Playoffs 2024 - R2 - G5 - Mavs @ Thunder (Wed., 9:30PMEST)

[Darren]

Is SGA handling equally well with both hands? Can SGA make jump shots with either feet set off? Are there any clues when SGA is pumpfaking? Anyway to force SGA to handle with weaker hand and jump off the wrong foot with a shot blocker in face?

[tleikheen]

Can the Mavs find a way to get Chet moving out of shot blocking and rebounding positions? In this way, you can gain the mismatches you want and get Chet into foul troubles

Yes ,its not that hard if the Mavs collectively can start making ALL those bunnies and inside 10-12 ft shots that they're missing so regularly. If the Mavs can start making half those shots Chet won't be able to get away with camping under the basket all game long.

[Darren]

I am considering Indiana's strategy to get Kyrie more rooms to operate. Dale Davis set screen for Reggie Miller in the low block while Miller escapes from defenders to get the ball. This may get you few seconds to operate and perhaps gets their defenders into foul troubles. OKC is tall but Kyrie is quick. With a little more space, Kyrie can decide how to take advantage of the situation.

[Darren]

The OKC team does not have much talented passers with Mavs wingspan edge, the Mavs should be able to gain more fast breaks and transition buckets.

[Darren]

To contest jump shooters, im my experience, you have an elbow in front of shooters' noise or finger near their eyes are more disruptive in general.

[Darren]

Minny is on edge of elimination now.

[dygaction]

Focused Jokic looks unbeatable.

[41Dirk41]

[Bob8]

Turn SGA's shooting motion to awkward form. Do not bite on pump-fake. Put an arm on SGA's face instead of making a clean block every time. Take Chet and SGA away, the Mavs has a good chance. Do it at least in clutch time. Find a way

They are already doing this.

In addition, they can try:

1. Double SGA and make him pass the ball
2. Deny the ball from SGA. I am fine if JW scores 40+, I doubt he can.

They should have doubled Shai in second half in game 4 and we would have easily won. It's just baffling how OKC are defending only 2 Mavs players and we are letting Shai doing whatever he wants with single coverage. It might have worked, if we had linebacker Dort, but we haven't.

[arkuo]

While Jokic is trying beat Minnesota 4 straight games after being down 0-2, Luka will try to learn how to hit stepback 3 pointers again AND try to sink free throws. Baby steps fellas. Never too late.

[GermanFan120]

Turn SGA's shooting motion to awkward form. Do not bite on pump-fake. Put an arm on SGA's face instead of making a clean block every time. Take Chet and SGA away, the Mavs has a good chance. Do it at least in clutch time. Find a way

They are already doing this.

In addition, they can try:

1. Double SGA and make him pass the ball
2. Deny the ball from SGA. I am fine if JW scores 40+, I doubt he can.

They should have doubled Shai in second half in game 4 and we would have easily won. It's just baffling how OKC are defending only 2 Mavs players and we are letting Shai doing whatever he wants with single coverage. It might have worked, if we had linebacker Dort, but we haven't.

I don't think Shai is an amazing passer, so forcing him to pass might lead to TO which will transfer to easy points for us.

[GermanFan120]

Minny is on edge of elimination now.

Those who predicted a sweep by Minny is now facing a gentlemen sweep.

[Bob8]

While Jokic is trying beat Minnesota 4 straight games after being down 0-2, Luka will try to learn how to hit stepback 3 pointers again AND try to sink free throws. Baby steps fellas. Never too late.

I kinda doubt that Luka is big enough to play like Jokic, but maybe you're on something. Lazy **** didn't want to grow enough.

[arkuo]

While Jokic is trying beat Minnesota 4 straight games after being down 0-2, Luka will try to learn how to hit stepback 3 pointers again AND try to sink free throws. Baby steps fellas. Never too late.

I kinda doubt that Luka is big enough to play like Jokic, but maybe you're on something. Lazy **** didn't want to grow enough.

Well, each day Luka keeps adding more on his to-do list.
- learn how to make stepback 35 footers again
- learn how to sink end game free throws again
- show up in the playoffs this year
- stop getting 15 technical fouls every year
- try to make a halfcourt shot off the scoreboard
- try to win an olympic medal
- grow a few inches just like you said LOL
- maybe next year he forgets how to dribble around for 19 seconds in the shotclock

Bob is a Luka bronsexual who makes excuses for Luka and defends him on every post.

[41Dirk41]

They are already doing this.

In addition, they can try:

1. Double SGA and make him pass the ball
2. Deny the ball from SGA. I am fine if JW scores 40+, I doubt he can.

They should have doubled Shai in second half in game 4 and we would have easily won. It's just baffling how OKC are defending only 2 Mavs players and we are letting Shai doing whatever he wants with single coverage. It might have worked, if we had linebacker Dort, but we haven't.

I don't think Shai is an amazing passer, so forcing him to pass might lead to TO which will transfer to easy points for us.

SGA is a offensive one dimensional damn good player, his mid range game is insane. But he is an iso player.

Kidd brillant mind didn't know how to put him in difficulty and we played against him 4 times in a row.
Oh well he guarded him with Josh freaking Green last night. Next time try with a basketball player.

[41Dirk41]

I can understand Bob and what he said, it's correct. Luka is still young and on path to be a great NBA player with multiple rings for sure.
But i can understand who critizes him for his attitude inside and outside the court. The are right too.

I don't like too much the argument "how many players won a rings at XX yo???" Because it's the Luka excuse everytime from his second NBA year, the time is running fast and he has to hurry up... 1/2 years and not even that can be used to defend him.

His PO were bad from being Luka Doncic. It's a fact.
Kyrie/PJ and others carry him in the second round and in this 2:2 against OKC.
He played at his level just game 5 vs Clips and some first quarters here and there.

I hope my english is not too bad this time, it's one of few serious posts here

[Mavrelous]

Luka has been amazing for 3 straight PO runs, and Tokyo Olympics with NT.
Played and beat the Clippers on a bum ankle in game 4 in the bubble, assuring his teammates he's fine to not think he's hobbled.
Played with Neck injury and pulled off great games against the Clips in 21
Came back from calf strain as if nothing happened in 22 and went to WCF while giving a historical game 7 against the heavy title favourites.

His demeanor since then has been crap, whether in Eurobasket, last year in RS, WC this year, and these PO now.
We all criticized the FO for not supplying him with enough support, for the 1st time, now he has:
1. Perfect co-star who can seamlessly move off ball to on ball.
2. Great guard defender in DJJ and good wing defender in PJ + 48 minutes of elite rim protection

Nico went out and gambled 4 unprotected draft capital to bring, he has the coach he approves of who is a great defensive coach.
Just when all aligned, he decides to focus on foul hunting, bitching all game to the refs and wince and whine all game.

Someone should grab him and tell him: "Look it's not ideal, you're not 100%, spacing is a little off, Kidd isn't great offensively, but this is the best change you got at a ring since you arrived in the league, quit whining and start delivering".

Yeah, there's always next year, for losers...

[41Dirk41]

Yeah, there's always next year, for losers...

This.

[Bob8]

He won't and can't change in near future. But hopefully he can shoot better and everything will go away. If he can't, many fans, reporters, analytics...will have fun in next days and months.

Fans who are crying, when result is 2:2, are losers in my eyes too.

[Doranku]

Luka has been amazing for 3 straight PO runs, and Tokyo Olympics with NT.
Played and beat the Clippers on a bum ankle in game 4 in the bubble, assuring his teammates he's fine to not think he's hobbled.
Played with Neck injury and pulled off great games against the Clips in 21
Came back from calf strain as if nothing happened in 22 and went to WCF while giving a historical game 7 against the heavy title favourites.

His demeanor since then has been crap, whether in Eurobasket, last year in RS, WC this year, and these PO now.
We all criticized the FO for not supplying him with enough support, for the 1st time, now he has:
1. Perfect co-star who can seamlessly move off ball to on ball.
2. Great guard defender in DJJ and good wing defender in PJ + 48 minutes of elite rim protection

Nico went out and gambled 4 unprotected draft capital to bring, he has the coach he approves of who is a great defensive coach.
Just when all aligned, he decides to focus on foul hunting, bitching all game to the refs and wince and whine all game.

Someone should grab him and tell him: "Look it's not ideal, you're not 100%, spacing is a little off, Kidd isn't great offensively, but this is the best change you got at a ring since you arrived in the league, quit whining and start delivering".

Yeah, there's always next year, for losers...

I'm glad it was him that missed the FT at the end of the game that could have tied it. I hope it's been eating at him ever since. Luka was in this exact situation two years ago against the Suns. Game 5 on the road in a 2-2 series... and the Mavs got torched by 30. Obviously they won that series, but OKC isn't going to collapse in a game 7 at home like Phoenix did.

This is probably the 2nd most important game of Luka's career with how open the title looks right now. He needs to remember who he is, I know he's banged up but he's torched Kawhi & PG in the playoffs before. He can handle Lu **** Dort.