Game 26 Dirkie Thread: Luka!!

[SleepingHero]

What a freaking game. I mean sheesh. I don't think I've ever seen such a high octane shooting game like this one from BOTH teams. But really, the Mavericks were insane. Almost 60% from the field. 51% from 3, and 143 points on the board overall. Just a dominant shooting performance. Their defense waned a bit as the game went on, but given how much energy they were exerting on offense, I can understand it.

Omax gave me even more to get hyped on. His energy all over the court was infectious. He had some mistakes tonight, especially in transition. He let the Warriors get at least 2 threes by missed rotations. BUT, he also had some great defensive possessions, hit a 3, and just looked like he was a rotation player. He definitely is on one right now. I'm excited for more OMAX!

Gafford had some good and some bad. Defensively he's being picked apart by the spacing of teams. I mean there was a moment in the 4th where Kidd just had to bring Lively back in because the Warriors wouldn't stop going at Gaff. Granted, he had to close out and stop Steph Curry, so it's hard to blame his follies there. What was great is that he's still dominant inside. He was all over the glass and just had that naaaaaaaaaaaaasty jam on the Warriors head. Good game!

DLive fared much better tonight guarding the Warriors. He just knows how to defend in space. And offensively his touch is just a sight to see. That lob from Luka got me out of my chair. Solid game overall from Lively.

Grimes and PJ both had great games. Filled their role and were as hot as can be. They both kind of disappeared in the 4th, but before they were just pouring it on. PJ had that great steal on Curry to stifle their run. Just solid stuff.

Kyrie had a quiet 21 points, but they were an efficient and effective 21. He just got everyone involved. He also played some great D on Curry.

But, the real headliners tonight both have to be Luka and Klay.

Klay had probably his best game as a Mav thus far. 29 points on 9-14 shooting and 7-11 from 3. In a shootout, I'm glad we have a caliber shooter that is Klay Thompson on our team. He just took over the 2nd half, scoring 21 points on 6-7 shooting and a perfect 5-5 from 3. When things got dicey and everyone on the Mavs got cold at once, Klay stepped up and just kept raining 3 ball after 3 ball. Its so much fun watching him shoot the ball. He would've been my Dirkie tonight, but I mean...

Luka freaking Doncic wow. What??? Just... I mean.. my goodness. 45 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists on 16-23 from the field. As Mark Followill loves to say, he went to that special place tonight. He played almost a perfect game. He was doing everything. His vision tonight was at another level. His effort on defense was there the entire night. And the shot making.... MY GOODNESS. Luka is insane. I think he was 16-20 at some point before 3 bad misses, which just shows how dominant he was tonight as a guard freaking shooting that level of efficiency. Carried the team. The Luka-Klay connection was unstoppable tonight. Amazing game and well deserved Dirkie.

Finally, our starting 5 is making my eyebrows raise. Luka/Kyrie/Klay/PJ/Lively is just steam-rolling opponents. They were before tonight +18 on the season, and I think this game will make that number go even higher. Just insane stuff. What a game. Good shit Mavs. Now rest up and time to end this crazy road schedule.