11-04-2024, 12:36 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-04-2024, 12:42 AM by SleepingHero.)
Mavs finally have a great offensive performance!
This was a pretty fun watch from quarters 2-3. Again the Mavs opened cold, scoring only 14 points in the first 6 and a half minutes of play time. In the final 5 minutes of the 1st they put up 16 points on better efficiency and they never looked back. In fact, once the Mavs got the lead with 1 minute remaining in the 1st quarter, they never relinquished it! After that slow start the Mavs had a 52-16 run against Orlando. Dominating win.
Luka finally had a "Luka" game. He opened the 1st quarter with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5-9 from the field. That is the Luka we're used to seeing! He just kept pouring it on in the 2nd, where it felt like the Magic could literally do nothing to stop him while he hit 3 after 3, after finger roll lay-ups, after turnaround post ups. The whole Luka repertoire was on full display and 25 first half points felt like 50. Some gripes (and these are nitpicks truly), I have regarding some of Luka's play had to be some of his shot choices later in the game. There were a few that felt like he forced them up instead of finding an open man. In the past, usually any Luka shot was better than literally anyone else shooting it. I mean Luka had at one point Trey Burke, DFS, THJ, and WCS on the court. I don't blame him for forcing a few up. But now? I mean Klay freaking Thompson is wide open in the corner Luka! Pass it! Anyways, it definitely feels like Luka is still getting used to and learning playing with versatile, elite teammates. I fully believe in due time he will shore up some of these choices.
Speaking of, my final gripe had to be his run-ins yet again with the refs. Luka now has 3 techs in 6 games. He's on pace for 41 techs! The Rasheed Wallace record could be broken this year if Luka really locks in (*editors note, I know it's technically impossible for that record to be broken but the jokes write themselves). Time and again we say he needs to stop it. Time and again it never happens. Unfortunate. Whatever.
Kyrie had a quiet but effective game. It felt like he was playing at half speed and taking it easy tonight. Not like the Mavs needed it really. He had some great D and a crazy classic Kyrie move where he faked Mo Wagner out of his shoes for an easy lay in. Solid game Kyrie!
Klay also had a relatively quiet game. However defensively he was lock down tonight. So many stripped balls and fantastic contests. Offensively it felt like the ball wasn't finding him. The Mavs flat out just have to make it a priority to get him involved. There was 1 moment in the 3rd quarter where the Mavs ran a double screen for Klay across the key where Luka passed it to him at the corner of the FT line. The Magic effectively ran him off the 3 and their job seemed done. Until Klay continued running and found Lively for a dump off pass for a lay up. Stuff like that is why Klay needs to stay in the loop. He should be touching the ball almost every possession. If not it's just a wasted opportunity. Again, in due time I think the team will figure it out.
Grimes finally had an extended run and I thought he put on a helluva show. His defense all night was intense and hounding. In garbage time he actively made it a priority to get other guys a shot. Just an all around great game from him.
Gafford and Lively both had huge games tonight. Gafford felt like he was trying to tear down the rim every time he caught the ball. His energy was 10x better tonight than against the Rockets. Lively showed off several touch shots and also was tearing down the rim any chance he got. His defense was suffocating. Can't praise him enough.
And finally my dirkie winner (and someone who wasn't on the poll originally to my dismay!), Naji Marshall. His disruption on the defensive end to me is what kept the Mavs in the driver seat all night. He was making crazy half court passes for lobs, running PnR's and finding shooters, and was just a menace defensively. This was the first game I saw the true ceiling for Marshall on this team. If he can play like THIS?? Consistently?? Scary stuff. And this is without him being able to buy a shot at all for the season.
Overall great Mavs win that hopefully sets the tone for this week. Which by the way is going to be a grueling week. Tomorrow they face the Pacers for a 2nd night of a back to back. Then Chicago on Wednesday and finally Phoenix Friday. That would make it 4 games in 5 nights, after coming off of a stretch of games last week that was 4 games in 6 nights! Schedulers really are trying to test the Mavs.
Hopefully they got their legs in tonight and are fresh tomorrow!
This was a pretty fun watch from quarters 2-3. Again the Mavs opened cold, scoring only 14 points in the first 6 and a half minutes of play time. In the final 5 minutes of the 1st they put up 16 points on better efficiency and they never looked back. In fact, once the Mavs got the lead with 1 minute remaining in the 1st quarter, they never relinquished it! After that slow start the Mavs had a 52-16 run against Orlando. Dominating win.
Luka finally had a "Luka" game. He opened the 1st quarter with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 5-9 from the field. That is the Luka we're used to seeing! He just kept pouring it on in the 2nd, where it felt like the Magic could literally do nothing to stop him while he hit 3 after 3, after finger roll lay-ups, after turnaround post ups. The whole Luka repertoire was on full display and 25 first half points felt like 50. Some gripes (and these are nitpicks truly), I have regarding some of Luka's play had to be some of his shot choices later in the game. There were a few that felt like he forced them up instead of finding an open man. In the past, usually any Luka shot was better than literally anyone else shooting it. I mean Luka had at one point Trey Burke, DFS, THJ, and WCS on the court. I don't blame him for forcing a few up. But now? I mean Klay freaking Thompson is wide open in the corner Luka! Pass it! Anyways, it definitely feels like Luka is still getting used to and learning playing with versatile, elite teammates. I fully believe in due time he will shore up some of these choices.
Speaking of, my final gripe had to be his run-ins yet again with the refs. Luka now has 3 techs in 6 games. He's on pace for 41 techs! The Rasheed Wallace record could be broken this year if Luka really locks in (*editors note, I know it's technically impossible for that record to be broken but the jokes write themselves). Time and again we say he needs to stop it. Time and again it never happens. Unfortunate. Whatever.
Kyrie had a quiet but effective game. It felt like he was playing at half speed and taking it easy tonight. Not like the Mavs needed it really. He had some great D and a crazy classic Kyrie move where he faked Mo Wagner out of his shoes for an easy lay in. Solid game Kyrie!
Klay also had a relatively quiet game. However defensively he was lock down tonight. So many stripped balls and fantastic contests. Offensively it felt like the ball wasn't finding him. The Mavs flat out just have to make it a priority to get him involved. There was 1 moment in the 3rd quarter where the Mavs ran a double screen for Klay across the key where Luka passed it to him at the corner of the FT line. The Magic effectively ran him off the 3 and their job seemed done. Until Klay continued running and found Lively for a dump off pass for a lay up. Stuff like that is why Klay needs to stay in the loop. He should be touching the ball almost every possession. If not it's just a wasted opportunity. Again, in due time I think the team will figure it out.
Grimes finally had an extended run and I thought he put on a helluva show. His defense all night was intense and hounding. In garbage time he actively made it a priority to get other guys a shot. Just an all around great game from him.
Gafford and Lively both had huge games tonight. Gafford felt like he was trying to tear down the rim every time he caught the ball. His energy was 10x better tonight than against the Rockets. Lively showed off several touch shots and also was tearing down the rim any chance he got. His defense was suffocating. Can't praise him enough.
And finally my dirkie winner (and someone who wasn't on the poll originally to my dismay!), Naji Marshall. His disruption on the defensive end to me is what kept the Mavs in the driver seat all night. He was making crazy half court passes for lobs, running PnR's and finding shooters, and was just a menace defensively. This was the first game I saw the true ceiling for Marshall on this team. If he can play like THIS?? Consistently?? Scary stuff. And this is without him being able to buy a shot at all for the season.
Overall great Mavs win that hopefully sets the tone for this week. Which by the way is going to be a grueling week. Tomorrow they face the Pacers for a 2nd night of a back to back. Then Chicago on Wednesday and finally Phoenix Friday. That would make it 4 games in 5 nights, after coming off of a stretch of games last week that was 4 games in 6 nights! Schedulers really are trying to test the Mavs.
Hopefully they got their legs in tonight and are fresh tomorrow!
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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