Game 62: Indiana Pacers (34-28) vs. Dallas Mavericks (34-27)

[SleepingHero]

Are we seriously blaming Luka? Heck I'm not putting the blame on the players anymore.
We've said for years how badly we've needed a rim rolling 5 that can play defense. Well we got it in Lively.
We've said for years how badly we need some rebounding at the center position. Well we got it in Gafford.
We've said for years how badly we need a 2-way wing that can create off the dribble. Well we got it in PJ.
We've said for years how badly we need some more ball creation from the wings. Well we got it in Exum.

The talent is there. The coach is not. At some point you have to blame the system these players are forced to play in. The choices Kidd makes is asinine. Pacers entire gameplan was to build a wall around Luka.
Look here:
https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=TOV&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022300892&PlayerID=1629029&RangeType=0&Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612742&flag=1&sct=plot%C2%A7ion=game

(Q3. 1:28 remaining) 
Pause at 4 seconds. Pacers have Mathurin trailing. Smith is playing high walling up. And here's the key, Toppin is sinking 1 pass away to create a wall. You also have Sheppard shading baseline so if Luka throws the lob he's there to provide some resistance but he's not shading too far so that if Luka kicks it to Exum for a corner shot he can contest that too. So basically 4 guys are on Luka and Gafford.

So why am I bringing this up? Obviously this is a scheme related issue. Why is Kyrie in the corner effectively out of the play? Why is DJJ above the break so Toppin is allowed to build this wall? Further, this was the Pacers strategy the entire game, so WHY IN GOD'S GREAT EARTH DID KIDD NOT ADJUST? Pacers basically said we aren't guarding your wing guy because we know the pass isn't going to him.

This team plays so one dimensional on offense and their entire shot diet are hard contested iso shots that to build any consistency from it is impossible.

Then on defense here is a great example of why Kidd is a fucking dolt: 

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3A&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022300892&PlayerID=1641767&RangeType=0&Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612754&flag=3&sct=plot§ion=game

(Q4, 11:22 remaining) 

Carlisle knows and understands Kidd's scheme. Kidd is entirely happy to give up the corner 3. He truly does not care about it. How do I know? Every single time our guy who is supposed to cover the corner sinks basically to the paint and allows a kick out. McConnell is smart. He knows this. Watch Kyrie sink below the basket, to the point where he's stacked with PJ right at the rim. There is zero reason for him to do this, and it gives up a wide open 3.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FG3A&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022300892&PlayerID=1630167&RangeType=0&Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612754&flag=3&sct=plot§ion=game

(Q3, 0:19 remaining)

Another example. Maxi sinks to cover the mismatch. The only reason why the Pacers get this mismatch is because DJJ and Kyrie don't preswitch to prevent a wide open cut. Result? Wide open 3.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022300892&PlayerID=204456&RangeType=0&Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612754&flag=3&sct=plot§ion=game

(Q4, 8:41 remaining)

So now you have the players who by this point are traumatized at giving up the open 3. To the point where Kyrie himself just runs out to the 3pt line early and forgets he needs to cover the basket first.


https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0022300892&PlayerID=1631097&RangeType=0&Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612754&flag=3&sct=plot§ion=game

(Q2, 4:05 remaining) 

Here is another example of literally zero defensive cohesion. Pause at 3 seconds.  Luka has sunk all the way into the paint to prevent Turner from catching the ball. At the same exact time you have PJ literally underneath the basket...why? To cover Turner? Isn't that's what Luka is there for? This is Kidd's scheme shining through to once again allowing the corner.

But wait! There's more! Kyrie for whatever reason is just behind Turner, instead of covering the skip pass like he should be doing as he's the safety guarding 2 on 1. Haliburton makes an incredible read and Kyrie can't get the steal. After that, it's a single pass away from a wide open 3 for Mathurin. Lively tries to contest and does a valiant effort considering, but the fact this shot became available was due to such a stupid breakdown earlier.

Kidd was out coached plain and simple.

My only silver lining is that should the Mavs somehow miss the playoffs AGAIN, I don't see how Kidd survives. Relationships be damned.