Dirk wrote:The +/- thing is spooky. Luka +8; Kyrie +0.8. It really hasn't looked like Luka has been himself. And yesterday, because of foul trouble or some other reason... he really offered little resistance on defense. Up to this point... Luka's best moments was defense G3 and a 3pointer G2?
They havent updated with last game stats, but t has been very grim all series and the numbers are very telling. Luka should be better now than when he played better Clippers defenders back then.
Seeing every kind of guy glued to him... even when he had zubac, plumlee... Add this to the body language/"complaining"/"frustration"/"bad shots"/a few bad turnovers.
Maybe it's very unreasonable to expect "perfection" or something... but Luka has definitely not felt like he has had a single good game yet and hasn't looked like himself offensively.
Surely it can't be that the Clippers are suddenly amazing on defense... or the refs allowing more contact... etc? "This" can't be the new playoff Luka for sure... but time is running out to start seeing the real version.
Next game Wednesday, so there's a couple of days to rest. A real Luka game is due.
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.