2024 Playoffs Rd 1 Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by BPo001

THJ is back and will play game 1 per Kidd. Is the ink dry on that extension yet?

He had 23 points and 5-9 on threes the last time these two teams played. Fingers crossed!

[EricaLubarsky]

Yall know we're in the second round?

Anyone wanna make the thread? Melon's luck got us a first round win.

[Scoobay]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Yall know we're in the second round?

Anyone wanna make the thread? Melon's luck got us a first round win.

Gotta ride the hot hand

[SMC0007]

Melon has to do new thread.

[Dallas41]

Man Jalen Brunson is incredible

I don't think anyone ever thought he turned into this type of monster

Dude is simply dominating games

[LukaMagic]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Kidd extended

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/m...ut-lakers-job/

Player power. Cuban has signed Kidd because Luka likes to work with Jason Kidd. The biggest threat to the Dallas Mavericks franchise is for LUKA to pack his bags and head to LA. That is who LA is seeking to attract.

Looks like the Lakers are thinking past Lebron James. Lakers are the huge juggernaut, needless to say. It will be hard for Luka to not go there. But Luka likes it in Dallas (even though he regularly gets abused by the people of Dallas including by Dallas journalists during press conferences in Dallas buildings).

But Cuban is very smart and he runs his organization very well. He respects the player power. He is doing all that he can to make the conditions for Luka as best as those can be.

But Dallas is a small market team. Both Luka and Kyrie get constantly abused by the referees and by the national media. They get no respect. Luka plays through injuries in Dallas. He is constantly on the verge of being ruled out of games and series due to injuries. Dallas' bigs get also constantly physically abused. The biggest threat that Dallas faces are injury concerns due to refereeing standards. If Lively were to for example get injured, Dallas chances would significantly drop.

A l l . s u c h . t h i n g s . would change if Luka were to go to LA.

If Luka were to stay in Dallas then winning one championship would be a great career success for him. Very, very great because of the treatment that Dallas gets in the league.

If he were to go to LA, the door would be open to him to potentially win 2+ championships depending on other arrangements.

ps Could there be a role for Cuban in the LA system. As an "overseer of basketball operations?" Cuban is NO LONGER the majority owner of the Mavs.

pps THAT would be an even greater get for the LA franchise than Luka Doncic. Cuban could remain in that role after Luka's career has finished.

ppps . C u b a n . i s . . v e r y . v e r y . s m a r t . about basketball.

[LukaMagic]

https://youtu.be/bR4Wi5Gx8VA?t=339

"Next man up." So that would be Dwight Powell.

He has experience and he played in the playoffs before. That is a positive.

He has good energy. And he can even finish at the rim after a pick-and-roll. That is ALSO a positive.

Doesn't shoot from the outside is one negative. AND THAT IS A BIG LOSS COMPARED TO KLEBER.

His positional defense is not very good. That is another negative. AND THAT IS ANOTHER BIG LOSS COMPARED TO KLEBER. But he has a good and stable attitude. He is willing to do what it takes. Always puts in a good effort. Never complains. Etc.

He must play and put in the minutes to alleviate the physical strain and pressure that will be on Lively and Gafford.

[LukaMagic]

https://youtu.be/4ut5gMzZLgY?t=289

Notice what is not given as fouls in this series.

I think that Dallas Mavericks may have a chance to go through Denver if they happen to win their series versus Thunder. But they will NOT HAVE A CHANCE to go through Minnesota. It will be impossible due to these sorts of refereeing standards. Minnesota plays extremely aggressively and physically and they appear to be very, very, very heavily favored by the refs.

[LukaMagic]

https://youtu.be/4ut5gMzZLgY?t=100

Notice here too. The refs are letting Minnesota abuse Denver. I don't think it would even be possible for Mavs to go through Minnesota. I don't think Mavs have enough players to keep up with this sort of physical abuse.

Kleber is now out. Gafford is a finesse player. He has a good feel and good hands. Lively is barely 20 years old and has already been injured. Dwight Powell is not much of a physical presence. Luka is playing through injury, often with bloody knees. Kyrie is a finesse player that doesn't get respected by the refs.

Clippers are not a physically abusive team. Zubac is strong but he plays proper basketball. So does Paul George. Harden constantly fakes that he is fouled, but Harden is not a physically abusive player.

And the refs have totally and completely changed the officiating criteria. The abuse that was not allowed during the regular season is now allowed. They let it go and let it happen. I don't think that Mavs can physically get through four wins over Minnesota EVEN IF THEY WERE TO GET THROUGH THUNDER. I don't think can physically do that. That's my prediction.