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Weirdly calm ahead of this one tonight. I think its knowing that if they lose this game, they're not the team we thought they were and were never going to make a series run at the championship even if the Mavs didn't shoot the lights out in Game 1.

This is why we made the switch from Doc to Lue. Where Doc would double-down on a previous approach, Lue is supposed to be the guy willing to make lineup and schematic adjustments on a dime. Based on Game 1, the adjustment should be less Reggie and more Mann. They're weak defending the rim and using Mann as the role guy could grease the wheels of the offense a bit. It should be a little more Ibaka, if he's physically up to it. It should be a little more blitzing and trapping of the P&R rather than conceding switches onto Luka. He's a different player than last year with a better midrange and step back game. It should be Kawhi or PG as the primary on Luka when we're playing more traditional P&R coverage, rather than Morris or Bev.

I think we sweat through a close first half and then pull away in the third to win by 10 to 12.

Until our 2 all stars can show some clutchness at the end of games, my expectation remains fairly low for this team in this post season.

There is a possibility this is a Clippers win with a larger margin, that's sort of the "pattern" in game 2 vs closely mathched teams when the home team loses game 1.

That would be a nice outcome for some peace of mind for Clippers fans, but we'll see what happens.

Must win tonight obviously. Denver responded in Game 2 last night at home, let's see if the Clips can do the same.

Need to win tonight. I don't believe this team has the mental strength to come back from 2-0. *Raises hands for a Clipper spirit bomb*. Everyone raise your hands.

I have zero confidence in a win tonight, but we'll see.

SK21209 wrote:Weirdly calm ahead of this one tonight. I think its knowing that if they lose this game, they're not the team we thought they were and were never going to make a series run at the championship even if the Mavs didn't shoot the lights out in Game 1.

This is why we made the switch from Doc to Lue. Where Doc would double-down on a previous approach, Lue is supposed to be the guy willing to make lineup and schematic adjustments on a dime. Based on Game 1, the adjustment should be less Reggie and more Mann. They're weak defending the rim and using Mann as the role guy could grease the wheels of the offense a bit. It should be a little more Ibaka, if he's physically up to it. It should be a little more blitzing and trapping of the P&R rather than conceding switches onto Luka. He's a different player than last year with a better midrange and step back game. It should be Kawhi or PG as the primary on Luka when we're playing more traditional P&R coverage, rather than Morris or Bev.

I think we sweat through a close first half and then pull away in the third to win by 10 to 12.

Agreed with everything.

This is a pivotal game; if they can't beat the Mavs, there's no hope at all of going much further, now or in the foreseeable future.

Viewing a few boards and there's no consensus on Mann. Some feel he can provide a spark, and some feel he's not ready yet. I just want to see him get a few meaningful minutes if Reggie/Bev aren't working out. If he's trash, by all means bench him. But I'd hate to have the same thing happen to Mann that happened to Noah last year. Most likely Noah wouldn't have done much better than Trez. But maybe he would've surprised us? Too bad we'll never know.

I'm cautiously optimistic... If the team isn't ice cold from 3, and the Mavs don't shoot like game 1 again, I also expect to see a double digit win.

MartinToVaught wrote:I have zero confidence in a win tonight, but we'll see.

Alright. Low expectations so anything more than that is all gravy.

I expect us to come out strong and take Game 2. Think the rotation is going to be a bit different, Kawhi on Luka more, don't expect to shoot 30% from three, and we need to force more TOs from Luka.

Has anyone ever dropped the first 2 of Round 1 at home and won the title?

A must game already. "A Sense of Urgency," they call it. This team is about as urgent as a dip in the pool. He's not going to turn into Donovan Mitchell overnight, but Mann will get a look because he's the only one who's played like he means it every minute he's been out there this year.

Everybody else has played all year like they're trying to avoid a groin injury, but school's out, kids.

Good start by PG. Need to do a lot better on defense.

Need Mook to start hitting

morris coming out the gates on fire

and by fire i mean dumpster fire

I find it shocking that Luka is shooting only 35% from 3 on the season, yet during this series he looks like Reggie Miller/Ray Allen/Steph Curry.

Great start as expected when this team is under pressure.

I like PG's aggressiveness. He needs to keep the pressure up.

If this team isn't going to his open uncontested 3s, why even show up to the arena?

These guys are truly scared to be here.

eh this is the same problem from the first game - dallas role players just hitting every 3