GAME 2 NBA FINALS 2024: Dallas Mavericks (0-1) vs. Boston Celtics (1-0)

[Chicagojk]

Does anyone else feel like we are a car careening down a mountain with no brakes when DJJ or PJ are bringing the ball up against pressure and good defenders. Hardy and Green can be shaky too. I am all for giving Luka some rest but it is a wild ride when we ask them to bring the ball up.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Does anyone else feel like we are a car careening down a mountain with no brakes when DJJ or PJ are bringing the ball up against pressure and good defenders.  Hardy and Green can be shaky too.  I am all for giving Luka some rest but it is a wild ride when we ask them to bring the ball up.

They're doing that to take some of the load off him bringing it up, and Boston has been picking him up with moderate pressure as soon as the ball is inbounded.  Kyrie should be handling it more and let Luka play off the ball. Boston seldom double teams and they can get away with it because they have good to great on ball defenders. Kyrie has to initiate the offense. Boston's main objective is to tire Luka out at the end of games. His stamina isn't the greatest.

[audiosway]

I think PJ has met the moment.  Hasn’t been perfect but not afraid.


We need more shooting but I keep thinking a guy like Draymond would be perfect.  With his ability to run the offense, his defense and a little craziness. 

Series not over but Mavs still need to slowly add a piece or two.

I agree. PJ has definitely met the moment. Had a good game and will only get better. The game was lost with free throws, Ky, and the bench.

I think the Mavs have a chance in 7 for sure. However, they do need to add a piece or two.

They need to be more physical in game 3. The role players will knock down more shots at home. They need to just win one game to get their head right.

Whoever said, start Lively and Green...NO. Green has been taken away and Lively is just too young. One day he will be dominant. Right now he's not there yet.

[LukaMVP]

It might be time to try Morris at the 5. He can shoot, he's tough and can defend pretty well. We can play 5 out with him. He should be able to guard Horford and keep Lively on KP, assuming KP is able to play.

can't agree more on this. without our lob game the threat of gafford and lively in offense is neutralised anyway. morris plays tough and his 3pt ability will provide more options in pick n rolls. our post D would be downgraded without either gafford or lively on floor but it won't be a major problem since Boston usually seek their opportunities outside first, and they ain't playing quite good so far defensively in this series against Boston's five out. dude is a secret weapon that has been reserved the whole season now it's time to unleash him tbh.

[Dahlsim]

The game was lost with free throws, Ky, and the bench.

That's it in a nutshell.  If the Mavs make their free throws, Kyrie shoots just his average, bench players just shoot solid on the open looks, game 2 was completely winnable.  The refs have allowed the Celtics to foul and use their hands, foul with their bodies pretty blatantly so that has been a factor for sure but then when you get the calls and go to the line you have to cash in. Its make/miss. 

Kyrie is an incredibly clutch and calm player in most any game it appears except against Boston? 
No question its all in his head but that doesn't make it any less real while also making it hard for anyone outside of the man himself to fix. 

Boston is incredibly stacked but great shooting can beat them.  They are giving up plenty of good looks to non-stars. Indiana was exploiting it before the injuries.  Steph Curry singlehandedly demonstrated that leading his team to a championship against the green not long ago with elite shooting.  
The way the east playoffs went, they escaped facing great shooting and scorers.  Now they face them in Luka/Kyrie and the Mavs, but only on paper unless others besides Luka can loosen up.