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

[HotelVitale]

As a depressed Sixers fan, I'd say it's going pretty well.

Totally unstoppable tonight, one of the best offensive duo performances I've seen in recent memory.

[HotRocks34]

Mavs beat Sixers in Dallas. LuKy is now 2-4.

Luka...........42/4/12
Kyrie...........40/4/6


This was a lot more like what things are supposed to look like. And Dallas took a 25-point lead in this game.

But, then the collapse happened.

It happened early in the fourth quarter with Luka on the bench.

Dallas remains a weak defensive team and a highly-unskilled team beyond Luka and Kyrie. The two biggest issues for them (besides defense) are:

* No real center (who can post up)
* No third ballhandler


The "no third ballhandler" is why teams often come back on them. As soon as one of Luka or Kyrie sits, the defense will then trap the other remaining guy and force the rest of the Mavs to try to win a 4-on-3 game that should be in the Mavs' favor. But it isn't, because no one else on the Mavs can dribble or pass. Thus all you have to do to hold down Dallas is take the ball out of either Luka's or Kyrie's hands when one of them sits.

Philly cut the lead to 4. Then Kidd brought Luka back and soon order was restored.

Dallas has major personnel issues. But tonight was a good night for LuKy, and a preview of what is to come once the roster is fixed (at least more so) this summer.

[Archx]

As a depressed Sixers fan, I'd say it's going pretty well.

Totally unstoppable tonight, one of the best offensive duo performances I've seen in recent memory.

Apparently he agrees with you.

Read on Twitter

[celticfan42487]

Dribble brothers so far have been able to beat the Spurs and now the Flopping Brothers

onto the next game it is!

[Optms]

RIP league. If these guys figure it out. Its a wrap.

[MrGoat]

Kyrie and Luka can work together. But Kidd will be the undoing of this team in the playoffs. His botching of the Christian Wood situation will prove fatal when they realize they're relying on Dwight Powell in the playoffs again if his terrible play calls don't do that anyway

[HotRocks34]

Kyrie and Luka can work together. But Kidd will be the undoing of this team in the playoffs. His botching of the Christian Wood situation will prove fatal when they realize they're relying on Dwight Powell in the playoffs again if his terrible play calls don't do that anyway

I like Kidd, but yeah I have no idea what is going on with Wood.

Powell has good RAPTOR numbers this year, but I can't wait until he's off the team. He's so unskilled, and undersized.

[HotRocks34]

Also, for people that thought Luka can't work with another star.

Game 6 of LuKy:

Luka FGA............22...............6 assists
Kyrie FGA...........22..............12 assists

Luka's happy to share the wealth with guys who can play. Porzingis isn't that guy, and Brunson was only starting to become that guy.

Kyrie is that guy. And as the video above shows, Luka is happy to have Kyrie around. And he'll dish dimes for Kyrie and everyone else.

[Pachinko_]

Yeah that's how they're gonna have to win, just outscore their opponents and defence be damned.
Now that is really hard to do, and it usually doesn't work, but if there's two guys who can do it it's them two.

[Phreak50]

Also, for people that thought Luka can't work with another star.

Game 6 of LuKy:

Luka FGA............22...............6 assists
Kyrie FGA...........22..............12 assists

Luka's happy to share the wealth with guys who can play. Porzingis isn't that guy, and Brunson was only starting to become that guy.

Kyrie is that guy. And as the video above shows, Luka is happy to have Kyrie around. And he'll dish dimes for Kyrie and everyone else.

Let's remember this one game hot take when they get bounced in the playoffs and Luka tells the front office he doesn't want to play next to another star guard and Kyrie leaves.

[HotRocks34]

Also, for people that thought Luka can't work with another star.

Game 6 of LuKy:

Luka FGA............22...............6 assists
Kyrie FGA...........22..............12 assists

Luka's happy to share the wealth with guys who can play. Porzingis isn't that guy, and Brunson was only starting to become that guy.

Kyrie is that guy. And as the video above shows, Luka is happy to have Kyrie around. And he'll dish dimes for Kyrie and everyone else.

Let's remember this one game hot take when they get bounced in the playoffs and Luka tells the front office he doesn't want to play next to another star guard and Kyrie leaves.

Ok

[HotelVitale]

Yeah that's how they're gonna have to win, just outscore their opponents and defence be damned.
Now that is really hard to do, and it usually doesn't work, but if there's two guys who can do it it's them two.

Yeah I'm not sure last night was a good sign, even if it was damn impressive. Kyrie is simply not going to be shooting 75% from the field and from 3 most nights, and Luka also won't shoot 60% from 3.

They're capable of that, and they're not going to lose when they do, but it's obviously not a sustainable model for success.

[Tha King]

They just need to get some solid/passable defense from Green, Holiday, Kleber, and Bullock. If so, they will very tough for any team in a playoff series.

Kleber is good and pretty invaluable with his switchability.

[Mr B]

They just need to get some solid/passable defense from Green, Holiday, Kleber, and Bullock. If so, they will very tough for any team in a playoff series.

Kleber is good and pretty invaluable with his switchability.

They actually are getting defense from those guys. The problem is they get zero defense from Powell, and Wood. Also Powell, Wood, and Kleber are terrible rebounders.

[Texas Chuck]

Kyrie and Luka can work together. But Kidd will be the undoing of this team in the playoffs. His botching of the Christian Wood situation will prove fatal when they realize they're relying on Dwight Powell in the playoffs again if his terrible play calls don't do that anyway

I like Kidd, but yeah I have no idea what is going on with Wood.

Powell has good RAPTOR numbers this year, but I can't wait until he's off the team. He's so unskilled, and undersized.

If Wood was a better option he'd be playing more minutes. But we cannot ignore how bad his defense is. Powell is not a good defender. But he knows where to be and his motor runs non-stop. Wood is constantly out of position, fouls too much, and his effort comes and goes.

The center position will come down to how many minutes Maxi can handle. He is clearly the center Kidd feels best about. But I have no idea how anyone could watch this team and think Wood is some panacea. He's a talented scorer, but mostly empty calories. I get why Powell starts.

Next year they need a real answer.

[ChumboChappati]

Mavs beat Sixers in Dallas. LuKy is now 2-4.

Luka...........42/4/12
Kyrie...........40/4/6


This was a lot more like what things are supposed to look like. And Dallas took a 25-point lead in this game.

But, then the collapse happened.

It happened early in the fourth quarter with Luka on the bench.

Dallas remains a weak defensive team and a highly-unskilled team beyond Luka and Kyrie. The two biggest issues for them (besides defense) are:

* No real center (who can post up)
* No third ballhandler


The "no third ballhandler" is why teams often come back on them. As soon as one of Luka or Kyrie sits, the defense will then trap the other remaining guy and force the rest of the Mavs to try to win a 4-on-3 game that should be in the Mavs' favor. But it isn't, because no one else on the Mavs can dribble or pass. Thus all you have to do to hold down Dallas is take the ball out of either Luka's or Kyrie's hands when one of them sits.

Philly cut the lead to 4. Then Kidd brought Luka back and soon order was restored.

Dallas has major personnel issues. But tonight was a good night for LuKy, and a preview of what is to come once the roster is fixed (at least more so) this summer.

if 3rd ballhandler is an issue then why Mavs are not signing Dragic?

[165bows]

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

Dribble dudes in that case.

[nikster]

Mavs beat Sixers in Dallas. LuKy is now 2-4.

Luka...........42/4/12
Kyrie...........40/4/6


This was a lot more like what things are supposed to look like. And Dallas took a 25-point lead in this game.

But, then the collapse happened.

It happened early in the fourth quarter with Luka on the bench.

Dallas remains a weak defensive team and a highly-unskilled team beyond Luka and Kyrie. The two biggest issues for them (besides defense) are:

* No real center (who can post up)
* No third ballhandler


The "no third ballhandler" is why teams often come back on them. As soon as one of Luka or Kyrie sits, the defense will then trap the other remaining guy and force the rest of the Mavs to try to win a 4-on-3 game that should be in the Mavs' favor. But it isn't, because no one else on the Mavs can dribble or pass. Thus all you have to do to hold down Dallas is take the ball out of either Luka's or Kyrie's hands when one of them sits.

Philly cut the lead to 4. Then Kidd brought Luka back and soon order was restored.

Dallas has major personnel issues. But tonight was a good night for LuKy, and a preview of what is to come once the roster is fixed (at least more so) this summer.

if 3rd ballhandler is an issue then why Mavs are not signing Dragic?

Because Dragic is a **** 3rd ball handler? He was cut by a team trying to compete and who had their starting point guard ruled out for the season

[HotRocks34]

if 3rd ballhandler is an issue then why Mavs are not signing Dragic?

Nico (GM) and Kidd seem to think he's washed, or something.

Shame. They passed on him in the summer, too.

I'd sign him in a second.

[HotRocks34]

Kyrie and Luka can work together. But Kidd will be the undoing of this team in the playoffs. His botching of the Christian Wood situation will prove fatal when they realize they're relying on Dwight Powell in the playoffs again if his terrible play calls don't do that anyway

I like Kidd, but yeah I have no idea what is going on with Wood.

Powell has good RAPTOR numbers this year, but I can't wait until he's off the team. He's so unskilled, and undersized.

If Wood was a better option he'd be playing more minutes. But we cannot ignore how bad his defense is. Powell is not a good defender. But he knows where to be and his motor runs non-stop. Wood is constantly out of position, fouls too much, and his effort comes and goes.

The center position will come down to how many minutes Maxi can handle. He is clearly the center Kidd feels best about. But I have no idea how anyone could watch this team and think Wood is some panacea. He's a talented scorer, but mostly empty calories. I get why Powell starts.

Next year they need a real answer.

All good points, Chuck.

It's so hard because Wood shows flashes. But they never sustain.

Powell does work his butt off. Can't fault that.