Dribble Brothers (Luka & Kyrie) -- Game 8 update [3-5]

[BloodNinja]

Offense is not the problem... However, getting Kyrie means not improving (and even making it worse) the defense... The only hope for them is to meet the Suns in the first round and they will get their swag back.

Suns have KD back tomorrow so the chances of Mavs bullying Suns again are very low.

[lambchop]

last time kyrie was playing a winning basketball, Kevin love was a good player. lolololololololololol.

Was Kevin Love really a good player in 2021 with those 22-50 cavs?

[Statlanta]

Kyrie at this point is no better than Brunson. His stats are probably greater than his actual impact and this is without the off-court blowups that might follow. Dallas has taken 2 stepbacks this season claiming an East "All-Star".

[Doranku]

last time kyrie was playing a winning basketball, Kevin love was a good player. lolololololololololol.

Was Kevin Love really a good player in 2021 with those 22-50 cavs?

People love their revisionist history with Kyrie. Beating the eventual champions by 40 in the playoffs before getting injured = not winning basketball apparently.

The Mavs were one of the worst defensive teams in the league before the trade, and they traded their best defensive player in the package for Kyrie. It shouldn't be rocket science as to why they're struggling.

[Wagonband]

Kyrie at this point is no better than Brunson. His stats are probably greater than his actual impact and this is without the off-court blowups that might follow. Dallas has taken 2 stepbacks this season claiming an East "All-Star".

I mean i get people don't like Kyrie, but please can you stop with the irrational hot takes? And i love Brunson, but unless you mean of a sample of the last 20 games which is 0 when comparing players, especially when one is just inserted in a completely new team, you can't really be serious

[Statlanta]

Kyrie at this point is no better than Brunson. His stats are probably greater than his actual impact and this is without the off-court blowups that might follow. Dallas has taken 2 stepbacks this season claiming an East "All-Star".

I mean i get people don't like Kyrie, but please can you stop with the irrational hot takes? And i love Brunson, but unless you mean of a sample of the last 20 games which is 0 when comparing players, especially when one is just inserted in a completely new team, you can't really be serious

There's nothing irrational here. I supported Irving taking his stance against COVID-19 and haven't rooted for any team he has been on. Kyrie Irving is basically Jalen Brunson(probably even worse), a guy who couldn't make an All-Star team in the West even if he played all season like the Utah series.

To your point Brunson was on a completely new team at the season's beginning and I don't see him doing worse than what Kyrie is bringing this year.

[hauntedcomputer]

Sure, Kyrie is "good," but has he ever actually helped a team, much less carried it, besides that one shot somebody else set up for him?

[NetsWorld]

last time kyrie was playing a winning basketball, Kevin love was a good player. lolololololololololol.

Was Kevin Love really a good player in 2021 with those 22-50 cavs?

People love their revisionist history with Kyrie. Beating the eventual champions by 40 in the playoffs before getting injured = not winning basketball apparently.

The Mavs were one of the worst defensive teams in the league before the trade, and they traded their best defensive player in the package for Kyrie. It shouldn't be rocket science as to why they're struggling.

You mean the same Nets team which had Udoka/Dantoni at the helm? Kyrie has been nothing but inconsistent since he has not been on the court much and him changing teams again is not helping his cause.

[Dmagic]

Kidd is mad ah the mavs got more immature by signing kyrie. luka is like its probably true yeah

[durden_tyler]

Offense is not the problem... However, getting Kyrie means not improving (and even making it worse) the defense... The only hope for them is to meet the Suns in the first round and they will get their swag back.

Suns have KD back tomorrow so the chances of Mavs bullying Suns again are very low.

That is true. PHX needed that KD move to get by teams like the Mavs, Warriors etc. i admit, Suns are now the clear favorites over those teams obviously.

[BloodNinja]

Offense is not the problem... However, getting Kyrie means not improving (and even making it worse) the defense... The only hope for them is to meet the Suns in the first round and they will get their swag back.

Suns have KD back tomorrow so the chances of Mavs bullying Suns again are very low.

That is true. PHX needed that KD move to get by teams like the Mavs, Warriors etc. i admit, Suns are now the clear favorites over those teams obviously.

And what a seamless transition it was. KD will be immense for them.

[baldur]

should have kept brunson in the first place. nyk improved a lot by just adding brunson., compared to the last season.

[Mike lorenzo]

The Suns' best defender is 34-year-old KD. We'll see how that works out. The Suns and Mavs need an offseason to catch up...in my opinion... I don't think they will get very far this year...I have the current Lakers (healthy),Grizzlies,Denver and even Clippers if they were magically healthy as more solid teams and that's just in the West.. Suns will have to trade Ayton for quality depth and Mavs pack some of their unplayable contract(s)(Mcgee/Bertans)+remaining picks..for defensive big end and starting 5 that won't get abused 24/7 365

[danvato]

last time kyrie was playing a winning basketball, Kevin love was a good player. lolololololololololol.

Was Kevin Love really a good player in 2021 with those 22-50 cavs?

People love their revisionist history with Kyrie. Beating the eventual champions by 40 in the playoffs before getting injured = not winning basketball apparently.

The Mavs were one of the worst defensive teams in the league before the trade, and they traded their best defensive player in the package for Kyrie. It shouldn't be rocket science as to why they're struggling.

no, people love using hyperboles, you don't get anything extra for beating eventual champs by 40, 1 win in a series of 7 games. its a meaningless point to make

[Mr B]

Offense is not the problem... However, getting Kyrie means not improving (and even making it worse) the defense... The only hope for them is to meet the Suns in the first round and they will get their swag back.

Suns have KD back tomorrow so the chances of Mavs bullying Suns again are very low.

That is true. PHX needed that KD move to get by teams like the Mavs, Warriors etc. i admit, Suns are now the clear favorites over those teams obviously.

Phoenix still has a beta as the their main player and KD is always hurt. Not to mention Chris Paul is old and shell of his former self. Then throw in their lack of depth. They are going to miss Bridges much more than anyone realizes.

[Doranku]

Was Kevin Love really a good player in 2021 with those 22-50 cavs?

People love their revisionist history with Kyrie. Beating the eventual champions by 40 in the playoffs before getting injured = not winning basketball apparently.

The Mavs were one of the worst defensive teams in the league before the trade, and they traded their best defensive player in the package for Kyrie. It shouldn't be rocket science as to why they're struggling.

no, people love using hyperboles, you don't get anything extra for beating eventual champs by 40, 1 win in a series of 7 games. its a meaningless point to make

So you have to win a title in order to play winning basketball? Gotcha, guess CP3 has never played winning basketball in his entire career.

[Flash Falcon X]

i think "dribble duo" would be a better name. alliteration.

[zshawn10]

So last night was the first night that the Dribble Bros (Luka and Kyrie, AKA LuKy) took the court together.

The Mavs lost to the Kings, who put in a spirited effort and avenged their loss the night previous. Both games were in Sacramento.

Here are some thoughts on the game.

1. LUKA IS OUT OF SHAPE -- Luka had missed 4 straight games with injury, and his conditioning was poor. He was grabbing his shorts and sucking wind throughout the game, particularly in the 4th and in overtime.

2. KYRIE IS MOSTLY PLAYING OFF-BALL -- This includes when Luka is out of the game. I like this, let him save his energy for scoring.

3. THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME -- Luka and Kyrie meshing will take some work, in terms of what pace the team uses, how the offense is run, etc. Still, Kyrie can fit in with any offense because of his scoring and handling ability.

4. DALLAS DESPERATELY NEEDS BETTER BIGS -- Dwight Powell works hard and tries hard, but he has no offensive game at all. He can't shoot, has no post moves, and is scared to go up with the ball even like 3 feet from the hoop. This ruins the spacing of the offense for Kyrie and Luka, and it hurts their ability to pass the ball off for easy hoops when the defense collapses on them. McGee is a better finisher, and he seems to be starting to get more minutes. McGee seems to work well with Kyrie. Dallas really will be helped when Kleber comes back, and even Bertans.

5. THINGS WERE UP AND DOWN, BUT YOU SAW THE FLASHES -- Late in the 2nd quarter, the Mavs went on like a 17-2 run and Luka and Kyrie were working beautifully. Also, late in the game they were working a 2-man offense (primarily with Luka in the post) and Kyrie was getting wide open shots. This is going to work.

6. DALLAS NEEDS MORE TALENT -- For whatever reason, Jason Kidd has soured on Christian Wood. Luka and Kyrie are great, but the roster doesn't have enough talent. And definitely more defensive talent will be needed with Luka and Kyrie as your main guys.

7. LUKA WILL NEED TO LEARN TO TRUST MORE -- Kyrie had an open three late that he never got to shoot because Luka shot a forced three in an attempt to tie the game. Luka can make those shots, but Kyrie is better with an open three. Luka admitted he should have passed Kyrie the ball after the game. Good. As much as this was a miscue, there was a worse one earlier in the game (don't recall when) with Kyrie absolutely wide, wide open for three and Luka forced a three over like two guys. Luka is not used to having someone as talented as Kyrie around him (don't even mention Porzingis), so he needs to start to adjust and share the crucial shots. I think he will, but it'll take time.

Overall, it was a fun game and Dallas hung in. Fox went nuts for Sacto. The Kings are a good team and defended homecourt.

I heard a better name somewhere for the duo: Flatty and Fatty

[danvato]

People love their revisionist history with Kyrie. Beating the eventual champions by 40 in the playoffs before getting injured = not winning basketball apparently.

The Mavs were one of the worst defensive teams in the league before the trade, and they traded their best defensive player in the package for Kyrie. It shouldn't be rocket science as to why they're struggling.

no, people love using hyperboles, you don't get anything extra for beating eventual champs by 40, 1 win in a series of 7 games. its a meaningless point to make

So you have to win a title in order to play winning basketball? Gotcha, guess CP3 has never played winning basketball in his entire career.

is it possible to have a discussion with you without shifting topics? You're the one that responded to Kyrie being a loser by saying "Beating the eventual champions by 40 in the playoffs". You went from commenting about winning 1 game, to complaining about ring culture, to bring CP3 into the discussion.

To answer you directly, no, you don't need to win a title in order to play winning basketball. How about we simplify the requirement. How about the team that you are on wins more with you then without you. Because if they dont, what are you actually contributing to winning.

[The-Power]

This is what it looks like when the offense is humming.