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

https://www.mavs.com/mavs-com-game40-dirkjerseyretired/

Mavs Obliterate Warriors in San Francisco

Mavs crushed the tanking Golden State. As a result, we got to see what we have in the way of deep bench players. They looked pretty good!


Game Story and Analytics

I can't say this match had much narrative drama. The Mavericks put their foot on the Dubs' neck early, and never took it off. As far as statistics are concerned, the visitors dominated in most categories. 


Players

Luka (27 min) had a 20-8-2 line. It was a very off night for the young superstar. He was 2-9 on 3PTAs and a horrific 2-8 from the line. He had 2 assists and 3 turnovers. He played off the ball a fair amount, as the Mavs went for a more diversified offense. Despite his poor performance, he was smiling, and seemed pretty relaxed, perhaps in view of the blowout. Luka looks to me as if he might be wearing down a little, with the grind of a long season. Hopefully, not. Other than that, I don't know how to explain his shooting slump (by his standards), but his teammates stepped up, and things worked out for the best. 

Steve Kerr lavished Luka with compliments after the game, saying that he is Larry Bird-like in his knack for seeing the floor and always being a step ahead in the chess match. Kerr also compared Doncic to Harden, with his crossovers and step-backs. Steve expects the Slovenian to be a cornerstone of the league for a long time. High praise from a very respected source!

Powell (24 min) had an outstanding game. He was the team's leading scorer with 21 points on perfect 9-9 shooting. He scored in a variety of ways, including hitting a three, putting the ball on the deck, putting it back after his teammates' misses, and throwing down lob dunks. This represented the continuation of a great stretch for Dwight. Rick praised him for being one of the most efficient players in the game offensively. Way to go, Diamond!

Hardaway (24 min) had 12 points on 11 shots, and was 2-8 from long range. What I think is interesting here, as well as in recent games, is the way they are using him as a distributor. He was second on the team with 4 assists, and was the primary ball handler in stretches. It looks as if Rick is trying to turn THJ into a secondary playmaker. That would be big, if it happens. 

Boban (20 min) had an extended run-out, and put up 13 points and 11 boards. It is so much fun to watch the giant play! Although Bobi is not known for defense, when he stands next to the rim, the opponent can hit him with everything they've got, and he doesn't move an inch, lol. After the game, he cited the team's great chemistry as a factor in their performance. Rick commended him for a very solid game.

Barea passed Jason Terry to become the player who has played the 6th most games for the Mavs. 


Remarks

Carlisle said there are a lot of new guys on the team, and he thinks the synergy is finally starting to come together. He liked the way the squad played, complimenting them on their concentration and focus on the defensive end of the court. 

The Warriors are a seriously sucky team. Kudos to their fans for continuing to turn out for this mess. I don't know how much we can read into this blowout, given how terrible the home team was. We'll take the win, but this match didn't offer a lot in the way of entertainment value, tbh. 


Next.  Sacramento, on Wednesday. I have a conflict, and it is doubtful that I will be able to do a recap. If anyone wants to do a postgame thread, feel free. I will be very interested in whatever transpires. 

Go Mavs!

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

Mavs Fell Sixers in Comeback Blowout

Well, that's more like it! Mavs fall behind in first half, but return with a vengeance in the second. Great team win to close out the home stand at 3-3.


Game Story

KP was out for the Mavs. Philly was missing Joel Embiid. 

The first half was a nightmare. Rick started Maxi in KP's place, but the gambit failed to produce a favorable opening. The Mavericks turned the ball over and gave up offensive rebounds at a fiendish rate (not just because of Maxi, of course -- no one looked good). They were saved only by the Sixers' abysmal shooting, and went into the interval with a 41-50 deficit, representing an improvement from 12 points down. They had set a season record for fewest points scored in a half. The less remembered about that, the better. 

At halftime, one of the assistant coaches, Mike Weiner, gave a few well-timed words which Rick thinks motivated the team. They came out of the locker room with force, zoomed past the visitors about halfway through the third, and never looked back. In the fourth, they reached a double-digit lead that ultimately ballooned to as much as 21 points. Whew!


Analytics

This was a strange one. The Mavs put up a whopping 19 shots fewer than Philly, including a 10-try deficit in three-point attempts. Luckily for Dallas, the Sixers shot so poorly that the Mavs came out of the game with eight more points from the field than their opponent. The home team also had a 27-12 edge in free-throw attempts, and despite missing 9 free throws, came out way ahead on points from the line. At the final buzzer, the Mavericks were +2 on points from twos, +6 on points from threes, and +10 on made free throws. 

Dallas lost 16 points on turnovers, but had a 16-point advantage in second-chance points, despite giving up 14 offensive rebounds. The defense looked much better in the second half, with the Sixers limited to 41 points, and the offense clicked, serving up 68 points in the last 24 minutes. 


Players

Powell (35 min). It was a good night for the big man, who put up 19 points on 8-11 shooting, along with a season-high 12 rebounds. The FSSW crew complimented Dwight for stepping up in the absence of KP, putting the ball on the deck, shouldering part of the scoring load, crashing the boards, and doing a lot of dirty work. They particularly praised his energy and effort in the third quarter, when he led the team with 10 points. Powell is becoming a pretty reliable scorer, which could be an exciting development. 

Luka (33 min) had a 19-8-12 line. He made only 4 shots out of 15 attempts, but got to the line for a game-high 12 freebies. He turned the ball over 5 times, but three of those were in the first quarter, and he took better care of the ball once he calmed down. Despite not shooting very well, he had a positive impact on the game, and did a good job of staying within the flow of the offense as the game went along. 

DFS (32 min) had a steady performance, putting up 16 points on 7-10 shooting, and collecting 6 rebounds. Perhaps even more important than his contributions to the box score was his excellent defense. Cedric and Jet credited DFS and DP as two of the major factors in the victory. Doe Doe said after the game that he has the green light to decide whether to crash the offensive glass or get back on D on any given play, and feels that he has developed the ability to make good reads in that respect. Good progress!

Maxi (31 min) had 10 points and 8 boards in his starting role, and helped carry the defensive load in the front court. Rick thought Kleber played great. He would have loved to start Maxi every game in the last stretch, but cited some sort of minutes concern. Coach saw a need to play bigger and more physically against Philadelphia, so gave the German the nod to start. 

Tim (30 min) recorded 12 points and 9 boards, and at times took over the primary ball-handling activity, giving Luka some time to play off the ball. THJ clearly considers it his job to take the initiative to carry the scoring load when necessary. That can sometimes result in his trying to do too much, but it is good to see someone take that kind of responsibility. 

Rick thought that Jackson (16 min) did a terrific job spelling Maxi. Brunson fouled out in 10 minutes. Guarding Ben Simmons is hard. 

Boban (8 min) put up 12 points in short minutes, and was featured on the promotional materials in this game against his former team. Rick said he made some huge plays, and commended him for staying ready. A favorite among teammates, fans, and even the opponent, he drew cheers whenever he scored, and his game-ending three had the bench and crowd going wild, lol. Powell said seeing Bobi make the sixth three of his career was "sheer elation" and "utter joy." Even KP was jumping up and cheering from the bench, and Luka was celebrating like they had won the game of the century. Fun times!


Random Observations

Dirk was in the crowd, sitting next to Mark Cuban. When he was introduced on the Jumbotron, the ovation was so loud that the Sixers coaches had to give up on trying to explain the next play to their huddle, lol. Dirk kept an eye on his compatriot from Wurzburg, and appeared to enjoy the game. 

Kudos to Ryan Broekhoff and Ben Simmons for making a pre-game appearance to bring awareness to the fans regarding the disastrous wildfires in their homeland of Australia. 


Remarks

The Mavs entered the game looking like they had come straight from the Lakers match. Terrible. I was beginning to fear that the team was on some type of downhill spiral. But in the second half, their attentive defense and rebounding took away the Sixers' transition game, and they were able to take advantage of an underperforming Philadelphia team. The offense was really clicking, in a way we hadn't seen in a while, and that was satisfying. The crowd was very into it, and Rick thought that was a factor in the W. Great to see the Mavs looking like themselves again!


Next.  Golden State, in San Francisco, on Tuesday. 

Go Mavs!

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

Mavs Blown Out By AD-Less Lakers

What a beatdown. Mavericks lay an egg at home in a contest with a hated opponent. 


Game Story

KP and Broekhoff were out for the Mavs. The Lakers were missing AD and Cousins.

Basically, the Lakers reached a double-digit lead within a few minutes, and never surrendered it. 

For further gory details, Carlisle put Wright in for KP in the starting lineup, choosing to go small for much of the game. The Mavs came out flat (as they often do at home), while LeBron was in beast mode and his team followed his example. The Lakers had a season-high in points in a quarter, with a 45-27 lead at the end of the first period. The LA team waltzed to the rim at will. The Mavs were 2-11 on 3PTAs and gave up 14 points off turnovers. 

Around three minutes into the second, Carlisle called a timeout and gave his team a tongue-lashing in the huddle regarding their poor defense, according to a sideline reporter. Late in the period, Luka went to the line, missed both free throws, and ripped his jersey, playing the remainder of the half with a split-shirt look. At the interval, the scoreline stood at 58-79, constituting a season-high for points in a half for the Lakers, and a second-worst franchise record for the Mavs for points given up in a half. 

At halftime, perhaps the coach gave a motivating speech, as the home team returned with more energy. Eventually, Howard and McGee both made their ways to the bench with five fouls each, and Dallas took advantage pf the opportunity, attacking the basket and going on a 10-2 run to draw within ten. However, the Lakers resumed their 20-point edge within a few minutes. Carlisle was ejected with a second technical in the fourth, when he went ballistic over the refs awarding the Lakers a timeout after the Mavs had inbounded the ball. The Mavericks continued to flail, and the benches were emptied with about 4 minutes remaining. 

The Lakers set a number of minor records, including a season-high in points for Kuzma (26), and a season-high in rebounds for LeBron (16). A game to forget for MFFLs. 


Analytics

As much as anything, this was a game of missed opportunities. The Mavs got seven more attempts up than the Lakers, but shot too poorly to capitalize. They had 14 more 3PTAs, but only one more made three than their opponent, hitting 11 of 38 from long range. The boys in blue even had 5 more FTAs than the purple-and-gold, but failed to take advantage, missing a staggering 12 foul shots. Dallas had 17 offensive rebounds, but went 6 of 18 on second-chance opportunities. They gave up 60 PIP to the Lakers, and surrendered 21 points off turnovers, along with 26 fast-break points. Non-existent rim protection, poor shooting, a terrible performance at the line, and a Laker team in the mood to play doomed the Mavs, although at least they gave themselves chances. 


Players

Luka (32 min) had a 25-10-7 line, but took 19 shots to get there, missed 5 free throws, had 6 turnovers, and looked off for much of the night. The Lakers were taking liberties with him physically, and the officiating left a lot to be desired. The young man appeared to let it take him out of the game, and he spent the first half in an evident state of frustration. He recovered his composure to a degree in the third, but by then, the horse had bolted the barn. One of the analysts commented that Luka appeared to lack confidence in his teammates, tried to do too much, played very aggressively, and turned the ball over. Carlisle urged his presser audience to remember that Luka is just 20 years old, citing his own 20-year-old status of not knowing "whether to s__t or wind my wristwatch." O-kay. 

Hardaway (32 min) contributed 22 points, and was Rick's go-to option when Luka was off the floor. Seth (32 min) added 16 points off the bench and was one of the few Mavs to have a decent shooting night (3-6 from three). Curry said after the game that he appreciated Rick taking a stand on the officiating in the absence of an older superstar who can "stand up to the refs," noting that he is getting held a lot off the ball and that the squad is not getting much respect from the officials. Powell (26 min) and Maxi (23 min) were stifled, combining for 9 points and 6 boards. 

Boban (10 min) was a bright spot of sorts. He didn't protect the rim any better than the other bigs, but at least he provided some offense, with 14 points and 10 rebounds (7 offensive) in short minutes. Always a crowd-pleaser, the gentle giant drew cheers from the arena. I expect we will hear more from dahlsim on the matter. 

Lakers. LeBron was a man on a mission, determined to put his stamp on this game. None of the Mavs could begin to guard him one-on-one, and for most of the game, the team elected not to double-team. The big wing imposed his will, and obliterated the Mavs in the paint. Yikes. Kyle Kuzma also left his imprint, scoring 26 points. 


Remarks

The NBATV crew didn't think the Mavs got shown up. More that the game exposed the critical role of KP, noting that Luka's game went to another level this season with KP on the floor, and experienced some reversion without him. They also noted that the offense featured a lot of standing around by the other Mavs. Another learning opportunity for the young team. 

I'm not sure how much there is to gain from a detailed analysis. There were some big-picture items that have been rearing their heads lately. 

The Mavs desperately missed KP on both ends of the court. They needed his rim protection, floor spacing, and skills on both ends of the floor. This stretch of games has certainly made us appreciate the importance of the big man. 

The Mavs lacked the size, strength, and length to contend with the Lakers' big men and wings, especially LeBron. They also lacked a defensive presence at all in the first half. 

What's with the Mavs and free throws? After missing 8 attempts against Denver, they upped the ante to 12 versus the Lakers. There is no blaming refs, Lakers, or coaching for that -- it's on the players. 

Luka, despite a good line, had an off night. He admitted after the game that he had played "very bad," and said that he is only 20 years old, and has a lot to learn. During the game, he appeared perhaps a little too conscious that he didn't have a lot of firepower around him. The Mavs depend on synergy to deliver, with few impressive individual performers outside of the two stars, and when the other guys are playing a passive role, the team tends to deteriorate into chaos. 

The game was very choppy, with the teams combining for 69 free-throw attempts. It resulted in a not-very-pleasing show, even apart from the result, as far as entertainment quality. The uneven officiating even had Mark Jackson calling the refs out for favoring the Lakers -- you know it's bad, at that point. However, the refs weren't the reason the Mavs lost the game, so I'll leave it at that. 

I know this will not be a popular view, but this match had all the marks of the Mavs' being beaten by a better team. Carlisle noted that his squad finally started showing some fight in the third quarter, which they won by 8 points, but it was far from enough. I think the contest reminded us that this is still a very inexperienced group, with a very young star, and they still have a lot of room to grow. Should be fun witnessing their progress, and nights like this are likely to be a part of it every now and then. 


Next.  Philadelphia, at the AAC on Saturday. KP will still be out, but so will Embiid. With the Mavs in relative free fall (lost five of last seven), they are clinging to sixth place by a game. Hopefully, something will click against the Sixers.

Bounce back, young Mavs!