02-07-2021, 10:23 PM
(02-07-2021, 06:28 PM)hakeemfaan Wrote: Thanks again as usual for your recap mavsluvr. I have never hijacked your thread before but this is one of the few games I watched from start to finish this year and had some thoughts.
Thanks for your thoughts, Hakeem. I do not consider your comments a hijack. Rather, they are exactly the type of thoughtful remarks that are appropriate in a game recap thread.
Great win even with all the issues. The team is still struggling and great to get a win under those circumstances. Hopefully small steps to regain trust and confidence.
KP when he made that first score in the post..a normal NBA play... the bench went wild. Like they wanted him to do more of it. So who is stopping him? Himself or the coach? Has to be RC because if it is the player, the coach can either bench him or design set plays for more. KP getting some deep position and making an effort to get more baskets down low. Still has to do more of that. It is unfair to Luka that he has to generate the low post offense too. KP has to help out.
Not quite sure I understand what you are saying here. Are you saying that KP needs to set up more in the low post, but that RC is stopping him from doing that?
DFS cut to the basket results in an assist for Luka. GS was not even looking. Teams are so conditioned to the Mavs standing outside. The players need to do more of this. Last year Delon and Justin in his sparse minutes would do this frequently. This year we do miss that element even if neither of the two players mentioned were anything special.
GSW put on a clinic in terms of showing what off-ball movement can generate offensively. Wish the Mavs would take note.
Mavs again poor defense off a made basket in the closing secs of the first half but got lucky. How does that happen when they already burned you a few times similarly in the last game?
Excellent question. Sadly, I have no answer.
Luka. Great offensive game. However on defense there were at least 3 possessions in the 4th and one in the 3rd where he could have helped out as the last line of defense under the basket and hesitated and gave up an uncontested layup. I understand not wanting to get in foul trouble early. You cannot do that though late in the 4th. Not from the leader of the team.
Yes Maxi made a bad foul on Curry. Where was the help defense? Defending the 3? But no help at all?
At that juncture in the game, it is possible that they had been told to prioritize defending the three-point line over the paint. Which makes it all the more stupid to give up three points on a layup anyway. I say that strategy is possible. It's also possible that the whole sequence was just poor execution, as you suggest.
Great offensive game by Luka. However in the clutch I would have liked to have seen more screens for him to drive. But he looked a bit tired too.
Luka is inevitably going to get worn down if he has to play 38 minutes a night. But I see why Rick thinks he has no alternative, now that the team is in survival mode. I notice that Carlisle tinkered with the timing of Luka's minutes. I assume that was in response to KP's request to play longer stretches.
Even with that Mgmt has to find someone else who can at least play 15 mins and fight down low. Even with Bron getting to the basket, Lakers have AD and Harrell. Need more versatility on this team. Maybe someone like Aamir Johnson? Not ideal but he is in the G league and will come cheap.
It seems that a certain one-dimensionality is built into the roster construction/rotations. The plethora of 3&D guys. The dearth of playmakers and guys who can beast in the paint. Agree they have some holes to fill.