Bob8 wrote:joesha1698 wrote:Bob8 wrote:
It's really easy. D that referees alow and Clippers play can be break only, if Luka starts hitting his step backs. Unfortunately Luka is not making them. In the moment he starts making them, game will change, they will have to double and blitz him and other Mavs will get open shots. On the other hand, if Luka won't start hitting 3s and Kyrie doesn't continue to dominate in ISO Mavs are toasted.
This is where I put the blame on Kidd for not adjusting the strategy with Luka. Some of this has to go on Luka as well. The defense on Luka is very physical and strong. This is why you develop the ability to catch and shoot and score off the ball. Luka is a little beat up and it would serve him greatly to come off the ball and find spots in the defense where he can catch and shoot and become the finisher on plays.
Who is Pg, if Luka plays off ball? Kyrie for sure isn't and others even less.
Who plays point guard for the Clippers? No one really. Great guards take what the defense gives them. I wouldn't even say Luka plays point guard for the Mavs. I think Luka runs the pick and roll (like every play) and takes what the defense gives him and happens to be a great passer. The problem is the Clippers want Luka to become that scorer. They want him to take 1 shot and they want to keep him out of the paint. 38% from 2 and 26.5% from the 3pt. They have been winning that bet so far. Luka is hobbled and the Clips are playing extreme physical defense at the point of contact -this is affecting Luka's shooting percentages and his overall efficiency. So logically, shouldn't we find creative ways to free him up from this physical defense? We should use their aggression against them.
I want to see Luka get going offensively and I want to keep the Clips defense on their toes. Once we get Luka going, it makes Luka pick and roll that much more dangerous. I would start game 5 with Luka not handling the ball but coming off screens, double screens, etc. I would defuse a lot of the pressure their putting on Luka by putting him in positions to shoot quick jump shots or establish low post position and go right up. In other words, I rather see Luka score quick and often against this team. Get going offensively and then settle into point guard play and those step back 3s.
Will this happen? Probably not. Why not?
Well, that's been my criticism of Luka ball (aka ball dominant players) from the very beginning. This offensive style renders their off-the-ball ability and limits the team to a 3 point shot making, 1on1 shot making, and lobs. We're very similar to those Harden/Capella teams and less like those Sac Kings 2000 teams, who, imo, were a more sophisticated offensive team that could beat you multiple ways.
When a team like the Clippers are playing you so aggressive(if we had an offense with more movement, passing, cutting, misdirection) we would be able to use that against them and pick them apart. However, what we're doing instead is just depending on Luka's shot making and the occasional corner 3 point shot that we have struggled with all year. In other words, we're playing right into their hands and we do not have a backup plan because we live and die by this style of play.
As for Jason Kidd, why is it so hard to guard James Harden? Just do the same thing the Clippers are doing. Luka and Harden play similar styles. Go watch James Harden in the playoffs when he has struggled. You know what it amounts to? Playing physical / suffocating defense and forcing him to take tough 3's...even if you give up the occasional 3 point foul. Every time Harden has struggled in the playoffs it was due to him jacking up a lot of 3s with tough defense on him - and eventually fatigue would catch up to Harden and those shots wouldn't fall late in the game. Jason Kidd is the only coach I have seen not take that approach towards Harden even though it has been very effective. We have done the opposite. We have essentially invited Harden into the lane for easy layups and have played soft defense at best on him. I would always have one of my best defenders on Harden throughout the game and I would say hound him non-stop and give him very little space. As the game goes along, when you employ this style - Harden has consistently became fatigued and those long 3 point shots come up short. Why change this if every other team has effectively beaten Harden this way? Why is Harden not being equally beat up as much as Luka has in terms of how the Clips are playing Luka versus how we are playing Harden? As a Mavs fan that is a failure on Jason Kidd's part. At this point in their respective careers - Paul George is a harder guard than Harden. We have to bring the physicality to Harden and really give him zero space. We cannot be afraid of the occasional 3 point foul. He needs to be hounded. I would personally use a combination of DJ Jr, Green, and PJ Washington to do it! It's time to return the favor.