GAME 3 NBA FINALS: Boston Celtics (2-0) vs. Dallas Mavericks (0-2)

[hakeemfaan]

The coach was the problem last night as much as Luka’s failure to lead and Tim’s sabatouge. How are you going to fix that? Calling a timeout with a transition opportunity on a 20-0 run? How do you fix something like that?  Stubbornly sticking with your guy who hasn’t made a shot in a month and is single handedly getting you beat?  Not fixable.  The top teams in the West beat Boston up this year. Dallas hasn’t even drawn blood. The run that Kidd stopped was the only moment when it looked like the Mavs could even be competitive. They’ve pretty much just gotten smoked for the entire series.  I guess I’m disappointed the Mavs haven’t shown any real sign of being a legitimate opponent.  This is the most lopsided finals I can remember in 40ish years. The Mavs haven’t been in position to win even a single game really. The coach is holding the team back. His offensive scheme is AAU and he doesn’t even understand his own roster. A coaching overhaul is necessary.

Yet the same Mavs with the same coach beat those other West teams you are talking about. 

When you go against Boston or any skilled  team that tries to counter your size advantage with a 5 out scheme you have to pick your poison. Do you try to match up with them to prevent open shots or you live with some open shots and try to beat them inside while maintaining a defender inside.  I think Kidd struggles against teams that go small. Clips when Lou went small. GS which IMO didn’t have that great a team that year. Boston this year. 

Yesterday as others have mentioned the Mavs finally didn’t have Luka just chasing and gave up some open looks. Some of it worked out but then Boston adjusted to that. However that is something you have to live with.  I like the core strength of this team with our two mobile defensive centers. We can definitely use a better offensive coach who uses PJ at the top of the key than as a stand-alone shooter. At the same time Luka did turn on a much better Xs and Os guy here with a title under his belt.  So just getting an offensive minded coach might not be the answer.  Kidd is ok but he needs an experienced offensive assistant around him who can help him scheme against 5 out teams without panicking and trying to play their game which is exactly what they want you to do.