This was a good game in many ways but you wouldn't be able to tell it. It's kind of fascinating how only the negative peaks the interest.
After the Lakers game and the first half vs the Sixers, it looked like the team had lost its way. They fought back and had an amazing 2nd half vs PHI and now just took the Warriors very seriously and were really sharp blowing them out.
Good signs.
—
BrunsonBrunson's run in the 2Q was excellent. His passing was great...
Then he didn't get back on the floor until the last 2 minutes of the 3Q.
Luka was playing drunk. Warriors making a little run. Brunson picked up right here he left off and proceed to just make the right plays.
I fully expect Brunson to want out of the Mavs at some point. He is way too good to have this inconsistent of a role. Not a star. Maybe not even a starter around the league. But definitely much better than a guy that has inconsistent playing time. 13 minutes is an absolute joke.
Dirk wrote:Keys to the game
- deploy Powell's superhero version
Perfect, 9/9
Dirk wrote:Keys to the game
- feed Bobi
Sabonis
Dirk wrote:- humiliate Marquese Chriss no longer applies
Draymond Green works as well. The disrespect for him was hilarious here.
—Luka rare footageC&S
Being nice to refs
Was it a foul
DFS beating a zone
NY 567 wrote:Doncic has looked off the last few games.
I know where you're coming from. But thing we're exaggerating a bit. Meaning, the bad stuff leads us to perceive things as being worse than they actually are. Some late game misses and then actual terrible games (say the Lakers the other day), just make things compound. My least favorite game from him was against the Nets.
This particular game is different. Mavs blew the other team out and at a certain point it just became a scrimmage for the Mavs. I don't even really care for it, although looking ahead, he actually should be more aware of when the team is playing well "without him", so he should just play within the team concept that was working --- 3q, he unnecessarily dribbled too much, decided to create on his own.
Mavs play Sacramento, unlikely that it's an easy game, so if he were to show up playing like he did yesterday, it'll really stick out.
leolozon wrote:
His game has been off for a while. If he’s already tired, maybe he should take this job more seriously and get in shape.
Think at times we forget that... the guy can play badly too. Some nights you just don't have it...
Sometimes I read "being tired" is an excuse. Like... when he plays badly he seems to be "always tired". I don't really buy that easy excuse. You can see him play terrible one quarter, then great the next.
So, it's more about "mentally" being locked in. At times he just isn't. That's clear.
As always ---Mavs weren't really supposed to be winning and Luka's game wasn't likely to be viewed under a microscope as much as we do it now...
Quick RecapHe was hurt and out for a bit. Was getting back into the flow. Then Mavs @ Lakers --- terrible game by everyone. Luka hits the floor hard. KP and THJ are out at the same time.
Things dramatically changed with the team here. The Mavs are scrambling around... we cannot ignore the drastic change in context.
Noticeably plays differently at OKC (he was playing at half speed because of his back it seemed). Mavs make an effort of getting another ball handler out there with him. They change the way they play. They are massively handicapped size wise and are just not playing well overall.
In this run you saw Bradley harass him, Kurucs look like the worlds best defender... the Mavs are severally handicapped and frustrations mount as they feel everything is against them, including refs.
Still, this was a 5 game run from Luka post that @LAL game and before the other Lakers game that everyone remembers from the other day.
Averaged 34 points, 11 rebounds, 8.8 assists, fg% .47, 3pt% .339
Mavs/Luka botched some late games. So I think this is what really triggers the generic perception of "looking badly/being off/etc". In reality, I think only the Nets game, the Sixers first half and the Lakers game were "bad".
Last 9 games
Off rtg with him 116.7, Net rtg +6.7 [the team tanked without him on the floor,speaks to the forced changes and the scrambling around]
TS% 54.8
If this is him at his 'worst',
we good. I guess it just speaks to the lofty expectations that that we perceive him as really struggling and have some of those numbers. The mental and physical load he is carrying cannot be underestimated. There have been certain times where it felt he was too stressed out (mental/physical) and at a risk. You have to protect him from himself at times and be smart. Giving him a game or two off at certain points in the season wouldn't be the worst idea. Think it's likely we'll see worse sequences than this one.