Game 69: Dallas Mavericks (39-29) vs. San Antonio Spurs (15-53)

[Chicagojk]

Wemby on quite a role lately.  The first quarter against Dallas was pretty eye opening by Wemby in the last meeting.   Pretty scary.  Mavs pulled away and the Spurs limited Wemby minutes.  Worried what a 38 minute Wemby game could mean.   Just feel this may be a tough game.

over/under on 1 Maxi/PJ made three?   We really need them to get going shooting.

[youzigizag]

Love how Pop plays Wemby.

If he was on Dallas...he would sit every third game and have minutes capped at 18 per game to frustrate the masses.

[omahen]

Very tricky game. Mavs tend to relax after big wins, but all teams are good enough to punish you if you relax too much. Mavs can't make mistakes in games like this in the battle for that 6th spot.

I hope they start strong and then bring it home in a relaxed manner in the second half.

[SleepingHero]

Wemby is a monster. He absolutely cooked the Mavs in the 1st quarter last game before Kyrie took over and led the team to a win.

Would probably take another type of performance like that to stop that 7'5 freak.

[michaeltex]

I think the PnR inside game we've seen the last few games will continue. Wemby will get his, but DAL is the better team and he can't guard everyone.

Of course, Pop seems to find something special to use against DAL. Probably bring in a 2-way nobody's heard of and get a career game out of him.

Plus, doesn't SAS have to start focusing on lottery position? Currently 3rd, but a couple wins puts them up to 4th, behind CHA.

[MaxiThreeba]

Haven't rewatched it, but it felt like the last game vs SAS started with the Mavs really settling on offense because of Wemby lurking in the paint.

Looking at the box score, Mavs were 8-22 in the 1Q and 2-11 from 3. Half their shots were 3's and they weren't falling. And, of course, Wemby was going supernova.

In the 2Q, led by Kyrie, Mavs went 14-22 and 3-6 from 3. That heavier reliance on 2's vs 3's continued in the 3rd quarter blitz, when Mavs went 15-26 and 2-8 from 3.

In Q1, Mavs took 50% of their shots from deep. Q2 and Q3 saw 29% of Mavs FGAs come from beyond the 3 point line.

Looking at shot charts takes it a step further:

In Q1, 20 of the Mavs' 22 FGAs (91%) were at the rim or from 3pt range.
In Q2 and Q3, that shot chart shifts to 29 of the Mavs' 48 FGAs (60%) coming at the rim or from 3pt range.

That's the Wemby effect. You have to spam the mid range way more than you normally would (and he will still block some of those attempts). Mavs went 13-19 in Q2/Q3 on those FGAs that weren't at the rim or from 3.

Luka was off (1-8 with one of those misses a heave) from 3 that game as well before he went to work in the mid range in the 3rd after Kyrie showed the way in the 2nd.

Taking a look back at the stats and charts from this game also just reinforced how insanely tough the Mavs are to defend when they're healthy. Two of the league's best 3 level scorers allow you to solve just about any defense. If PJ/Maxi/DJJ can shoot league average from 3, it's about impossible to truly slow down the offense.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

They can't look past them, that's for sure. SA has beat some good teams this year. Wemby is a one of one. His athletic ability at his size is amazing.

[dirkfansince1998]

Wemby in foul trouble. Great start.

[KillerLeft]

PJ with some good defensive possessions against Wembenyama, a nice drive and a corner three already!

[KillerLeft]

Lively looks GREAT!

[Mavs2021]

Half of our bad defense comes from Luka making dumb decisions on offense. If he ever cleans up his act just a little...

[KillerLeft]

Seems like the Spurs are very aware that the weakness of the Mavs' defense is rotating to contest corner 3's.

[dirkfansince1998]

Center is guarding the worst shooter...Sochan. PF guards the opposing superstar center...Wemby. Same formula that allowed them to slow down Jokic and the Nuggets. PJ with incredible defense to start the game.

[Chicagojk]

Sometimes at the beginning of games, I wish Luka would hold back on those no pass possessions where he takes really tough shots. Especially when the rest of the team comes out looking pretty good. He has taken some tough shots. Wish he would let the game come to him.

[KillerLeft]

Bad decision from Hardy - should have lobbed it rather than faked the lob.

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But then a NICE crossover pull up from the kid a couple of minutes later!

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I made a comment in a game thread about a week ago that Kyrie was playing well in every way except for his point guard duties while Luka sat. Since then, he has picked up that area of his game SIGNIFICANTLY.

[dirkfansince1998]

I made a comment in a game thread about a week ago that Kyrie was playing well in every way except for his point guard duties while Luka sat. Since then, he has picked up that area of his game SIGNIFICANTLY.

Non Luka minutes looked bad and he played some of the worst defense I have seen him play in a Mavs jersey but since he started fasting he has been great on both ends.

[dirkfansince1998]

Luka foul baiting only to end up in a bad spot where he forces contested midrange jumpers.

[DallasMaverick]

Nice to see that 3 by Kleber

[BoredAssistant]

Would like to see Lively post up Victor.

[dirkfansince1998]

Would like to see Lively post up Victor.

Lively is just as skinny and smaller. Mavs are doing a good job in the pick and roll. Just force Wemby to make a decision. If he steps up the lob should be open. If he stays home the midrange/floater is open. Luka just needs to make them.