career. Per Hoop Collective.

Only the Mavs and small ball could make that happen.

I will gladly lose my money for a Mavs win, but gotta bet with my head not my heart.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Exum before he got injured was that guy though. He just isn't consistent enough to do it though.

I agree mostly though with what you're saying.

I'm just not super confident this postseason. Team is still too inconsistent on offense. Perhaps that changes...perhaps not.

Wednesday is going to be a bloodbath.

Exum was promising. Now it looks like he cant even dribble the ball with both hands. Very awkward and timid.

Idk what we would have left if we used our miracle to get out of this round.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by SMC0007

Exum was promising. Now it looks like he cant even dribble the ball with both hands. Very awkward and timid.

Idk what we would have left if we used our miracle to get out of this round.

Well the quesiton is will Luka have anything left. Seems like he has had this knee issue for a month now.

[blessednegr0]

I am seeing on ESPN that Kawhi is the premier player vs Luka. I believe Kawhi is back for game 5.