GAME 26 DIRKIE: Winner JB (52%) | Runner-ups THJ (30%) & WCS (12%)

[dirkfansince1998]

I groaned when I saw THJ guarding Gallo at the end, and somehow ignored the result. I would consider changing my vote to Timmy if I could. But damn, was Brunson solid.

I actually think that THJs defense is better than last year. He will never make an all defense team but he hasn´t been a liability. He will never be a roaming help defender with great IQ and instincts but he his an above average on ball defender and recently (as the 6th man) he played with a lot of energy on defense.

Fun stat: Charges drawn
THJ 6
Brunson 3
Rest of the Mavs 6 ( Hinton, Terry, Green, Burke, Richardson, WCS)

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/CallieCaplan/status/...0617402368

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/13...3646956547

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/1359706432967503874

[Scott41theMavs]

In the post game interview JB again mentioned the locker room and not playing as "individuals" anymore but as a team. There have been so MANY references to this type of thing and selfishness..... Something has been (or still is to some extent) seriously wrong in some of the dynamics among the team.

The kick to the gut is that if KP has come to be seen as a prima donna here as he was in NY, that's going to get around, and further tank his trade value. Damn, damn, damn...

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/ESefko/status/1359701424624574465

[Hypermav]

https://twitter.com/CallieCaplan/status/...0617402368

The full quote was actually "Hey, we've got to get Tim a shot in the nuts. We've just got to get him going."

[Scott41theMavs]

One of these guys had a 28 point triple double shooting 50%. I’m voting for him.

It was a winning triple-double in the flow of the game as opposed to a Russell Westbrook special, with many of his stats being winning plays in the fourth. Great team game from Mr. Doncic.

[Scott41theMavs]

Just saw in the box score that the Mavs did a collective Jalen Brunson imitation, shooting 50/40/90.

[Kammrath]

My vote was WCS, the DPOG. 

Yes, he has his warts, but the one thing that is consistent: when he plays the Mavs are SO MUCH better defensively. 

The Mavs defensive rating is 2nd in the NBA over the course of the 425 minutes WCS has played this year. They are 26th defensively in the NBA when he doesn't play. 

It seems that RC is getting through to him and if RC can get consistency out of WCS that is going to be HUGE for this team moving forward.

[omahen]

Perhaps in the starter unit defense. Mavs were really ice cold from three in first three quarters. They were at 20 % at haltime, missing a lot of open looks. It is difficult to look good with such shooting. I bet the score would be much different idf those open looks went in. They finished the game at 40 %!

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Just saw in the box score that the Mavs did a collective Jalen Brunson imitation, shooting 50/40/90.

Free throw shooting is very improved this year. I am trying to figure out why JRich is such an average 3pt shooter while he is excellent midrange and FT shooter.

[Scott41theMavs]

Perhaps in the starter unit defense. Mavs were really ice cold from three in first three quarters. They were at 20 % at haltime, missing a lot of open looks. It is difficult to look good with such shooting. I bet the score would be much different idf those open looks went in. They finished the game at 40 %!

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Free throw shooting is very improved this year. I am trying to figure out why JRich is such an average 3pt shooter while he is excellent midrange and FT shooter.

Cf. Derozan.

[ThisIStheYear]

Just saw in the box score that the Mavs did a collective Jalen Brunson imitation, shooting 50/40/90.

So strange for the team to go 50/40/90 and still need a missed shot at the buzzer to win. Looks like Atlanta exploited the Mavs on the boards into about 8 extra possessions. Luka had some tough rebounds in this game to keep the Mavs out in front by a nose.

[Mavs2021]

We couldn’t have asked for a better Hawk to take the last shot.  Gallo was 2 of 12 and 1 came at the rim.

I said that when people wanted to pay him big money to look at his play-off stats. He´s shooting something like 37/26/80 for his play-off career. He´s a good (injury-prone) player, but do you want to commit 20% of your cap to a player that no shows every post-season. The sample size is significant, so are the injury problems.

Dirkie obviously goes to Porzingis for not playing.

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The kick to the gut is that if KP has come to be seen as a prima donna here as he was in NY, that's going to get around, and further tank his trade value. Damn, damn, damn...

 Not possible. SleepingHero said it can´t get lower.

[ballsrchr]

Alright...I gave the Dirkie to Brunson.  Though I normally think Brunson tends to over dribble and shot hunt he did good tonight.  Without him we don't win.  Don't get me wrong...I think Brunson has a long and bright career ahead.

[ClutchDirk]

https://media.giphy.com/media/CCw5vtrP4YYo0/giphy.gif

[Halfnir]

Very though decision this game. THJ, JB, WCS and Luka all deserved for different reasons. 

In the end i went with THJ because his scoring burst beginning of the 4th woke up the team and gave them back the energy and the scoring run to compete down the stretch.

I was tempted to give it to WCS for efficiently taking Trae out of the last drive, but this could have so easily been a desastrous foul as well.

[embellisher]

DPOG WCS gets it for me. But THJ, Brunson and Luka all made huge contributions in the 4th.

[SleepingHero]

 Not possible. SleepingHero said it can´t get lower.

It can't. Lets say this hypothetical doomsday scenario comes about and KP tries to force his way out, would that really devalue the guy to untradeable status anymore than his previous injury history has? Absolutely not.

Especially because KP is already turning the corner. For the season he's averaging 20/8 on 46/33/86.  For February alone he's averaging 21 ppg 9rpg and 2bpg on 47/38/95. His value has already increased. He's already shown he's on his way back to being the 30/10 dude in the bubble. 

Some people just want to see KP fail I guess since after every good game of his it's "Finally he had 1 good game about time" and after every mediocre/bad game its "KP will never be good, trade his ass, Mavs are dumb for signing him". It is the essence of pubescent mood swings.

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So strange for the team to go 50/40/90 and still need a missed shot at the buzzer to win. Looks like Atlanta exploited the Mavs on the boards into about 8 extra possessions. Luka had some tough rebounds in this game to keep the Mavs out in front by a nose.

Free throws also are a big difference there. Hawks had 5 made more FT's and 8 more overall attempts. Add on top of the 8 possession deficit (which at minimum is 16 potential points), that makes up the difference.

[Kammrath]