MavsBoard

Who was the player of the game who elevated his game to help the team win?

Hardaway reminded the entire team today that they’re capable of winning. He gets my vote.

This is the Hardaway we’ve all been hoping for so hopefully he’s back. We need the average nights to be the 6-14 we saw in Detroit and the flame throwing nights look like the 8-13 today. As long as he isn’t having long stretches of 0-7 and 0-9 games he’s soooo helpful.

(12-03-2022, 03:03 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: [ -> ]This is the Hardaway we’ve all been hoping for so hopefully he’s back. We need the average nights to be the 6-14 we saw in Detroit and the flame throwing nights look like the 8-13 today. As long as he isn’t having long stretches of 0-7 and 0-9 games he’s soooo helpful.

It was really 8-12 when you take that unselfish, end-of-quarter heave out of the equation. 

They aren't all going to be nearly this good, but as you say I sure hope he gets going with a little more consistency.

The shooting won’t be there every game but I was more impressed with the defense and rebounding.  Good things to see.

As a team they took the life away from the Knicks.  It is the energy we saw all the time over the second part of the year.

(12-03-2022, 03:21 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]The shooting won’t be there every game but I was more impressed with the defense and rebounding.

I am convinced these things are connected, not coincidental.

Tim, for increasing his trade value.

(12-03-2022, 03:25 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I am convinced these things are connected, not coincidental.

They are for sure for a couple reasons. One is unfortunate in that we tend to play like front runners (Luka is the worst offender of this) so bad shooting leads to bad energy. The other is something that Karrala highlighted well on his last podcast. Missing a bunch of threes leads to a ton of long rebounds/transition points for the other team. It’s something I think doesn’t get enough conversation in the high volume three point shooting era and the reason you see so many blowouts and huge comebacks these days.

Ok, Tim. But 17/9/9 is one helluva stat line.

Jalen Brunson

The defense was good.  I think this was the Key.  But, alright, I'll give my Dirkie to THJ.  I guess he earned it.  It's kind of bittersweet because he simply can't be depended on to play this way all the time.  Sometimes he's hot.  Most of the time he's not.  He got a Dirkie tonight.

Christian Wood.  He didn't miss a defensive rotation the entire game!

(12-03-2022, 03:03 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: [ -> ]This is the Hardaway we’ve all been hoping for so hopefully he’s back. We need the average nights to be the 6-14 we saw in Detroit and the flame throwing nights look like the 8-13 today. As long as he isn’t having long stretches of 0-7 and 0-9 games he’s soooo helpful.

He's on a heater now. But all this can change in the blink of an eye. One thing about THJ, he's going to keep chucking until he finds his groove again.

(12-04-2022, 09:10 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]He's on a heater now. But all this can change in the blink of an eye. One thing about THJ, he's going to keep chucking until he finds his groove again.

I had to skim the board last night because I went to the TCU game (which is an 11 hour endeavor for me).  So, I don't recall who said this, but I liked it.  The theory went that THJ the bench player feels compelled to try to do too much.  Whereas, THJ playing next to Luka plays a limited role that he's more suited to.  Maybe its BS and we are just seeing a short term bump from the 'promotion'.  I'm hopeful.  I like how it splits up some of the non-defenders who were on the bench together.  I'm not a huge fan of Luka, THJ and Dinwiddie sharing the floor (and counting on Powell and DFS to clean up their mistakes) the first few minutes of each half.  

In four games of Hardaway starting, THJ is +18.  One bad game, one +0 and two good games.  His O/D ratings are 121/118 in those games.  Not great, but as a reserve the numbers are 94/113.  Super small sample size alert.