03-02-2021, 11:12 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-02-2021, 02:57 PM by KillerLeft.)
Great stuff, @"mavsluvr". Here's a few thoughts I had that I couldn't beat people in the discord with (had to watch very late):
1) I'm sure there was and will be today a lot of talk about the Mavs' defense in this one because of the high scoring quarters they gave up, but I actually thought they played REALLY hard on that end, and well, mostly. Orlando had a great offensive night, and I know that sounds like a copout, but I really think it's legit in this case. The pace of this game was quite frenetic - it felt like Orlando wanted badly to end their losing streak. To their credit, I thought Dallas matched their energy nicely and even surpassed it. Both teams played HARD.
2) The only thing the Dallas defense didn't handle well, imo, was that they gave off-ball Fournier too much room as he popped around pin downs in the first quarter. I thought the coaching staff and Porzingis did a nice job of adjusting in the 2nd quarter, having the center predict those sets a little more aggressively and take away more of that shooting space. Orlando didn't have a counter inside (on those specific actions) to which Fournier could pass and make Porzingis pay for coming out so far. I thought it was a great adjustment, and credit to KP. Fournier still hit some shots, but this tactic slowed Orlando down enough to retake the lead, and they never looked back.
2) Porzingis had another good night, imo. I'm sure there was some hate in the discord over the bad shooting in the first half, but I actually don't remember a single shot I hated - he just missed them. On the defensive end, I thought he was moving well again last night, and he was GREAT in the paint, especially against Vucevic, who was absolutely destroying everyone else down there. This might have been the best post defense I've seen from KP since coming here. That was a welcome sight. And, though this certainly wasn't a pick and roll team (KP's huge weakness), it was a RUNNING game, and I feel that KP more than held his own getting up and down the floor. To my eye, this is two games in a row for the "keep KP" crowd to count in their evidence column. Love to see it.
3) Kleber absolutely could not handle Vucevic in the post, but it was his best game of the season last night, by far. He was moving soooo much better. Quicker and more aggressive. I voted him for the Dirkie, and I think Dallas is a different team with him playing well on defense. He's letting those open catch and shoot opportunities go without hesitation, too.
4) Luka was playing with more joy than I think he has in quite some time. He actually pushed the ball (like, fast) on 3-4 possessions, getting to the rim before the backpedalling defense could even get set. First time I've seen him do this all season. I'm getting to a point now where I feel like every one of his 3's are going in. Some tried to downplay his early-season conditioning and others might have overhyped it, but last night I thought he definitively looked in shape. Can't wait to see what this kid does next.
5) Burke should sign his next contract with Orlando, so that he can play most of his games there.
6) OMG, Vucevic is good. Like, I can't believe how well rounded and lethal his offensive game is. Great post game, and his release on shots off the catch is even quicker than KP's. He's a special player, offensively.
7) Fournier, I thought, looked like he was auditioning to come here. We all remember the tweet "the Mavericks make me dream" from the bubble. I just really think he wants to be here, but I don't think Dallas needs him. Still, he's a good player who had a great night. Underrated, imo.
8) I thought Richardson had kind of a rough night, defensively. He guarded MCW, who can't shoot, he can only drive. You can go under on every screen (which Richardson did), and somehow MCW was still beating Rich to the paint on many possessions. I'm really not feeling him here yet, but my mind is still open.
9) Brunson is a treasure. Beautiful to see when a player gets developed so effectively and arrives into his own right when the team needs him.
1) I'm sure there was and will be today a lot of talk about the Mavs' defense in this one because of the high scoring quarters they gave up, but I actually thought they played REALLY hard on that end, and well, mostly. Orlando had a great offensive night, and I know that sounds like a copout, but I really think it's legit in this case. The pace of this game was quite frenetic - it felt like Orlando wanted badly to end their losing streak. To their credit, I thought Dallas matched their energy nicely and even surpassed it. Both teams played HARD.
2) The only thing the Dallas defense didn't handle well, imo, was that they gave off-ball Fournier too much room as he popped around pin downs in the first quarter. I thought the coaching staff and Porzingis did a nice job of adjusting in the 2nd quarter, having the center predict those sets a little more aggressively and take away more of that shooting space. Orlando didn't have a counter inside (on those specific actions) to which Fournier could pass and make Porzingis pay for coming out so far. I thought it was a great adjustment, and credit to KP. Fournier still hit some shots, but this tactic slowed Orlando down enough to retake the lead, and they never looked back.
2) Porzingis had another good night, imo. I'm sure there was some hate in the discord over the bad shooting in the first half, but I actually don't remember a single shot I hated - he just missed them. On the defensive end, I thought he was moving well again last night, and he was GREAT in the paint, especially against Vucevic, who was absolutely destroying everyone else down there. This might have been the best post defense I've seen from KP since coming here. That was a welcome sight. And, though this certainly wasn't a pick and roll team (KP's huge weakness), it was a RUNNING game, and I feel that KP more than held his own getting up and down the floor. To my eye, this is two games in a row for the "keep KP" crowd to count in their evidence column. Love to see it.
3) Kleber absolutely could not handle Vucevic in the post, but it was his best game of the season last night, by far. He was moving soooo much better. Quicker and more aggressive. I voted him for the Dirkie, and I think Dallas is a different team with him playing well on defense. He's letting those open catch and shoot opportunities go without hesitation, too.
4) Luka was playing with more joy than I think he has in quite some time. He actually pushed the ball (like, fast) on 3-4 possessions, getting to the rim before the backpedalling defense could even get set. First time I've seen him do this all season. I'm getting to a point now where I feel like every one of his 3's are going in. Some tried to downplay his early-season conditioning and others might have overhyped it, but last night I thought he definitively looked in shape. Can't wait to see what this kid does next.
5) Burke should sign his next contract with Orlando, so that he can play most of his games there.
6) OMG, Vucevic is good. Like, I can't believe how well rounded and lethal his offensive game is. Great post game, and his release on shots off the catch is even quicker than KP's. He's a special player, offensively.
7) Fournier, I thought, looked like he was auditioning to come here. We all remember the tweet "the Mavericks make me dream" from the bubble. I just really think he wants to be here, but I don't think Dallas needs him. Still, he's a good player who had a great night. Underrated, imo.
8) I thought Richardson had kind of a rough night, defensively. He guarded MCW, who can't shoot, he can only drive. You can go under on every screen (which Richardson did), and somehow MCW was still beating Rich to the paint on many possessions. I'm really not feeling him here yet, but my mind is still open.
9) Brunson is a treasure. Beautiful to see when a player gets developed so effectively and arrives into his own right when the team needs him.