02-12-2024, 11:15 PM
By all accounts this game should have been a loss.
The Mavs sleepwalked through the first 40 minutes of the game. They never were down more than 11, but always hovered around being down 6. Tantalizingly in arms reach but never actually putting together a string of stops. Luka, despite nearly having a triple double was playing some of the most sloppy basketball he's ever played and was just taken out with a bloodied chin.
Green and Kyrie had some fantastic moments, especially Kyrie, but they too couldn't will the team to take a commanding lead at any point. It wasn't until Luka checked in with 8 mins remaining and him seemingly realizing that they could seriously lose this game did the team wake up. After that the Mavs flipped the switch and played good basketball the rest of the way and quickly took the lead. And it was their DEFENSE that sealed the game, not their ice cold shooting. Luka came up big in 2 jawdropping moments. The first being an Avdija drive where he crumpled as soon as Luka walled him off and he forced the turnover. Then Luka steals the ball the next possession to effectively end the game. More on this later.
I want to talk about the Landlord. Gafford has flaws. At times he can be frustrating, but I cannot remember for the life of me a Mavs center nearly having a 20pt/20 rebound performance to go along with 5 blocks in less than 25 minutes of playing time. He is an impact player through and through and a needed weapon. He will be eaten alive against more perimeter oriented teams (and if the Mavs other guards don't try for half the game), but it's obvious he does a LOT of good stuff. Helluva game by him. Despite his counting stats though I have to give someone else the Dirkie.
Jaden Hardy...is the runner up. He was a definite candidate. He was the first Mav to have any consistent positive plays. His hot shooting carried the team. He certainly gave this team a spark by attacking the rim and hitting timely threes. Hardy Party had a great game and showed he can be trusted moving forward with more minutes.
The real Dirkie winner is Maxi. Back on defense, it was The Wurzburg Wall who stifled the Wizards in the 4th. Play after play he came up with a great contest. He hit a HUGE three at the end and also put someone on a poster. Maxi what a game! Dirkie for you!
This was a game the Mavs should have lost. They did not at any point deserve to win this one. The Mavs came out flat and didn't care. Kidd let this team play this way for 40 mins. If there was any example of a failed win this was it. Thankfully we have 2 of the best players in the league who woke up and Maxi patrolling the paint.
I hope the Mavs come out WAY more motivated against the Spurs.
The Mavs sleepwalked through the first 40 minutes of the game. They never were down more than 11, but always hovered around being down 6. Tantalizingly in arms reach but never actually putting together a string of stops. Luka, despite nearly having a triple double was playing some of the most sloppy basketball he's ever played and was just taken out with a bloodied chin.
Green and Kyrie had some fantastic moments, especially Kyrie, but they too couldn't will the team to take a commanding lead at any point. It wasn't until Luka checked in with 8 mins remaining and him seemingly realizing that they could seriously lose this game did the team wake up. After that the Mavs flipped the switch and played good basketball the rest of the way and quickly took the lead. And it was their DEFENSE that sealed the game, not their ice cold shooting. Luka came up big in 2 jawdropping moments. The first being an Avdija drive where he crumpled as soon as Luka walled him off and he forced the turnover. Then Luka steals the ball the next possession to effectively end the game. More on this later.
I want to talk about the Landlord. Gafford has flaws. At times he can be frustrating, but I cannot remember for the life of me a Mavs center nearly having a 20pt/20 rebound performance to go along with 5 blocks in less than 25 minutes of playing time. He is an impact player through and through and a needed weapon. He will be eaten alive against more perimeter oriented teams (and if the Mavs other guards don't try for half the game), but it's obvious he does a LOT of good stuff. Helluva game by him. Despite his counting stats though I have to give someone else the Dirkie.
Jaden Hardy...is the runner up. He was a definite candidate. He was the first Mav to have any consistent positive plays. His hot shooting carried the team. He certainly gave this team a spark by attacking the rim and hitting timely threes. Hardy Party had a great game and showed he can be trusted moving forward with more minutes.
The real Dirkie winner is Maxi. Back on defense, it was The Wurzburg Wall who stifled the Wizards in the 4th. Play after play he came up with a great contest. He hit a HUGE three at the end and also put someone on a poster. Maxi what a game! Dirkie for you!
This was a game the Mavs should have lost. They did not at any point deserve to win this one. The Mavs came out flat and didn't care. Kidd let this team play this way for 40 mins. If there was any example of a failed win this was it. Thankfully we have 2 of the best players in the league who woke up and Maxi patrolling the paint.
I hope the Mavs come out WAY more motivated against the Spurs.
14x All-Star, 12x all-NBA, 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 1 NBA Championship: Dirk Nowitzki, the man, the myth, the legend.
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