2024 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals: #3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL leads 3-0)

[stitches]

Wolves DRtg with Gobert on the court this series: 110.6
Wolves DRtg with Gobert on the bench this series: 138.9

I really don't understand people who see Gobert's defense as the Wolves problem and not Ant and KAT's offensive (in)efficiency in this series... I really do think Gobert is the most unfairly maligned player I've ever seen.

You are just never going to win in the playoffs if your two best offensive weapons shoot FG 33%/3pFG 22% for an entire series. It's NEVER going to happen. If anything... it's kind of shocking that Minny has been THIS close in all those games.

[Emhoward]

It seems like most Non-Boston fans are leaning Mavs>Celts in the next series, as am I. But something tells me that Boston is a bad matchup for them and I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on this --

How has the post-trade deadline Mavs fared against teams that play a lot of 5 out like Boston? Did OKC play any 5 out with Chet? My thinking is that Horford/Portzingis pulls Gafford/Lively out to the 3 point line, making their rim protection null and void. Then Boston has freer lanes to drive and either Dallas collapses, closes off driving lanes and leaves open three point shooters (Part of the reason Boston spams so many 3's) or Dallas stays home on shooters and Tatum, Brown, White and Jrue has open lanes with no rim protection... Am I thinking about this right?

One obvious counter is to go PJ Washington as the 5, but I'm not sure that's the move -- it provides them more spacing on offense -- which is great, but it removes the lob threat that's been so great for them. Plus it doesn't solve the issue, Dallas on defense with Boston on offense.

It seems to me the way Dallas wins this is to go PJ at 5 and just play the outscore them game. I don't see Dallas' defense being nearly as effective as they have been against the Wolves and Thunder. I actually think Dallas is built to play this way as well. Doncic, Irving, DJJ, Washington and either Green, Hardy, or THJ depending on who's the hot man, is a heck of an offense squad -- the question becomes if it does play out this way, how long will it take Kidd to make this adjustment, and second, will PJ hold up at Center on the boards against Horford and Portzingis.

Jason Kidd won't do that if Lively is available beginning with Game 1. He'll play his centers. Second of all, we don't know what kind of shape Porzingis will be in. He hasn't played in weeks. Will he be rusty at all? What's his stamina looking like? I believe the Mavericks will at least test KP defensively for a game to see what he can do before they just commit to playing small ball in hopes of being able to defend. Kidd knows KP's game as well as he used to coach him. If Horford or Kornet is on the floor, there is no need to go small either. Horford is too hit/miss from the perimeter to change your whole defensive style like that.

Probably the best course of action - do what got you there and Gafford/Lively's rim protection was a big reason they've come this far. At the very least you're right in that Kidd needs to see Portzingis/Horford make them consistently before adjusting. We'll see. The only game they played against each other with the new look Mavs -- Boston dominated by catching fire from 3, Portzingis going 4 for 8 (Lively played great as well to your point) -- guess we'll see how rusty Portzingis is -- they don't win if he's a shell of himself imo.

[Dan33185]

Bro

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What do you expect any player to say in that situation? If you don't believe you can win, why even play?

[dygaction]

Doncic looks wider and stronger than Travis Kelce..
https://youtube.com/shorts/sxn59wmbnNc?feature=shared

[Chuck Everett]

It seems like most Non-Boston fans are leaning Mavs>Celts in the next series, as am I. But something tells me that Boston is a bad matchup for them and I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on this --

How has the post-trade deadline Mavs fared against teams that play a lot of 5 out like Boston? Did OKC play any 5 out with Chet? My thinking is that Horford/Portzingis pulls Gafford/Lively out to the 3 point line, making their rim protection null and void. Then Boston has freer lanes to drive and either Dallas collapses, closes off driving lanes and leaves open three point shooters (Part of the reason Boston spams so many 3's) or Dallas stays home on shooters and Tatum, Brown, White and Jrue has open lanes with no rim protection... Am I thinking about this right?

One obvious counter is to go PJ Washington as the 5, but I'm not sure that's the move -- it provides them more spacing on offense -- which is great, but it removes the lob threat that's been so great for them. Plus it doesn't solve the issue, Dallas on defense with Boston on offense.

It seems to me the way Dallas wins this is to go PJ at 5 and just play the outscore them game. I don't see Dallas' defense being nearly as effective as they have been against the Wolves and Thunder. I actually think Dallas is built to play this way as well. Doncic, Irving, DJJ, Washington and either Green, Hardy, or THJ depending on who's the hot man, is a heck of an offense squad -- the question becomes if it does play out this way, how long will it take Kidd to make this adjustment, and second, will PJ hold up at Center on the boards against Horford and Portzingis.

Jason Kidd won't do that if Lively is available beginning with Game 1. He'll play his centers. Second of all, we don't know what kind of shape Porzingis will be in. He hasn't played in weeks. Will he be rusty at all? What's his stamina looking like? I believe the Mavericks will at least test KP defensively for a game to see what he can do before they just commit to playing small ball in hopes of being able to defend. Kidd knows KP's game as well as he used to coach him. If Horford or Kornet is on the floor, there is no need to go small either. Horford is too hit/miss from the perimeter to change your whole defensive style like that.

Probably the best course of action - do what got you there and Gafford/Lively's rim protection was a big reason they've come this far. At the very least you're right in that Kidd needs to see Portzingis/Horford make them consistently before adjusting. We'll see. The only game they played against each other with the new look Mavs -- Boston dominated by catching fire from 3, Portzingis going 4 for 8 (Lively played great as well to your point) -- guess we'll see how rusty Portzingis is -- they don't win if he's a shell of himself imo.

I'm more interested in what Luka and Kyrie do on defense. All of Boston's starters are two-way players. So if Jrue Holiday/Jaylen Brown start on Luka, who will Luka defend on the other end? He can't hide defensively this series. Neither can Kyrie. Derrick White is a much better player than Jaden McDaniels and Mike Conley and must be respected on the offensive end. The Mavs are going to need both guys to be great on both ends an entire series. Celtics are a hard/unique matchup for them. Celtics have 5 current or former all-stars on their roster.

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Honestly it's shocking how close all those games have been when Minnesota's two best offensive weapons have shot this poorly. Usually with that kind of disparity you would assume huge blowouts.

[Dan33185]

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Honestly it's shocking how close all those games have been when Minnesota's two best offensive weapons have shot this poorly. Usually with that kind of disparity you would assume huge blowouts.

Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson are the reason for that, which is depressing. Love Naz, but he should not be outplaying Ant and KAT.

[Peregrine01]

It's been a bit shocking to see McDaniels have little effect on Luka at all. After two series when he had guards just give up the ball in the backcourt to just get him off them, it's been a rude awakening for him getting carried to the rim by Luka again and again as if he was a backpack.

[Capn'O]

Dallas feels like a team of destiny this year. That Grant Williams trade was wild.

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SGA should not be on that graphic.

[knicksfan974]

The Wolves have been my pick to win the championship for some time now, and still even down 0-3 I wouldn't count them out completely. Yes, it will difficult to beat Luka-Kyrie Mavs four times in a row, but losing Lively gives again somewhat more hope for the Wolves to achieve what has never been done before, coming back to win the series when down 0-3. If there is a team that can do it, I believe it is this Wolves team.

[Oscar9992]

Is it bad or good?

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[Wolfgang630]

So is the media going to push “the closest sweep in playoff history”?

[Chuck Everett]

It's been a bit shocking to see McDaniels have little effect on Luka at all. After two series when he had guards just give up the ball in the backcourt to just get him off them, it's been a rude awakening for him getting carried to the rim by Luka again and again as if he was a backpack.

He doesn't have enough girth. Luka is moving him around like a ragdoll. And the problem with getting too physical with Luka is that he is not above flopping for calls. Guys like Lu Dort and Dillon Brooks can at least wall up Luka defensively on several possessions by moving their feet and using their broad chests to absorb his blows. Ben Simmons actually did this very well whenever the two would matchup. Anunoby is another one. Jaden physically can't do that. He actually has to lean and use his arms to keep Luka from moving him. Well, when you do that, *tweet tweet* ball sideline out of bounds, Mavs ball.

[Chuck Everett]

Is it bad or good?

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I'd say he's definitely out for Game 4. But the tweet just said he went to get a scan, which is definitely precautionary. With the Mavs being up 3-0 and the Finals not starting until June 6, they can give him and Kleber whatever time off they need to recuperate.

[Eatgreenz]

I’m all for it , let’s Kyrie show Nets management how dumb they are , he already did actually

And let him earn the bag he deserves

Show nets management. He never came to work to show them anything

Well he did for the Mavs

1 not allowing him to play away games either though ban for unvaccinated players was only in N.Y. , then changing the decision when things got rough

2 ridiculous and humiliating 6 points to do list for Kyrie from Tsai

3 inability to negotiate reasonable contract which he easily did with Mavs after the trade went down

He isn’t blameless, but it’s Nets front office and ownership who stirred this **** up big time

I’ll never root for snake Durant and fat Harden , Kyrie left because he wanted to get paid and he was unable to reach agreement with our FO

I’ll root for Kyrie easily anytime

It took no team wanting him but dallas and losing his nike deal for kyrie to refocus.
From day one kyrie choosing not to play in the bubble season when he could of. Missing random games for bday parties and whatever else. Getting coach Atkinson fired. his former places cavs and Celtics having similar issues. Nets offered him the same contract with more money. They just wanted him to play out the season, which he did with the mavs anyway. It took awhile but kyrie finally being a professional.

[TroubleS0me]

Mike Conley has never made the NBA Finals...

[G R E Y]

lol but it's true though...

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[DreamTeam09]

Is it bad or good?

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Good thing, a stinger is better than a concussion

[eyeatoma]

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Hahahaha love Luka!!!

[rockmanslim]

Luka is getting healthier every game. Mavs are looking better as a result

This is weird because he was downgraded before game 3 to questionable. Lying on the injury report is a violation of league rules, Mavs gonna get fined.