Playoffs 2024 - R1 - G4 - Mavs vs Clippers (Sund., 3:30PMEST)

[Dirk]

if we can spot this team 30 points and still nearly beat him, we have to come out ready to play and stop coming out settling for jump shots. we also have to play better defense. The strategy of just giving Harden layups late in the game because we're worried about his 3 point shooting is stupid. I rather him take the step back.

Absolutely... that was weird... it feels like PJ was also beaten a bit too easily... not sure if it was supposed to just lead Harden into Maxi, but Maxi didn't come out on any of those plays.

It's wild though... because you'd expect to see them adjust that and they didn't.
Luka really has struggled to get easy shots... and then Harden is randomly getting those.

[MassimoPayne]

When maxi came out earlier Harden threw the lob to plumlee

[Captain_Obvious]

Luka is shooting 13-49 from 3 this series. Well under 30% with a massive volume. We are lucky the series is tied.

[hagredionis]

Lively instead of Kleber would stop Harden scoring floater after floater. But no let's play small ball sth

[ChipotleWest]

Lively instead of Kleber would stop Harden scoring floater after floater. But no let's play small ball sth

Harden figured out in 2 seconds he could exploit Maxi. Notice he was shooting 3s all game before that wouldn't even try to get to the rim, because he couldn't. F*** Kidd.

[dygaction]

Lessons:
1. if you get two fouls in the first quarter, sit. Luka not being able to defend hurt the team;
2. Don't dig a 31 pt hole in the first half;
3. Either Gafford or Lively II needs to be on the court;
4. Luka was not himself and played bad, but he played 45 min with a +10. Go back to watch the game, what on earth happened during that 3 min with a -15? Like Exum very much but he needs to be out of the rotation.

[Dirk]

Lessons:
1. if you get two fouls in the first quarter, sit. Luka not being able to defend hurt the team;
2. Don't dig a 31 pt hole in the first half;
3. Either Gafford or Lively II needs to be on the court;
4. Luka was not himself and played bad, but he played 45 min with a +10. Go back to watch the game, what on earth happened during that 3 min with a -15? Like Exum very much but he needs to be out of the rotation.

1. Probably a fair point... especially if Luka is injured or not himself... or whatever.

This is probably "depression talking"... but I miss THJr... or I guess some delusional version I imagine of him hitting 3 pointers at a good rate.

[tleikheen]

13 for 49 from 3pt for Luka 26 percent . Alot of misses and killed momentum in those misses

[Dirk]

If anyone has the stomach to watch/read post game interviews... can someone quote me if they ask the coach or players what they were doing on that Harden defense?

Forgetting that... Paul George nearly went out of bounds and then hit a crazy shot. Despite all the faults... it almost really came down to that random play.

[ChipotleWest]

I just can't believe my eyes still. Okay maybe I understand Kidd thinking "I'm going to start Maxi in the 4th, I think a small ball lineup could work against this team" maybe, but then you see 1 layup, 2 layups, 3 layups, 4 layups, 5 layups, 6 layups. And no reaction? Nothing in your brain goes "hrrm brain to Kidd, maybe this isn't working" You just let it happen the entire 4th and they exploit Maxi the entire 4th, you do absolutely nothing about it. Kyrie got them a 1 point lead but it had NOTHING to do with Maxi being out there, he's not some rim protector. I'll never understood what Kidd was thinking. And I know this organization will do nothing to Kidd.

[ChipotleWest]

Read on Twitter

The most fireable offense I've ever seen for a NBA coach, and Mavs will do nothing.

[kacey ring]

The two games we lost are due to **** first quarters.

I still believe we are the better team.

[ChipotleWest]

The two games we lost are due to **** first quarters.

I still believe we are the better team.

We had the lead in the 4th, so can't use that as an excuse.

[Dirk]

Read on Twitter

I wish they included the question, to better understand the context. It feels weird that Kidd would be talking about giving up "contested 2s", when those floaters weren't contested.

[ChipotleWest]

Again I could understand maybe starting out the 4th with that logic but once you see it's not working, you make an adjustment. Can't just make up your mind to bench two 7 foot rim protectors when you're being killed at the rim.

[kacey ring]

The two games we lost are due to **** first quarters.

I still believe we are the better team.

We had the lead in the 4th, so can't use that as an excuse.

You’re looking at a bigger 4th quarter lead if you’re not down by such a large margin to start the game.

[tleikheen]

1st quarter big leads dont always stay that way with plenty of time to battle back and take the lead as the Mavs did . ut then to go smallball as Kidd did and stay in smallball against a team that says it likes playing against smallball lineups and proceeds to attack the paint with the same play and score repeatedly means JKidd isnt the coach for playoff basketball.

[GermanFan120]

Read on Twitter

I wish they included the question, to better understand the context. It feels weird that Kidd would be talking about giving up "contested 2s", when those floaters weren't contested.

Why not just have an open lane if you think 2s don't hurt your team in this league, especially in the playoffs, especially in the crunch moment.

Using Kidd's logic, no mavs player should bother to play any defense in the paint, just guard 3s and have open lane for 2s. And use all the energy saved on defense and try to out score the opponent on offense.

LMAO what an idiot.

[ChipotleWest]

Dirk I wish you could make some videos showing Maxi doing absolutely nothing to stop Harden multiple times in the 4th. He just stood there while Harden shot over him. Didn't even put an arm up.

[Archx]

People will have to accept that until Luka gets into playoff shape (before the season even starts) this team won't get far. Even if by some miracle they beat LAC, OKC will run them out of the gym.

His shooting %'s are a result of fatigue and not injury. He's incredibly sluggish and has basically no lift in his legs. Drives into the paint and no confidence to finish over guys. He just does some stupid pump fakes like he's Dwight Powell and passes it out... same with open layups.

We can blame Kidd, Maxi, an entire alien race... but until this fatso gets his body in order, Mavs will struggle. When camera zoomed in you can see his double chin almost... How the hell do you get fat over a long NBA season, that's somekind of a special achievement.

He's shooting 38% from the field and below 30% from 3. That's below horrible for someone who's entire offensive system.

Edit. Just as i wrote this, i see people on reddit are noticing the same lol...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mavericks/comments/1cfk6qi/luka_doncic_has_fatigue_issues_and_its_obvious/