Playoffs 2024 - WCF - G2 - Mavs @ Wolves (Friday., 8:30PMEST)

kacey ring · Post #121 » by **kacey ring** » Sat May 25, 2024 4:51 am

GermanFan120 wrote:Nico should win the executive of the year.

He was certainly disrespected. Finished 5th in voting. Voters clearly didn’t factor in his trade deadline moves. Shame shame shame.

kacey ring · Post #122 » by **kacey ring** » Sat May 25, 2024 4:54 am

arkuo wrote:Mavs won the first 2 against the Heat in the Finals. Then lost 4 straight. Need to close out the next 2 games in Dallas if possible.

Nearly 20 years ago.

Your point is valid though. NBA could put that Wade like fix on. :roll:

dygaction · Post #123 » by **dygaction** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:12 am

Kidd another almost impeccable game. The only thing is no need to try Exum at this stage anymore, and can give THJ 3 min to run a quick test to see whether he feels it.
Hardy/Green/Lively 8 main rotation is good for now until Maxi comes back

kacey ring · Post #124 » by **kacey ring** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:15 am

tleikheen wrote:This sounds meannnnn...... but Maxi not playing has forced JKIdd to have to put up with 30 pts/14 rebs /5 blocks by Lively/Gaff

Not the largest sample, but the Mavs two best 5 man lineups in the playoffs, based off NetRating, featured Kleber with Gafford or with Lively. This is limited to lineups with 10+ mins played.

Kai-Luka-DJJ-Kleber-Lively: OFFRTG 118.8 and DEFRTG 62.9 (16 mins)
Kai-Luka-DJJ-Kleber-Gafford: OFFRTG 100 and DEFRTG 62.5 (10 mins)

I’m not advocating Kleber starting over PJ or even Kleber playing 30 mins, but he was playing really well before getting hurt. Point being, Gaff/Lively can co-exist with Kleber.

kacey ring · Post #125 » by **kacey ring** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:18 am

dygaction wrote:Kidd another almost impeccable game. The only thing is no need to try Exum at this stage anymore, and can give THJ 3 min to run a quick test to see whether he feels it.
Hardy/Green/Lively 8 main rotation is good for now until Maxi comes back

Kidd and his staff have been very solid. Loved the way he’s used TOs late in games. They’ve been killing it on challenges too.

ozwizard8 · Post #126 » by **ozwizard8** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:19 am

Luka is that guy! Pravi MVP.

If our FO do not mess up, he'll get his MVP award with that team around now!

More importantly we have great chance to get to Finals. Celtics had f'in easiest route ever, they have too much of starter level players, and they do matchup good against us. However, I'd believe in this team as long as we have a healthy Luka F'in Doncic!

ozwizard8 · Post #127 » by **ozwizard8** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:22 am

kacey ring wrote:
dygaction wrote:Kidd another almost impeccable game. The only thing is no need to try Exum at this stage anymore, and can give THJ 3 min to run a quick test to see whether he feels it.
Hardy/Green/Lively 8 main rotation is good for now until Maxi comes back

Kidd and his staff have been very solid. Loved the way he’s used TOs late in games. They’ve been killing it on challenges too.

I never said Kidd is great or sth but always said he's at least an average coach. Blaming him was clueless.
The blame was on front office. Even this year, he did what he was supposed to do with a TOTALLY NEW ROSTER. Any coach needs time to get new 3-4 players to get used to team.

Kyrie spoke about J.Kidd have been talking with him. Kyrie even told on TNT that talks with Kidd is almost like therapy sessions and they dont only talk about basketball.
Look at D.Lively!

Since Carlisle days, Mavs team is a top team in terms of playoff adjustments. Coaching staff is solid. And the coach is doing above average job. Two WCFs already. If Brunson stayed last year, we would be in playoffs for sure. Blame Cuban and FO not the coach.

ozwizard8 · Post #128 » by **ozwizard8** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:24 am

Maxi will be needed for Celtics series for sure.

Coaching roster really deserves credit for playing Hardy. They just saw around Luka, we just need one more penetrating guard. Kyrie is doing good, but we need some bench minutes. They gradually increased Hardy's role so far. He is not perfect or sth but he got 12 minutes and 8 points-1 assist tonight. That is good enough for bench minutes.

ozwizard8 · Post #129 » by **ozwizard8** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:25 am

dygaction wrote:Kidd another almost impeccable game. The only thing is no need to try Exum at this stage anymore, and can give THJ 3 min to run a quick test to see whether he feels it.
Hardy/Green/Lively 8 main rotation is good for now until Maxi comes back

I think Kidd wants to keep players luke-warm and mentally ready to play. If Luka-Kyrie gets in foul trouble or sth, we may need an extra 5-10 minutes from Exum in a game 3-4 or sth. Thats fine to play him every other game even if its 5-6 min.

ozwizard8 · Post #130 » by **ozwizard8** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:29 am

GermanFan120 wrote:Nico should win the executive of the year.

I have been telling this since the trade deadline. Best GM of the year. He had 2 highway robbery in trade deadline. He stole Lively in draft too.

Last year, Mavs FO was one of the worst.
This year, they addressed all the wrongs they did in previous year. They filled all the missing pieces around Luka to compete.
Next year, this will be an even better team. Players would have a summer camp together. Lots of young pieces are growing gradually as well. Kidd got too much of slander after the trade deadline. It fuc'kin takes time to teach every new player about their roles and others to adjust to playing together.

_Und3r][D4wg_ · Post #131 » by **_Und3r][D4wg_** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:30 am

I see the Luka 'real MVP' campaign, as well as the Kyrie & Kidd redemption arc rolls on.

Fantastic run so far, Mavs... Take a bow for Game 2.

dygaction · Post #132 » by **dygaction** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:31 am

TWolves coach would be on hot seat if they lose this series without a real fight. KAT said he was ok with it but Brian Windhorst did not think so

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=NBAonESPN

kacey ring · Post #133 » by **kacey ring** » Sat May 25, 2024 5:31 am

ozwizard8 wrote:Luka is that guy! Pravi MVP.

If our FO do not mess up, he'll get his MVP award with that team around now!

More importantly we have great chance to get to Finals. Celtics had f'in easiest route ever, they have too much of starter level players, and they do matchup good against us. However, I'd believe in this team as long as we have a healthy Luka F'in Doncic!

Would be nice to close this series out in 4 games. Celtics seem like they will.

A sweep for Mavs gets us 8 days of rest. A sweep for Cs gets them 9 days. Finals starts on 6/6 with 2 days off in between games.

dirkules_41 · Post #134 » by **dirkules_41** » Sat May 25, 2024 7:41 am

What a time to be alive.

Teffer10 · Post #135 » by **Teffer10** » Sat May 25, 2024 7:52 am

This team is fun to watch but it would be nice to have a non-nail-biter in there somewhere.
We should destroy any confidence the Wolves might get from game 3 by stomping them early.

41Dirk41 · Post #136 » by **41Dirk41** » Sat May 25, 2024 8:37 am

Luka&Kyrie are too good.

Make our **** 3s!!!!!! Please!!!

Bob8 · Post #137 » by **Bob8** » Sat May 25, 2024 9:19 am

Can you imagine that between fat Luka period and MVP Luka period passed only 4 games?

Luka in last 4 games, 31.3/9/10.5, 50 Fg%, 44.7 3pts%, 91.7 Ft%, 3 triple doubles, 4 wins, 3 close ones.

Oscar9992 · Post #138 » by **Oscar9992** » Sat May 25, 2024 10:40 am

Luka finally starting to look like himself again! He looked horrible... like really HORRIBLE against Clippers & OKC.

But against Wolves he started too look good again.

Archx · Post #139 » by **Archx** » Sat May 25, 2024 10:42 am

Bob8 wrote:Can you imagine that between fat Luka period and MVP Luka period passed only 4 games?

In GB they keep calling him fat :cry:

arkuo · Post #140 » by **arkuo** » Sat May 25, 2024 10:49 am

Oscar9992 wrote:Luka finally starting to look like himself again! He looked horrible... like really HORRIBLE against Clippers & OKC.

But against Wolves he started too look good again.

Wolves team was constructed as a direct counter to Denver and Jokic. Which is why they have so many bigs that can start. Dallas is a bad bad matchup for them because Dallas is guard-heavy. Dallas found a bit of luck with the playoff seedings this year I must say.