(06-03-2021, 07:36 AM)mavsluvr Wrote: MAVERICKS PULL OUT THRILLER IN LA!
MAVS LEAD SERIES 3-2
The Mavericks went jumbo on the Clips, and survived to tell the tale. A phenomenal game from Luka drew no answer from the opponent.
GAME STORY
Luka and Maxi, initially listed as questionable, were both available to play. Serge Ibaka remained out for the Clippers. Rick selected a surprise starting lineup of Luka, THJ, DFS, KP, and Boban, inserting Bobi for Maxi in an apparent effort to counter the Clips’ lethal small ball lineup. Lue stuck with Jackson, PG, Kawhi, Morris, and Batum. It was the first start in 26 playoff games for Marjanovic. Looked like Rick was pulling out all the stops.
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OBSERVATIONS
Rick’s gamble to roll with super-sized lineups paid off, with the Clippers scoring a mere 38 points in the paint. Kudos to the coach for a bold move, and to the players for adjusting to such a big scheme change on the fly!
Luka returning to form had the Mavericks looking like a different team. If he can continue to play like this, and get a little more help from his teammates, the Mavs stand a chance to finish off the series in six. Barkley's guar-awn-tee that Dallas would lose four straight did not prove prophetic.
Game Six will take place at the AAC at 8 CDT on Friday.
GO MAVS!!!!
Great work ML. Thanks for all the extra detail on this fantastic contest.
Quote:BOBAN. Bobi had 9 points and 7 boards in 20 minutes on the court. The gentle giant changed the game against the Clippers, who were forced to shoot from the outside, and to contend with Boban’s size on the defensive end. Luka said it was a struggle to change the game plan to accommodate Bobi, but he thought the move “turned out great.”
I have to comment on this. Luka and Boban PnR, Luka rolling into the rim with Bobi on the side just ahead or behind, doesn't matter, it has to be an absolute nightmare to defend.
If you're the defense, any defense, Boban is so dangerous a player to have the ball near the basket that you have to have someone glued to him and watch for that pass all the way in but then as you're doing that you have one of the most prolific driving scorers in the game getting closer and closer to the rim with all his options open.
If he gets it to Boban you have to make a play on the ball before Bobi gets it above his head. Most of the time they're actually going to hack him, rake his arms, pull him down, push him and hope they get away with it. Lucky for the Clips they usually do get away but that's a different story as Bobi doesn't get as much respect as he should on fouls. It has to be really really blatant for him to get a call, and he's good at the line.
So what I saw was usually they just let Luka have his floater going in and that's also recipe for surrendering a 42 point game to the Wonderboy!