Mavs 114, Grizzlies 113

[michaeltex]

The defense on that last play seems pretty stupid. Luka obviously is getting the ball. I don't know why Valanciunas doesn't at least fall back to stand in the way of Luka after the pass gets inbounded. 

You pretty much have to have 2 guys defending Luka or trying to disrupt what he's doing in these situations. He doesn't even have time to pass it so I don't know why you don't just throw all 3 guys at whoever gets the ball knowing they have to shoot it. Clearly that was going to be Luka. Seems like eventually teams will just sell-out completely on Luka and force a heavily contested shot.

FWIW, he was surrounded when he got the ball and was body checked by Brooks as he took his last step, possibly even enough to call a foul under different circumstances. Val was guarding the inbound throw and couldn't turn and move fast enough to get to Luka. Luka was moving as he got the ball and knew exactly where he needed to go to have any shot at the basket.

Luck? Yep, some. Years of making that shot in practice, games and his head? Yep, but preparation counts too.