Mavs 113, Clippers 103

[mavsluvr]

Just finished a rewatch of the game (thinking more clearly, without the adrenaline). 

The Mavs are still in trouble. They got close to ideal performances from DFS and THJ on both ends of the court. Luka was Luka, and he might be able to play that well in most games of the series, but that might be the high water mark for THJ and DFS. You can argue that Brunson has another level to reach, and obviously we can hope for more out of Porzingis (maybe they figured some stuff out late that will help), but this was a GREAT performance by the Mavs...and the game was in question until very late. 

On the flip side, basically only Leonard played well for the Clippers, and he could actually play quite a bit better. If, for example, the Clippers get the 2nd half Paul George for the entire game, this is a Mavs loss. If they get ANYTHING from Jackson, Morris or Beverley, this is a Mavs loss. 

I'm happy for the win, but still not feeling great about this.

I have been reveling in the win while we still can, but have to agree that, if we raise our head above the trenches and peep at the road ahead, it appears lined with obstacles and pitfalls. 

I listened to a couple of Clippers-oriented podcasts, mostly for schadenfreude purposes, lol, and they pretty much echoed your thoughts.  

"The Mavs gave us their best shot, we didn't play well, and we were still tied with three minutes left. The Mavs are unlikely to play that well again, and we are unlikely to play that badly again. Clippers in six."

I am somewhat encouraged by the Mavs' defense looking surprisingly good, and think that might be able to stick, at least to a degree. However, the Mavs' success pretty much lives and dies with how well their three-point shots are falling, and you just never know from one game to the next. If KP could resurrect his Bubble form, that would go a long way. And I'm not convinced the Clips can come up with an answer to Luka for every remaining game, or maybe at all. But, yeah. If the Clippers step up their game, I fear the consequences may not be pretty.