02-23-2021, 06:05 AM
MAVS CRUISE PAST GRIZZLIES IN RETURN TO AAC
After an 8-day layoff, the Mavericks posted a wire-to-wire win over Ja and the Grizz.
NOTABLE ITEMS
GAME FLOW. Both teams got off to a relatively slow start, but the Mavs recovered quickly, thanks to 20 points in the first quarter from JRich and THJ. Our team did not have an outstanding scoring quarter (26 points), but they held Memphis to an embarrassing 13. In the second period, THJ and Brunson hit 21 of the team’s 26 points, and the home team were able to add a few points to their lead, carrying a 54-36 advantage into halftime.
The Mavs’ hot shooting cooled off in the third (0-7 from deep), but Memphis was unable to capitalize, and our boys led 81-62 after three. We more or less hung in for most of the fourth quarter, then allowed the lead to shrink to 10 in the last three minutes. Game, set, match.
LINEUPS. Porzingis was out with back stiffness, and Rick elected to go with Dwight Powell in the starting lineup. He used a big rotation of Maxi (27 min), Powell 27, and Willie 21. The three combined for 12 points and 15 boards. Rick played his usual 8.5 man rotation, with Burke getting a 10-minute runout. Maxi exited the game with a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter. The finishing lineup was the same as the starters, but with Tim in for Maxi.
STATS. The Mavs completed 15-41 of their threes (37%), as compared to their opponents' putrid 6-31 (19%). Dallas led in fast-break points 24-2 and bench points 52-36, while the Grizz stayed in the game with 56 PIP and 13 offensive rebounds.
LATE GAME MELTDOWN. The last three minutes were ugly, with the Mavs committing three turnovers, giving up 5 offensive boards, and taking some bad shots. Rick said the offending parties have been spoken to.
GUARD PLAY. It was very much the Night of the Guards, with Luka, THJ, Brunson, and Josh combining for 86 of the team’s 102 points. Timmy went supernova, scoring 20 points in the first half and leading all scorers with 29 points, including a blistering 7-11 from deep. Brunson added 19 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, going 7-11 from the floor. Josh got the Mavs off to a good start with an 11-point first period, and contributed a solid 17 points and 7 boards. Luka got off to a bit of a slow beginning, with 7 points in the first half, but ended the night with a 21/7/5 line, and would have continued his 25+ point scoring streak had it not been for a head-scratching 2-9 effort from the line.
GRIZZLIES. Ja Morant led his team with 22 points and 9 assists, and Jonas Valanciunas did most of his damage inside with 11 points and 15 boards. The Mavs got a little lucky that Memphis missed some open shots, but overall, the visitors gave a decidedly underwhelming performance.
OBSERVATIONS
Rick thought this was one of the team's best defensive games of the season. He complimented Maxi for his efforts on that end, and raved over Timmy. Coach commended Hardaway for being an edgy competitor, playing like a winner, always looking to play the right way and make an impact, and showing improvement in the defense and rebounding areas. Per Carlisle, Tim is “my kind of guy.”
It was a bit disconcerting to hear that KP was on the injury list after a week off, but perhaps the Mavs were just resting him on the first night of a B2B. I debated with myself about admitting this, but one of my first thoughts on seeing this was to wonder whether the team would put in a better defensive performance without him. I don’t want to have to think like that. At any rate, Dallas did a good job in his absence against an offensively challenged Memphis team.
The team looked fresh and ready, and I liked the sense of urgency, minus maybe the last few minutes. Rick said the team needed to concentrate better at the end, but didn’t want to dwell on that, due to his desire not to “make a win feel like a loss.” I can dig that philosophy.
Overall, not the most suspenseful of games, but a solid performance from our team, which looked much the better for their days off. Speaking of, I hope all the MFFLs have recovered from the weather disaster in Texas. The Mavs, Cuban, Cynt Marshall, and several of the players joined to contribute $1.25M to the relief effort. Dwight Powell led the charge among the players to chip in to alleviate the suffering in their state. Kudos to the civic-minded individuals and organization!
Last but certainly not least, Luka is to be congratulated on being voted an All-Star Team starter, edging out Damian Lillard on a fan vote tiebreaker. He is the only Maverick ever to be voted in as a starter in consecutive years. Doncic, ever the picture of graciousness, said that he wasn’t expecting to be a starter, that Lillard probably deserved it a little more than he did, and that in a couple of years, no one will remember who started and who didn’t.
The Celtics are up next, on Tuesday evening.
Be well, Mavs fans!
After an 8-day layoff, the Mavericks posted a wire-to-wire win over Ja and the Grizz.
NOTABLE ITEMS
GAME FLOW. Both teams got off to a relatively slow start, but the Mavs recovered quickly, thanks to 20 points in the first quarter from JRich and THJ. Our team did not have an outstanding scoring quarter (26 points), but they held Memphis to an embarrassing 13. In the second period, THJ and Brunson hit 21 of the team’s 26 points, and the home team were able to add a few points to their lead, carrying a 54-36 advantage into halftime.
The Mavs’ hot shooting cooled off in the third (0-7 from deep), but Memphis was unable to capitalize, and our boys led 81-62 after three. We more or less hung in for most of the fourth quarter, then allowed the lead to shrink to 10 in the last three minutes. Game, set, match.
LINEUPS. Porzingis was out with back stiffness, and Rick elected to go with Dwight Powell in the starting lineup. He used a big rotation of Maxi (27 min), Powell 27, and Willie 21. The three combined for 12 points and 15 boards. Rick played his usual 8.5 man rotation, with Burke getting a 10-minute runout. Maxi exited the game with a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter. The finishing lineup was the same as the starters, but with Tim in for Maxi.
STATS. The Mavs completed 15-41 of their threes (37%), as compared to their opponents' putrid 6-31 (19%). Dallas led in fast-break points 24-2 and bench points 52-36, while the Grizz stayed in the game with 56 PIP and 13 offensive rebounds.
LATE GAME MELTDOWN. The last three minutes were ugly, with the Mavs committing three turnovers, giving up 5 offensive boards, and taking some bad shots. Rick said the offending parties have been spoken to.
GUARD PLAY. It was very much the Night of the Guards, with Luka, THJ, Brunson, and Josh combining for 86 of the team’s 102 points. Timmy went supernova, scoring 20 points in the first half and leading all scorers with 29 points, including a blistering 7-11 from deep. Brunson added 19 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, going 7-11 from the floor. Josh got the Mavs off to a good start with an 11-point first period, and contributed a solid 17 points and 7 boards. Luka got off to a bit of a slow beginning, with 7 points in the first half, but ended the night with a 21/7/5 line, and would have continued his 25+ point scoring streak had it not been for a head-scratching 2-9 effort from the line.
GRIZZLIES. Ja Morant led his team with 22 points and 9 assists, and Jonas Valanciunas did most of his damage inside with 11 points and 15 boards. The Mavs got a little lucky that Memphis missed some open shots, but overall, the visitors gave a decidedly underwhelming performance.
OBSERVATIONS
Rick thought this was one of the team's best defensive games of the season. He complimented Maxi for his efforts on that end, and raved over Timmy. Coach commended Hardaway for being an edgy competitor, playing like a winner, always looking to play the right way and make an impact, and showing improvement in the defense and rebounding areas. Per Carlisle, Tim is “my kind of guy.”
It was a bit disconcerting to hear that KP was on the injury list after a week off, but perhaps the Mavs were just resting him on the first night of a B2B. I debated with myself about admitting this, but one of my first thoughts on seeing this was to wonder whether the team would put in a better defensive performance without him. I don’t want to have to think like that. At any rate, Dallas did a good job in his absence against an offensively challenged Memphis team.
The team looked fresh and ready, and I liked the sense of urgency, minus maybe the last few minutes. Rick said the team needed to concentrate better at the end, but didn’t want to dwell on that, due to his desire not to “make a win feel like a loss.” I can dig that philosophy.
Overall, not the most suspenseful of games, but a solid performance from our team, which looked much the better for their days off. Speaking of, I hope all the MFFLs have recovered from the weather disaster in Texas. The Mavs, Cuban, Cynt Marshall, and several of the players joined to contribute $1.25M to the relief effort. Dwight Powell led the charge among the players to chip in to alleviate the suffering in their state. Kudos to the civic-minded individuals and organization!
Last but certainly not least, Luka is to be congratulated on being voted an All-Star Team starter, edging out Damian Lillard on a fan vote tiebreaker. He is the only Maverick ever to be voted in as a starter in consecutive years. Doncic, ever the picture of graciousness, said that he wasn’t expecting to be a starter, that Lillard probably deserved it a little more than he did, and that in a couple of years, no one will remember who started and who didn’t.
The Celtics are up next, on Tuesday evening.
Be well, Mavs fans!
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/xT0Gqcep93oHl1Zzhe/giphy.gif)