(06-10-2021, 06:01 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: How is it that so many of the major players descended into near-unplayable status in the playoffs?
Matchups.
Doncic played two of the Clippers most important players off the floor, Beverly and Zubac. And Lue didn't even try to play Cousins. Kennard only got run after the Clippers made adjustments, but he wouldn't have played at all if they weren't forced to go small. Mann and Rondo barely played.
Bottom line the supposed deep, talented Clippers were reduced to three two-way forwards - Kawhi, George, Batum - who each played 40 MIN; plus another two-way forward - Morris - who played 30+ MIN; and a big scoring guard - Jackson - who got hot.
What's crazy and a bit counterintuitive is the Mavs forced the Clippers to go small but that had the unfortunate side effect of rendering many of Dallas' best players unplayable too.
KP couldn't guard the paint so Carlisle had to go big with Boban, WCS and a bit of Powell. That forced KP to forward who took Kleber's minutes.
Then you had three Mavs who needed 40+ MIN
- DFS, who Carlisle couldn't take off the floor.
- THJ, because at least he had balls.
- Of course Luka
In the end I certainly don't think Brunson, Kleber or JRich played great, but I don't think the loss is an indictment on them at all. It was all just matchups and the combined ripple effect of Luka dominating Beverly & Zubac and KP not being able to defend the rim.