2024 Playoffs Rd 1 Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Death, taxes and Kleber getting hurt. Sucks because he had that one great game, but we've long passed trying to rely on him.

I guess Morris will get some burn.

Would also like an update on OMax.

Really thought Kidd blew an opportunity to develop Prosper early in the season when Maxi was hurt and Williams was sucking so badly.
The kid was raw but certainly has all of the natural traits to help this team in the POs. I agree Morris will probably get the nod ahead of him, but boy does Prosper ever fit into this team's profile.

This team is scary enough now defensively, but just imagine how stifling our defense can be next season if Prosper takes that next step.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by rimrocker

Really thought Kidd blew an opportunity to develop Prosper early in the season when Maxi was hurt and Williams was sucking so badly.
The kid was raw but certainly has all of the natural traits to help this team in the POs. I agree Morris will probably get the nod ahead of him, but boy does Prosper ever fit into this team's profile.

This team is scary enough now defensively, but just imagine how stifling our defense can be next season if Prosper takes that next step.

If he can show he can hit the NBA 3 pointer at the same clip he did this season he will earn some minutes. I agree that Kidd missed his chance to get the guy some NBA minutes early in the season. Maybe he can have his Corey Brewer moment in this series.

[rimrocker]

Originally Posted by BPo001

If he can show he can hit the NBA 3 pointer at the same clip he did this season he will earn some minutes. I agree that Kidd missed his chance to get the guy some NBA minutes early in the season. Maybe he can have his Corey Brewer moment in this series.

Would love to see Prosper get an opportunity but Morris is probably the better option at this point. He is more of the Brian Cardinal version of this team

[Melonhead]

Today Dirk is replacing Shaq on inside the nba for the whole show.

Starts 30 minutes prior to the Wolves Nuggets game.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

Today Dirk is replacing Shaq on inside the nba for the whole show.

Starts 30 minutes prior to the Wolves Nuggets game.

It's weird that the second round is starting before the first round ends.

But I'm not gonna miss Dirk!

[Melonhead]

Lol Chuck immediately opened with his Dirk story lmao didn?t wait a single minute

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Yeah, there are no freebies from here out IMO. 6-7 games for sure just like the Clippers.

[SMC0007]

Thunder are good and well rounded with young talent but I was more concerned about LAC.

Its not going to be easy but, if we can get through them healthy.... Denver and Minn are better and we only face 1 of them. Hopefully they beat each other up quite a bit.

[LukaMagic]

I don't know. But I don't think anyone wants to go into a new series like that !!!!

[LukaMagic]

ps If you're lazy or distracted, that's fine. Then you DON'T HAVE TO do a preview. Lets wait for someone who can do it proper. If something is to be done, then that should be done proper.

PROPER: 2: "of the required or correct type or form; suitable or appropriate."

That's ENGLISH word. English. From those British isles. That word is pretty big over there.

pps I'm pretty sure I speak for fuckin' everyone around here.

ppps THERE IS NO SHAME IN NOT HAVING A FUCKIN' PREVIEW. WIN CAN ALL COLLECTIVELY WING IT. The point is that if someone wants to GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO DO IT

T H E N

D O

I T

F U C K I N G

P R O P E R L Y .

[LukaMagic]

(Me personally, I avoid doing previews. Because they require

E X T E N S I V E

F U C K I N G G G

T H O U G H T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

[LukaMagic]

(And because when I set my mind to doing certain things I try and do them proper).

[LukaMagic]

Originally Posted by LukaMagic

(And because when I set my mind to doing certain things I try and do them proper).

And I don't think I can do a preview of Thunder because I DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT THEM. I'VE NEVER WATCHED THEM PLAY.

[LukaMagic]

And I don't want to do some HALF-ASS SHIT JOB about Thunder all the while I have no idea what I'm talking about. Using weird-shit stats.

I don't do that because

I

RESPECT

THIS

FORUM.

[LukaMagic]

https://youtu.be/s6b33PTbGxk

(I'M NOT FUCKING JOKING).

(FOGET ABOUT BRITNEY SPEARS).

(FFS).

(FFS means FOR FUCKS' SAKE).

[LukaMagic]

Originally Posted by LukaMagic

https://youtu.be/s6b33PTbGxk

(I'M NOT FUCKING JOKING).

(FOGET ABOUT BRITNEY SPEARS).

(FFS).

(FFS means FOR FUCKS' SAKE).

This is a . b a s k e t b a l l . forum.

[LukaMagic]

Pull yourself together.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Problem is even fewer posters are gonna post here if this keeps getting out of control.

People who don't sign in will see this nonsense and move on.

[BPo001]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Problem is even fewer posters are gonna post here if this keeps getting out of control.

People who don't sign in will see this nonsense and move on.

Ignore function working OT today.

[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Problem is even fewer posters are gonna post here if this keeps getting out of control.

People who don't sign in will see this nonsense and move on.

Please get this mf out.

Ignore works fine but I agree with you.

[BPo001]

Looks like THJ was practicing today. Saw him shooting 3?s on IG.

[Melonhead]

Thunder do not have a lot of weaknesses except for down low. We really have to own the paint if they?re going to have a shot.

And i don?t even wanna think about their shooters with the way the Mavs can tend to leave guys wide open. They love the 5 out lineups.

Throw in Dort playing his football defense and he?s a much improved shooter.

This has 7 games written on it.

[Scoobay]

Highlights of Luka's defense:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUnZ3cLJyxQ

[EricaLubarsky]

Kidd extended

[LukaMagic]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Kidd extended

*thumbs up*

Cuban is very intelligent. He works with and can see and regularly assesses long-term patterns (incl. via things such as statistics and analytics) that nobodies are blind to. That's one important reason why he is, for example, very, very rich. Very, very rich people are sometimes like that. But not all very, very rich people are like that.

Cuban is rich. Right? He got rich through that thing called the free marketplace. Right? I think that is general knowledge in America.

It seems to me fair to assume that he possesses at least some kind of smarts. Because many, many people want to and try to get rich. And fail. Only very few succeed. A dumb, retard idiot would not be the very first thing one may suppose about such a very, very successful person.

I hope it is not politically incorrect around here to think that the owner of Dallas Mavericks is not a retard idiot. But if that happens to be politically incorrect, please let me know and I will withdraw my comments.

ps https://youtu.be/pt_zgUqoyWI?si=HTx84tZ4Zsvj_JiN

[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.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

That's gonna look silly if they shit the bed for OKC.

I mean, we knew it was going to happen, but why not wait until the offseason? Because of some silly Lakers rumor in which they are desperate for any decent coach?

[BPo001]

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

[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]

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 they can physically do that. That's my prediction.

[LukaMagic]

These are the top five Thunder producers. And they play the most minutes. All five appear capable of regularly scoring. That is very important for them that all five of them get on the scoring sheet.

Their centre is both 1. A FINESSE PLAYER aaaand 2. A ROOKIE. That is great news for Mavs. That can be exploited. Both Lively and Gafford can guard him. Aaand, both Lively and Gafford are surely stronger than him. That can surely be exploited offensively.

Those are their numbers in their last 4 games vs. Pelicans. Which is a series that they have swept.

They are a young team and this is their first time in the playoffs. Last year they were kicked out at the play-in stage. That is also an advantage for the Mavs. They haven't yet been tested in the playoffs, while Mavericks have both Luka and Kyrie who are players that have very much already been tested.

Mavericks must be seen as favorites going into this series. But the league prefers the OKC so that the refereeing standard will not be fair.

#5 Dort does not appear to have much of an inside game. Here, for example, a player with inside game would surely push it into the paint https://youtu.be/dZoXqU3TVeA?t=86. But he doesn't even think about that. And instead opts early for a pass for a three-pointer. Everyone can shoot, and they appear to spread the floor well.*
Also notice here how that Valiancunas is a VERY, VERY SLOW AND LUMBERING BIG. Dallas' bigs are better on their feet. But Holmgren will give them trouble. Holmgren will give ANYONE in the league such a trouble for a very long time to come (lol).
* Dort probably has some kind of inside game given his size and attributes. He might opt for this pass because this is how they play. Spread the floor, get the ball around to the open three point shooter. So he does it very quickly and absent much other thinking. Especially after a pump fake that has worked because that means that one of the defensive players dropped out.

#5 Dort appears to have a great pump fake. That he uses often. That makes it hard to guard when on the run. And he has a little bit of a different kinda shooting motion. Slow and therefore hard to time for a block. Unusual and atypical. And then he uses the pump fake so well. https://youtu.be/dZoXqU3TVeA?t=59

#5 Dort is a French Canadian of Haitian origin. From Montreal. Grew up playing street ball there.
Hence . s a v v y (Google Dictionary: "shrewdness and practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgements.") Physically, he is very limited. Only 1.93m. But very, very savvy as I've written above. Good pump fake. He is strong, but with that size that makes him still very, very limited. Not fast. But good judgments. He is probably very comfortable in the post but in a specific isolation.

#2 SGA is good. He is their best player. But he has neither swagger, nor coolness about himself. Like those things are foreign to him. And that's what Kyrie Irving needs to show him in this series. I think Kyrie Irving could have a great impact on on SGA in this series. I think Kyrie will probably start guarding him. I think that could be a good match-up for the Mavs.

https://youtu.be/5yE2j2jp5_4 Notice that this game Kleber started and notice how the Mavs had a great start. That was the case because of his great movement and defending against the OKC team that appears to spread the floor very well. And Kleber can shoot 3s too. Kleber is a big loss. I think this was the very first game played by Gafford and PJ.

[LukaMagic]

https://youtu.be/c-gpRpDZUtw

This is what awaits the Mavs if they get through OKC. Small market team with a foreigner superstar like Luka Doncic cannot hope for better. The league has changed its criteria.

And America is a very, very racist and xenophobic place. Especially the NBA.

ps ALL countries are very, very racist and xenophobic places. America is one of the very best countries in the whole world. America is the shining light of freedom in many, many respects. But NOT when it comes to the NBA. NBA is a very heavily rigged and racist league. And obviously so. The NBA commentators are heavily racist and they heavily favour big market teams.

pps So yeah. My prediction that is Mavs will or could get through the OKC. And then my prediction is that they might have a chance to get through Denver. But I don't think that Mavs have enough physical strength to persevere through the physical abuse they will face from Minnesota. And I think that as a matter of attrition.

Google Dictionary for Attrition: " a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength: Our club has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away. a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment: The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition."

I think there will be more injuries and Mavs will be decimated like that.

In round 1 Mavs lost Kleber.

ps Notice here that Denver got beaten up and physically abused in their own building and THEY are facing disciplinary action BY THE LEAGUE.

pps That's what's in store for Luka Doncic. To get beaten up. And then he will complain. And then HE and the Mavs will be penalized. PJ too. Westbrook was targeting PJ and the league PROTECTED WESTBROOK. Didn't even call OBVIOUS INSTANCES OF GREAT VIOLENCE AGAINST PJ.

[LukaMagic]

https://youtu.be/_hE652tJxpw?t=339

Here is the play that wasn't even called on PJ Washington. This was called a foul on DJJ. Referees HAVE IGNORED that foul on PJ. Because that was A VIOLENT FOUL. That must have been A FLAGRANT. They have IGNORED IT.

If PJ were to complain then he would get a disciplinary action by the league. Could get ejected. He got physically abused and if he were to complain he would get ejected.

He already did get ejected BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE THAT WESTBROOK DID. PJ shouldn't have been ejected together with Westbrook for that. But he was because that's how the league works.

Here is the video of that: https://youtu.be/Goh4GZ56iTs

The officials protect everyone who plays against the Mavs. And that is because Mavs are 1. a small market team with a 2. white, foreigner aaaaand Slavic superstar.

[saclare]

Dude...I know we are on to the round 2 thread, but this shit has to stop ^^^^^^

It's even annoying on ignore. Spam posting 7 times in a row and no doubt in awful format. Can we get a mod in here?