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MAVERICKS SHOCK CLIPPERS, GO UP 2-0
MAVS UNDEFEATED IN PLAYOFF MATCHES AT STAPLES

If the Clippers wanted the Mavericks in this series, they may just have themselves a tiger by the tail. The best-laid plans of Lue and Leonard gang aft agley. 


GAME STORY

Dirk was on hand to see the game, and looked very tall and happy. Rick dubbed him the Mavericks' good-luck charm. 

FIRST QUARTER

All players were available except Redick. Carlisle went with the same starting lineup that he used for the first time in Game One — Luka, THJ, DFS, KP, Maxi. Coach Lue also decided on his Game One plan, sticking with Pat Bev, PG, Kawhi, Zubac, and Morris. 

Both teams came out gunning. The Mavs were hot. Seven minutes in, Maxi (yes, Maxi!) already had 10 points. At 4:52, Doe-Doe was called for his second foul. J Rich served as the next man up. THJ lobbed to a cutting KP for a highlight jam. The Mavs’ fortunes dwindled as both benches filtered in. The Mavs started committing shooting fouls and turnovers. With 11 seconds left, Brunson was called for a foul on a three-point attempt by Kawhi. The quarter ended with a turnover by Luka. A quarter-high for the Mavs of 9 points was down to a 35-33 edge after one. The Mavs were ahead the entire period. 

Maxi led the Mavs with 12 points, followed closely by Tim with 10. Kawhi led all scorers with 18, and he and PG accounted for 26 of the Clips’ 33 points. The Clippers hit 10 of their 11 FTAs, while Dallas had no attempts from the line. 

SECOND QUARTER

The Clippers tied the game to open the second. A Reggie Jackson three gave LA their first lead of the game. The Mavs’ rim protection was close to non-existent, as the Clips paraded to the basket and the free throw line. A Richardson-WCS lob dunk tied the game at 45-all. I have to admit, I was getting anxious to get these bench-heavy lineups off the floor before it was too late. Maybe Rick was having similar thoughts -- a Mavs timeout brought four starters and Brunson to the floor at the 8:44 mark

JB was slithering to the basket like he was riding a Slip'n'Slide. KP did the same on a bad closeout by Zubac, and then hit a loooong three. A Rondo dash to the rim for a bucket in front of God and Porzee left THJ throwing up his arms at Kris, or so it seemed to me. The Mavs got their first free throw attempts of the game at 5:40, on a Rondo bump of KP. Zinger split the pair. Luka drew another pair, and split those. The sound of sweet string music sang from a sideline three by Luka. A Luka and-one brought him to 20 points. The Mavs were leading 60-53 at 4:23.

Luka then committed a loose ball foul under the Mavericks' basket. The game was delayed to stem the blood oozing from his hand. Kawhi blasted past KP for a score. DFS hit a three off an offensive rebound. Luka hit another from NYC. Another Luka turnover gifted a transition basket to PG. Kawhi scored on a postup of Maxi, despite Kleber’s fierce defense. Luka then turned it over again, which led to a Jackson bucket, returning the score to a tied game at 68-68. Tim drew a foul by Beverley, but missed both freebies. The teams exchanged threes, and Willie was called for a goaltend. The Clips won their first quarter of the series, and went into the locker room with a 73-71 edge. 

The Mavs hit 5 of their six 3PTAs in the quarter, but LA had a 24-14 advantage on PIP. Luka led  all scorers with 14 points. Kawhi led the opposition with 12. Kawhi (30) and Luka (23) both had or tied for the highest scoring playoff halves of their careers. The Mavs hit 67% of their shots, but the Clips hit 63%, and had the advantage in PIP and free throws. The Mavs bench unit (Luka-Brunson-JRich-Melli-WCS) looked more of a threat to the team than the Clippers.  

THIRD QUARTER

DFS began the third with a block of a Zubac layup, depriving Zu of his first points of the game. THJ followed with a three to put the Mavs back in the lead. Paul George was called for his third foul less than two minutes in, hacking Luka from behind. KP picked up two quick fouls, making it four for him at 8:11. Willie subbed in. THJ drew a charge by Patrick Beverley (who vociferously argued the call to Bill Kennedy, who regarded him with the calm and impassive head-nodding demeanor of a therapist), and was the first Mav to complete both free throw attempts. Luka completed another stunner from downtown, which drew a timeout with the score favoring the Mavs 85-78.

Zubac ruined the Clippers' ATO with a defensive three-second call. Marcus Morris fouled Maxi on an offensive rebound attempt, for the Clips fifth in the quarter. THJ went coast to coast for a layup. PG was called for his fourth foul at 3:20. The Mavs built a 12-point lead at 1:55. A Mavs turnover ensued, but Reggie Jackson, rather than capitalizing,  sailed the ball all the way down the court and out of bounds. Luka posted up Kawhi, and scored a one-legged fadeaway right over him. Dirk was spotted out of his seat cheering. The Mavs went into the fourth with a 101-92 advantage. Luka and Tim had 12 points apiece. The Clippers scored an embarrassing 19 points in the period. Luka, Tim and Dorian all played the entire 12 minutes. 

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth quarter began with one of the dreaded Luka-less lineups. Brunson-Richardson-DFS-KP-Powell. The starters returned less than four minutes in, with the visitors up 10. Dallas built up a 13-point lead, but it had dwindled to five when they called their sixth timeout with five minutes to go, with the Clippers having made an 8-0 run. Morris fouled out, sliding into Maxi off the ball for an offensive foul turnover. Reggie Jackson came on in his place.

The lead shrank to four with less than two minutes to go, but Hardaway hit a gorgeous three to put Dallas up seven at the 1:03 mark. DFS had the assist. PG dashed to the basket to cut the lead to five. Luka missed a shot, but DFS grabbed the offensive board, and was intentionally fouled with the clock down to 23 seconds. The Clips immediately fouled again, and Josh Richardson came through with both free throws. Batum responded with a three. The Clips fouled again, and Josh answered the call a second time. LA missed a couple of threes, the buzzer sounded, and the Mavs declared victory!!!! FAN-TASTIC!!!!


STATISTICS

Once again, the shooting stats tell it all. The Mavs were 62% on 2PTAs, 53% on 3PTAs, and 54% on free throws. Comparable percentages for the Clippers were 63/39/90. Maverick point differentials were -4 on points from twos, +15 on points from threes, and -5 on made free throws. Living by the three, Mavs fans!! You can't beat it with a stick! The Clips had a 60-48 advantage on PIP, and the Mavs missed 11 free throws (yikes), but their hot shooting overwhelmed LA once again.   


PLAYERS

DONCIC.  Luka had another amazing night, scoring 39 points, and putting up 7 rebounds and 7 assists (also 7 turnovers and five missed free throws, but why dwell on the negative on a night like this?). In the second half, he turned up his defensive gears and helped limit the Clips to a 48-point last twenty-four. Incandescent! The Clippers cannot stop him! Loved that saucy shot over Kawhi!

HARDAWAY. “Habanero” Hardaway threw flames all over the court, registering 28 points on 9-14 shooting, getting to the line for a team-high 8 FTAs, and leading the team in minutes with 38:12. The sizzling starting back court of Luka and Hardaway combined for 67 points!  

PORZINGIS. KP had a better game this time, putting up 20 points on  8-12 shooting, and leading the team with 3 steals and 2 dramatic blocks.  Rick attributed the impetus for the win to KP and Luka taking their defense to another level in the third quarter. In off-the-court matters, it was reported before the game that the NBA had fined Zinger $50K for visiting a strip club in violation of protocols. Porzee said after the match that he had been "confused" about the protocols, had made a mistake, and had paid for it. OK, then. 

He also said that he had realized that, offensively, they also serve who only stand and decoy, and that he understands now that, with Kawhi guarding him, he draws away the opponent’s best defender and makes a contribution even when he is just standing there. 

KLEBER.  Maxi, listed as questionable before the game, was able to play for 34 minutes. He had a career high in playoff scoring with 13 points on 5-6 FGAs. He is the Mavericks’ only real answer for Kawhi, and he made Leonard work for every point. 

DFS.  Doe-Doe cooled off offensively from the previous match, scoring only 3 points and going 1-6 from the field. However, he had 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and his defense against Paul George was indispensable. 

BENCH.  Josh had 9 points, all earned in the fourth quarter. Four of those were the critical four free throws at the end of the game, when the team as a whole was struggling from the line. His defense in the frame was also key. Brunson put up 9 points in 17 minutes, managed the game when Luka was getting a breather, and frustrated the Clips with his ability to get to the basket. Willie came alive in the third quarter, coming in when Porzingis was called for his fourth foul at 8:17, played the rest of the period, and was a part of the crew that devastated the Clips in that frame. Melli and Powell had cameos. Neither scored, but they gave the other bigs a chance to catch their breath. 

CLIPPERS. Kawhi was a wonder, but just didn’t have enough help. He scored a game-high 41 points, and had 10 FTAs, but he was still the second-best player on the court. Paul George had 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists, but ran into some foul trouble at various points in the game. Reggie Jackson had 15 points off the bench. After that, it was slim pickings on the Clippers roster. All of the starters were in negative figures, four of them in double-digit red territory. 


OBSERVATIONS

Rick revealed after the game that the coaching staff had showed the team some film at halftime, and challenged them to put up a defensive stand. He was very pleased with their response. In general, he liked his squad's offensive energy and recognition. He acknowledged that the game looked in danger of getting a little chippy at times, and he relied on the veteran experience of THJ and J Rich to help his team stay on an even keel. 

This was a TREMENDOUS victory for your Dallas Mavericks. They have beaten the championship-or-else Clippers in the first two games, on the Clips' home floor. It’s of course not over yet, and I hope the young Mavs can maintain their level of intensity back at the AAC. If they can get excellent performances from two of the 77-6-11 trio, and a good performance from the other, I think these players are going to be quite hard to stop. 

Statistically speaking, teams who go up 2-0 at the beginning of a series win the series almost all of the time. We have seen the Mavs both go down two and win, and win two and lose. The Clippers are still a formidable team. But the LAC are in a World. Of. Hurt. If Ty Lue has any emergency buttons left to push, now would be the time.


The two teams will face off again on Friday in Dallas in front of 15,000 home fans. These Mavericks look like a very confident team out there!

A great showing, MFFLs! This is the stuff our dreams are made of!

It was a Tale of Two Willie's...

Once again, we were golden at +12 with all starters in.

The team absolutely died in the late first and early second at -8 when Luka returned with a bench platoon of WCS, Melli, JRich and Brunson.  That crew without THJ struggles against the likes of Jackson, Batum, Rondo, Ibaka and one of the Clipper stars.

However, in the third, Willie came in early because of KP foul trouble.  It contributed significantly to holding LAC to 19 points in the 3rd.  I count only 12 points from the time Willie came in at the 8:16 mark.  The team held it together for another four minutes of +1 when Powell replaced Willie, but the second half was much less platooned as 3 starters played the entire 3rd and KP and DFS joined DP, JRich and Brunson to start the 4th.

It was basically an 8 man rotation (I count Willie Cauley-Powell as one guy).  Melli got the Burke cameo.  It is interesting how Carlisle uses that little segment to help set up the rotation.  BTW, this is a spot where we need some help...especially if JRich off the bench is a permanent thing.

DFS deserves some kind of recognition.  The team was -11 when he sat.  Talk about someone who is going to get paid!

Playoff Luka is just a different animal.  He's AVERAGING 32/10/9 (rounded on the rebounds and assists) on 50% shooting and 38% from three (but only 61% from the line) in his 8 game playoff career.  There seems to be another gear that doesn't exist in the regular season.  I usually start freaking out when the other team makes a late run.  19-20's record in clutch games probably conditioned me to a Pavolvian response.  But, you can see it in the close ups.  There is this "Its OK, I know what to do" mentality the last two games.  It should be scary to anyone in the West, though I'm not sure we have the right players to handle Philly

(05-26-2021, 07:56 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]It should be scary to anyone in the West, though I'm not sure we have the right players to handle Philly

Here is a small video montage of the first two games...well, sort of...in a figurative sense.    You're welcome.

https://youtu.be/H1OgwEzL_VQ

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/col...li=BBnb7Kz

What gets me is the LAC attitude of "2 games is nothing", but I sense some (a lot?) of tension behind the nonchalance.

(05-26-2021, 10:01 AM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/col...li=BBnb7Kz

What gets me is the LAC attitude of "2 games is nothing", but I sense some (a lot?) of tension behind the nonchalance.

Yeah, I don't think they really believe the "no big deal" stuff. If they do, they're crazy

Maybe, with his off court escapade, KP is channeling Broadway Joe??!!   I just hope he can cash the check as well as Joe.

(05-26-2021, 10:16 AM)mtrot Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe, with his off court escapade, KP is channeling Broadway Joe??!!   I just hope he can cash the check as well as Joe.

As long as he doesn't go off making guarantees...

Were you guys suffering when Scott Foster started giving KL free shots every time down the floor in the second?

(05-26-2021, 10:04 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, I don't think they really believe the "no big deal" stuff. If they do, they're crazy

The deceptively toxic mix of arrogance, cluelessness, and denial has been the hallmark of the Clippers the past few years. I look forward to them getting sent home and repeating the same platitudes next year about how they're title favorites and there's "no level of concern" for their obvious shortcomings.

---

(05-26-2021, 10:54 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]Were you guys suffering when Scott Foster started giving KL free shots every time down the floor in the second?

My favorite was when he took the time to watch the replay and still couldn't find any body contact on Beverley's "block" on Hardaway in the 4th. That was something else. But the thing I like about this team right now is their ability to take something like that, shrug it off, and just keep winning. That's the type of lack of concern I can get behind.

(05-26-2021, 10:54 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]Were you guys suffering when Scott Foster started giving KL free shots every time down the floor in the second?

I screamed so loud I woke everyone up in the house. Something along the lines of "HES SO CROOKED. HE'S FIXIN THE MATCH"

Started to sound like a 1930's boxing reporter who just found out the mafia meddled with a match near the end of it, thats how much I was seething with rage.

(05-26-2021, 10:04 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, I don't think they really believe the "no big deal" stuff. If they do, they're crazy

Clippers are whistling past the graveyard with all their nonsense. 

But if I were a Clippers fan who believed all that bravado, that "yawn, We're the Clippers, no worries" attitude would have me incensed.

(05-26-2021, 12:06 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]But if I were a Clippers fan who believed all that bravado, that "yawn, We're the Clippers, no worries" attitude would have me incensed.

I can't imagine that the Clippers fans are buying this stuff. But, who knows, they are Clippers fans.

(05-26-2021, 12:10 PM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]I can't imagine that the Clippers fans are buying this stuff. But, who knows, they are Clippers fans.

Bingo, lol.

What a thread!!! The literary references alone make it worthwhile, starting off with Robert Burns (gang aft agley), ending with Charles Dickens (it was the best of Willie, it was the worst of Willie), with a little of my fav Lee Child (starring Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher) in between. So cultured up in here!

Now to the game:

1. The first half was a complete blowout but for the NBA-sponsored efforts to keep the Clips within reach. Scott Foster, you da man! In fact, 2 of the 4 fouls called on the Clips were actually efforts to HELP the Clips prevent a Dallas shot, including the one with 5 seconds to go where the ref waited for Rondo to raise his hand before reaching for the whistle. Sheesh.

2. The third Q was a reversal. Mavs given a chance to catch up in FT attempts. The DFS “block” of Zubac right out of the gate was a foul during any moment of the first half. Both teams looked shocked by the absence of a call, and the ball nearly bounced out of bounds before the Mavs realized their fortunes had changed and grabbed it just in time. Props to Rick for recognizing that this was the Mavs big opportunity and riding Luka/THJ the entire friendly officiated period.

3. The OP kinda makes the case for me on that third Q: “DFS began the third with a block of a Zubac layup, depriving Zu of his first points of the game. THJ followed with a three to put the Mavs back in the lead. Paul George was called for his third foul less than two minutes in, hacking Luka from behind.”

4. I have few complaints about that 4th Q. But bravo to Mr. Foster for having the balls to reverse that mauling of THJ from behind. I suspect he was applying the no-penetration/no-assault rule. But I’m not 100% sure there was no penetration.

5. Ok, maybe more than few complaints. The Clippers’ screens look like they’re set by pulling offensive tackles. The last foul that sent Morris to the pine was different only in that he happened to catch Maxi square in the mug. It simply amazes me the double standard on screens. Will be very interesting to see if that changes at the AAC. 

6. A word about free throws. I’ve seen it a million times. When one team is overly physical and getting away with it, it does something physically or psychologically, or both, that uniquely affects the abusee’s free throws. It’s like you have to really amp up the adrenaline to prepare yourself to shoot through the foul. And when you finally get a relaxed, uncontested look at the basket, it’s just not possible to relax through the shot. Taking deep breaths and telling yourself to calm down is unhelpful cause (my theory) there’s just too much juice coursing through your veins. I’ve often wondered if the better approach might be to step back 12 inches to account for the extra juice rather than trying to calm yourself down.

7. Speaking of which, it looks to me like it took Jalen Brunson about 6 minutes of playoff experience to get that there was going to be significant, unwhistled mauling every time he touched the ball. He adjusted faster than any young player I’ve ever seen. He anticipates and attacks the physicality like a kid who grew up playing one-on-one against an older brother. (Which makes me wonder if that was actually the case.) And of course, attacking the physicality tends to make it worse and can even force the whistles. I’m so impressed with him. 

8. My homerism is reaching new levels with this take. But I can’t help myself. Jalen, Maxi (Maxi!!!), DFS, and THJ have reached untouchable status in my mind. I cannot believe you improve this team—not in the long run—by trading Maxi for John Collins or Jalen for Kyle Lowry or DFS for Robert Covington or THJ for Zach Lavine. Any of those guys might do great here. But they also might regress. (See Richardson, Josh; Wright, Delon; Rondo, Rajon; Odom, Lamar.) The guys who are already here (1) fit, (2) cost less, (3) play playoff-brand basketball, (4) won’t try to compete with Luka, (5) listen to the coach, (6) stay out of trouble, (7) are kicking Clipper ass. THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD A TEAM! The offseason questions are (a) who can we add without subtracting, and (b) is KP also a guy we can say the same 7 things about.

(05-26-2021, 12:29 PM)Jommybone Wrote: [ -> ]My homerism is reaching new levels with this take. But I can’t help myself. Jalen, Maxi (Maxi!!!), DFS, and THJ have reached untouchable status in my mind. I cannot believe you improve this team—not in the long run—by trading Maxi for John Collins or Jalen for Kyle Lowry or DFS for Robert Covington or THJ for Zach Lavine. Any of those guys might do great here. But they also might regress. (See Richardson, Josh; Wright, Delon; Rondo, Rajon; Odom, Lamar.) The guys who are already here (1) fit, (2) cost less, (3) play playoff-brand basketball, (4) won’t try to compete with Luka, (5) listen to the coach, (6) stay out of trouble, (7) are kicking Clipper ass. THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD A TEAM! The offseason questions are (a) who can we add without subtracting, and (b) is KP also a guy we can say the same 7 things about.

I've been in favor of letting things simmer to get all the flavors to meld together, although I admit to times of wanting to trade some or all of THJ, DFS, and KP (The Alphabet Kids?) The last two games look like the simmering is starting to pay off.


Right now I'm sort of back in 2011, with that "hold-your-breath-wanting-to-believe-but-afraid-of-the-let-down" feeling. If I was RC, I'd house everyone in a hotel Thursday night just to get that road game, us against them feeling back again.

(05-26-2021, 01:12 PM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]although I admit to times of wanting to trade some or all of THJ, DFS, and KP (The Alphabet Kids?) 

Love that 

(05-26-2021, 12:29 PM)Jommybone Wrote: [ -> ]What a thread!!! 

8. My homerism is reaching new levels with this take. But I can’t help myself. Jalen, Maxi (Maxi!!!), DFS, and THJ have reached untouchable status in my mind. I cannot believe you improve this team—not in the long run—by trading Maxi for John Collins or Jalen for Kyle Lowry or DFS for Robert Covington or THJ for Zach Lavine. Any of those guys might do great here. But they also might regress. (See Richardson, Josh; Wright, Delon; Rondo, Rajon; Odom, Lamar.) The guys who are already here (1) fit, (2) cost less, (3) play playoff-brand basketball, (4) won’t try to compete with Luka, (5) listen to the coach, (6) stay out of trouble, (7) are kicking Clipper ass. THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD A TEAM! The offseason questions are (a) who can we add without subtracting, and (b) is KP also a guy we can say the same 7 things about.

Nice post!