X-factors for the stretch and the playoffs ...

tleikheen · Post #1 » by **tleikheen** » Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:19 pm

We know this team is built around Luka and Kyrie ,arguably the best duo heading into the playoffs . Now our Centers ,Gafford and Lively are looking like the 3rd star that the Mavs need.

But lets go with our elite role players .........

PJ Washington who's not intimidated by the other teams enforcers and stands his ground. He's playing tough nosed defense and moving his feet .This is calling card right now as he's still trying to get comfortable within the offense but defensively he's just what the Mavs need.

Derrick Jones Jr has progressed as the season has gone on. He started out doing catch and shoot3's when that was the offense but now is ready to pounce on 2 dribble drives for high rising dunks when he sees and senses the opportunity. He is taking on athletic SG's and SF's on a nightly basis and with PJ playing stout defense on the wings. Their defense is ahead of their offense but the Mavs will live with it.

Dante Exum , who as he's gotten healthier again has regained the PG role to bring up the ball and let Luka and Kyrie think offense.He has become the Mav's swiss army knife doing all the other stuff a team 1st player does. It's not a easy task to shoot 50 percent from 3's when you don't shoot alot of them in a game but spread out to shooting 1-3 a game. He shoots when comfortable and it's working for him.

Luka and Kyrie carry the team but these 3 players will determine how far they go because they have will open the lanes up for Luka and Kyrie if they make defenses honor them . Defensively along with the Centers (Gaff and Lively) are looking more and more a dangerous team to have to play in the playoffs.

41Dirk41 · Post #2 » by **41Dirk41** » Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:39 pm

Rebounds, defense and corner 3s.

Luka and Kyrie for everything else.

tleikheen · Post #3 » by **tleikheen** » Wed Mar 20, 2024 8:50 pm

Rebounds, defense and corner 3s.

Luka and Kyrie for everything else.

We can live with that.

tleikheen · Post #4 » by **tleikheen** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:34 pm

Exum was 4/5 FG's in the 1st game when he wasn't really playing much .2nd game he didnt play.

PJ & DJJ should be able to keep Barnes and Murray under control. Exum will have his hands full with both Fox and Monk but he has the height advantage while they might have the speed advantage .
But Sacramento wants to outscore you and the 3some of Exum,DJJ and PJ should be ready for that .

Dan1970 · Post #5 » by **Dan1970** » Mon Mar 25, 2024 10:35 pm

It would be nice if THJ can get hot at the end of the season. When he is hot, he is great. When he is not, he is unplayable.

tleikheen · Post #6 » by **tleikheen** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:04 am

I think THJ is getting his stroke back and will be a weapon. Two 3's by PJ and he gets a bump in confidence . And Josh green getting healthy is one more 3&D defender as the Mavs get closer to the playoffs.

I think the Mavs will shock the Kings these next 2 games.

dirkules_41 · Post #7 » by **dirkules_41** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:18 am

X Factors are gonna be:
- both stars playing up to their potential (we can cover up a poor shooting night from either one on occassion but not consistently)
- health
- THJ, Green, Exum, PJ, Maxi, etc. consistenly hitting the 3 ball (we've won a lot of games recently despite poor 3pt shooting, which we were one of the league leaders in and living and dying by it all season long)

Maverick41 · Post #8 » by **Maverick41** » Tue Mar 26, 2024 10:23 pm

Imo the X-Factor isn't 1, 2 or even 3 players, it's shooting. This team has proven for a while now that their shooting is ridiculously inconsistent. The most consistent role player guys from 3 are also guys that aren't confident shooters (Exum and Green). If the team shoots at least league average from 3 (36%), we can beat anybody because we know our stars will bring it. It's a matter of whether the rest of the team can hit the dozens of open shots they will receive.

Post #9 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Mar 27, 2024 3:50 pm

Shooting, the 4, and 5 are key. Those positions need to be relied on and we must make them a priority. They need to bring it on both ends of the floor. Otherwise, I feel good about the postseason.

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Post #10 » by **Mavrelous** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 12:11 pm

Watch on YouTube

Watch this at 37 minutes, Bobby explains well why Mavs must have the 5 out option.
5 out with PJ at the 5 may work, but it's still very small, 5 out with Maxi/PJ is better.

41Dirk41 · Post #11 » by **41Dirk41** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 1:32 pm

Mavrelous wrote:

Watch on YouTube

Watch this at 37 minutes, Bobby explains well why Mavs must have the 5 out option.
5 out with PJ at the 5 may work, but it's still very small, 5 out with Maxi/PJ is better.

Ok we have the option but unless Gafford and Lively works so well i don't want to make experiments in those games because are so important for us.

tleikheen · Post #12 » by **tleikheen** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:27 pm

The last 2 games THJ and PJ had decent games AND thats all they need to do .Its nice when they have great games but not really expected but just dont have sh*t games.

I know most would like Exum to take more 3's but I like how he sticks to his game and plays within himself . That's what he learned in Europe.

Catch and shoot teams are not threats for any titles this year ,Seems the best teams have player movements and they dont really play 5 outs to win .

41Dirk41 · Post #13 » by **41Dirk41** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 6:32 pm

PJ decent? He was the X-Factor along Gafford in those stretch of Ws...

I don't want Exum to take more 3s, he has just to shoot when he was wide open.

tleikheen · Post #14 » by **tleikheen** » Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:10 pm

PJ decent? He was the X-Factor along Gafford in those stretch of Ws...

I don't want Exum to take more 3s, he has just to shoot when he was wide open.

When I watch them play they use length and defensive intensity out on the court and that comes with the blocking by the Centers that allow them to press harder on defense.

tleikheen · Post #15 » by **tleikheen** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 4:50 am

Dante's 4th quarter 3's has won 3 games this season with late daggers to the heart.

41Dirk41 · Post #16 » by **41Dirk41** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:06 am

tleikheen wrote:Dante's 4th quarter 3's has won 3 games this season with late daggers to the heart.

The previous 2 almost cost us the game :lol:

But great effort by Dante! Well done.

tleikheen · Post #17 » by **tleikheen** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 4:00 pm

Dante came from the Euro's ,PJ came from the 18-55 Charlotte Hornets & Gafford came from the 14-60 Washington Wizards and they're playing down the stretch of maybe the Mavs biggest game so far this season.
Dante has played in front of rabid hostile crowds in Europe and it looks like he's got some ice in him now but PJ and Gaff were playing for losers.
Crazy how in a heated race for playoff position they are closing out games with Luka and Kyrie.

41Dirk41 · Post #18 » by **41Dirk41** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 4:47 pm

They fight every possessions, they play hard and unselfish. I love them.

But PJ and Exum need to make open shots at high %.

tleikheen · Post #19 » by **tleikheen** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:10 pm

Exum is 45-90 in made 3 pters this season and some were daggers to the defenses at the end of tight games. I like that they're wide open 3's too and he takes the air out of the opposing teams at the end of the games.

joesha1698 · Post #20 » by **joesha1698** » Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:48 pm

41Dirk41 wrote:Rebounds, defense and corner 3s.

Luka and Kyrie for everything else.

I add one more thing to that - and coaching. When those 3's are not falling - we have to get someone else in there to keep the defense honest. Ive noticed how Kidd has rotated Maxi to that corner at times so he's the one taking it. I also noticed how PJ has become the screener so he is not the one finishing those 3s late in the game.

I think thats basically the plan. See how PJ and DJ do on those corner 3s early in the game and then adjust to having other guys in position to take those shots later in the game if they have been missing. Exum, Maxi, etc.