Finals 2024 - G1 - Mavs @ Celtics (Thursd., 8:30PMEST)

[Bob8]

Things I'm encouraged about:
-Lively, looked great, successfully switched and didn't give them anything, got screwed by refs multiple time
-Luka looked great for most
-PJ played well I think, need to post him up more.

Things that stuck out like sore thumb:
-Kyrie...
-Role players shooting

...role players forcing inside instead of taking shots from 3.

That's it for tonight, hopefully we will be better next time. Kyrie is the key.

[Mavrelous]

Also multiple low IQ moments of driving into traffic and KP under the rim...

[fuller4379]

Good thing it is the best of 7.
We are playing with house money too. Never expected to be this far.

[Bob8]

Also multiple low IQ moments of driving into traffic and KP under the rim...

DJJ is kinda known for those drives and Josh unfortunately doesn't understand basketball at all. But honestly that was the least of Mavs problems.

I honestly can't understand how unprepared we were for KP. He destroyed us in first half and couldn't do anything in second half.

Like things are looking, we will need Luka scoring 40 and Kyrie having a decent game to win something.

[arkuo]

I wish to share your optimism fellas. But Dallas still lacks a piece or two. Trade THJ + Josh Green for those in the summer.

It's year 0.5 of the rebuild.

[fuller4379]

I wish to share your optimism fellas. But Dallas still lacks a piece or two. Trade THJ + Josh Green for those in the summer.

It's year 0.5 of the rebuild.

Yes, we are playing with house money, but there is still a chance. Crystal Porzingis can't last an entire series.

[Mavrelous]

Also multiple low IQ moments of driving into traffic and KP under the rim...

DJJ is kinda known for those drives and Josh unfortunately doesn't understand basketball at all. But honestly that was the least of Mavs problems.

I honestly can't understand how unprepared we were for KP. He destroyed us in first half and couldn't do anything in second half.

Like things are looking, we will need Luka scoring 40 and Kyrie having a decent game to win something.

Kyrie has to score 25-30 on good percentage.
The deficit stck at 8 multiple possesions, Mavs could'ce gone for the kill, Kyrie **** his pants, refs screwed Lively and then it was over again, this happened after KP barrage in the 1st half.

[Bob8]

I wish to share your optimism fellas. But Dallas still lacks a piece or two. Trade THJ + Josh Green for those in the summer.

It's year 0.5 of the rebuild.

Yes, we are playing with house money, but there is still a chance. Crystal Porzingis can't last an entire series.

If Kyrie had good game, things would have been much less dramatic. He has missed more or less every open shot.

[Maverick41]

Also multiple low IQ moments of driving into traffic and KP under the rim...

Yeah too many of these. Only PJ did a good job of using his body to bump KP off. The rest looked like scared puppies (like Green) or tried to get way too creative instead of really attacking KP.

[agentofatlas]

Maxi needs to stop passing up open looks.

The Mavs are still in this.

[kacey ring]

This game was bizarre. I’m still optimistic. Look at our prior game 1s. They’ve all been pathetic. Even the win at Minny.

We looked solid to start. Had a f’n amazing comeback to cut it to 8, then the Lively travel and then things started to unravel.

We gotta figure out the defensive rotations. C’s had so many open threes. It definitely felt like they shot better than 38%. Hats off to their guys.

I’m okay with smaller guys switching onto Porzingis, but you have to do a better job of pushing him out of that 15-18 ft range if you’re not going to help. I’m comfortable with him shooting a long contested two. Better than a wide open 3 or 15 ft layup.

DJJ needs to use his athleticism better on drives. He should be up at the rim instead of doing these odd euro steps with the ball barely over his head and hoping for a foul to be called under the rim. He’s such a terrific jumper when he can gather both feet, so he’s gotta get to his spot and launch.

Bad game from Kyrie. I felt he was forcing some shots, but I also think those same shots fall for him if he’s in a better rhythm. Great D by Boston on him. I’m sure he’s already thinking of better ways to attack their bigs.

I see a rally from the squad in Game 2. They want to win one for Kyrie. The crowd was all over him and they want to shut that Boston crowd the hell up!

[GermanFan120]

Celtics successfully took away our alley oops, which made Gafford and Lively have a subpar performance.

[GermanFan120]

In my honest opinion, Ky will have 1 good game in this series, similar to KAT's production against us. It is going to be a long series for Ky.

And if the above is true, this is 4-1 series for them.

[GermanFan120]

When Green attempted that dunk over KP, I was screaming at my tv.

Who do you think you are, prime Lebron?

The guy's ball IQ cannot be taught. Sure he plays hard, but he plays stupid too.

[GermanFan120]

Also multiple low IQ moments of driving into traffic and KP under the rim...

DJJ is kinda known for those drives and Josh unfortunately doesn't understand basketball at all. But honestly that was the least of Mavs problems.

I honestly can't understand how unprepared we were for KP. He destroyed us in first half and couldn't do anything in second half.

Like things are looking, we will need Luka scoring 40 and Kyrie having a decent game to win something.

Kyrie has to score 25-30 on good percentage.
The deficit stck at 8 multiple possesions, Mavs could'ce gone for the kill, Kyrie **** his pants, refs screwed Lively and then it was over again, this happened after KP barrage in the 1st half.

The problem is given the talent comparison on paper, the margin of error is soooo soooo soooo tiny for us, we must execute perfectly like in 2011 to be able to prevail.

The difference is 2011 squads did it with veteran experience and heart, I am not sure this young Mavs have the same thing.

I tend to agree that we are not going to win this year but we are 1 or 1.5 pieces away from being the true contender.

[Dmavs12]

DJJ is kinda known for those drives and Josh unfortunately doesn't understand basketball at all. But honestly that was the least of Mavs problems.

I honestly can't understand how unprepared we were for KP. He destroyed us in first half and couldn't do anything in second half.

Like things are looking, we will need Luka scoring 40 and Kyrie having a decent game to win something.

Kyrie has to score 25-30 on good percentage.
The deficit stck at 8 multiple possesions, Mavs could'ce gone for the kill, Kyrie **** his pants, refs screwed Lively and then it was over again, this happened after KP barrage in the 1st half.

The problem is given the talent comparison on paper, the margin of error is soooo soooo soooo tiny for us, we must execute perfectly like in 2011 to be able to prevail.

The difference is 2011 squads did it with veteran experience and heart, I am not sure this young Mavs have the same thing.

I tend to agree that we are not going to win this year but we are 1 or 1.5 pieces away from being the true contender.

I agree with being 1 quality piece away. However, I’m not going to put much stock on this loss. The Mavericks have played their best in game 2 of the series following a loss. If the mavericks can’t win game 2 on Sunday, I’ll know we don’t have the talent to play with the Celtics team, and won’t worry about finding tickets to either Dallas game.

[arkuo]

Kyrie has to score 25-30 on good percentage.
The deficit stck at 8 multiple possesions, Mavs could'ce gone for the kill, Kyrie **** his pants, refs screwed Lively and then it was over again, this happened after KP barrage in the 1st half.

The problem is given the talent comparison on paper, the margin of error is soooo soooo soooo tiny for us, we must execute perfectly like in 2011 to be able to prevail.

The difference is 2011 squads did it with veteran experience and heart, I am not sure this young Mavs have the same thing.

I tend to agree that we are not going to win this year but we are 1 or 1.5 pieces away from being the true contender.

I agree with being 1 quality piece away. However, I’m not going to put much stock on this loss. The Mavericks have played their best in game 2 of the series following a loss. If the mavericks can’t win game 2 on Sunday, I’ll know we don’t have the talent to play with the Celtics team, and won’t worry about finding tickets to either Dallas game.

Portland is in a rut with a rebuilding team but having signed Jerami Grant to a big long term contract days before Lillard announced his desire to leave. To help them clear the books, THJ's expiring is perfect for that. Grant is a better skiller DJJ IMO. Outside shooting, slashing and everything. You add that to the starting lineup, then you bring the team's ceiling higher. They just need to see value in THJ's expiring which equates to savings and more cap space.

[arkuo]

Without the passing and the alley oops, Doncic just looks like a regular NBA all star. Boston managed to take that part out, add to that Kyrie's cold shooting night and you have a 20 pt blowout.

[arkuo]

KP is a very good example of why not a lot of players are willing to just stand in the corner for Doncic. Not everybody will just be open to slotting into a PJ Washington or a DJJ role for Luka. You have to find the right pieces and those pieces have to be willing to slot into that role. Sans the stat padding of Tatum earlier, it would look like KP was the main guy and Tatum was playing 2nd fiddle.

Overall, the Boston team is build differently with 4 stars + White. Holiday + Brown + Tatum + KP could all get plays called for them and have them do their own thing. Doncic's team is built around Doncic and Kyrie doing your turn my turn + 3 other guys trained to stand in the corner wait for a kick out pass or lob. Just different structures. We'll see what system works best

[Maverick41]

KP is a very good example of why not a lot of players are willing to just stand in the corner for Doncic. Not everybody will just be open to slotting into a PJ Washington or a DJJ role for Luka. You have to find the right pieces and those pieces have to be willing to slot into that role. Sans the stat padding of Tatum earlier, it would look like KP was the main guy and Tatum was playing 2nd fiddle.

Overall, the Boston team is build differently with 4 stars + White. Holiday + Brown + Tatum + KP could all get plays called for them and have them do their own thing. Doncic's team is built around Doncic and Kyrie doing your turn my turn + 3 other guys trained to stand in the corner wait for a kick out pass or lob. Just different structures. We'll see what system works best

To be fair, KP didn't do anything offensively that he wasn't enabled to do with Luka when he was in DAL. He shot 3s and shot middies over smaller players. Same thing he would do here. The difference isn't about who he's playing with now, the difference is that he's matured. One could say that his time in WAS humbled him.