GAME 3 NBA FINALS: Boston Celtics (2-0) vs. Dallas Mavericks (0-2)

[MAVS-SLO]

It's never nice to lose in the finals, but this season was fantastic. Remember, nobody excpeted us to be here, most of them didn't even expect we will reach play-ofs.

Celtics team is just better... They have 4 max players in the starting lineup, with 1 player making around 20 mil. They also have more experience playing such a series and they are much more rested then Mavs. That's the difference, we weren't bad, they are just better.

Looking at the us in Luka's era, we always did step by step.

We need 2 season to go out of 1 round, then we lost in WCF, this year we go to the finals.. So let's hope next year we will be winning the finals.

Still, in this season we finally got the chemistry back. We have good core and this offseason priority should just be to resing DJJ.

After that we can make potential trades... For now we at least know who is good enough to be here.

Hardaway, Green, Kleber, Powell, thats' enough of salary to match the good players salaries.

Also we will finally be free of picks from KP trade

After all, this was fantastic season for us!

[GATA]

Anyone that does not belief why we lost this  game  is Hardaway I don’t know what to tell you.

[hakeemfaan]

I wish I can pin this post. 

If I told you at the beginning of the season that Mavs would make the finals but lose, everyone here would be overjoyed at the playoff success and think Luka ascended a new level of basketball expertise we've never seen to pull that off.

Well that kind of happened. If they aren't ready to win now, maybe getting absolutely embarrassed in the finals will make sure they won't rest on their achievements and spark a fire under everyone's butt to try to win it again.

Most of us here wanted Brunson back and said if it was the max give him that.  Even then most of us who said that didn’t think he would become what he has in NY. The reason I am bringing this up is we tend to sometimes overreact based on a bad loss. Management didn’t see how that particular team got to the WCF and lost to GS but only focused that we lost and immediately felt the core was not good enough.

Similarly now instead of focusing on how far we made it and the fact that we beat very good teams, it would be wrong to just point out all the flaws.  This team is good.  Lively and PJ will be better next season. 

We need changes. Yes. But I am convinced that if D white is on the Mavs we would have won this series. I am not even asking for Jrue.  Just give me one more above average two way player with decent size. That’s how small the gap is.  We still have some other needs for next season but a team with Luka, Kyrie, PJ and our center combo is a strong core.

[Chicagojk]

I get it with the Hardaway frustration. He hasn't been it for months. Although, I think you also have to admit there may not have been any right answers. I am surprised the Exum didn't get much rope during the playoffs. He was bad in some series but didn't get much chance to play through early mistakes. I thought he would be a bigger factor in the playoffs. With his disappearance, I think we really need to pick up a cheaper, veteran ball handler this offseason. Not saying to replace Exum, but with his injuries we need someone who can be an option.

I was really surprised how Hardy filled in lately. Not perfect but that is really tough to be thrown into as a 21 year old. I just didn't think he was ready or had the reps throughout the season. I expect next year he will get the reps. He still needs to improve all aspects of his game as he continues to grow.

So that leaves Hardaway. Again, probably not the right choice. Kidd was probably using practice, gut feel and hoping to strike lighting in the bottle. It was a hail mary.

Was it the right answer...I say no. I also need to admit there may not have been a right answer.

[Chicagojk]

Most of us here wanted Brunson back and said if it was the max give him that.  Even then most of us who said that didn’t think he would become what he has in NY. The reason I am bringing this up is we tend to sometimes overreact based on a bad loss. Management didn’t see how that particular team got to the WCF and lost to GS but only focused that we lost and immediately felt the core was not good enough.

Similarly now instead of focusing on how far we made it and the fact that we beat very good teams, it would be wrong to just point out all the flaws.  This team is good.  Lively and PJ will be better next season. 

We need changes. Yes. But I am convinced that if D white is on the Mavs we would have won this series. I am not even asking for Jrue.  Just give me one more above average two way player with decent size. That’s how small the gap is.  We still have some other needs for next season but a team with Luka, Kyrie, PJ and our center combo is a strong core.

I think this offseason will be trying to bring the gang back together.   Be opportunistic but I don't see a big upgrade move.   I think it is too early to move our young pieces.   Resigning Jones will be important.  It might get tricky.  I would be against using a future pick to move money to sign Jones though.

Nico needs to take the long view.  Try to keep this young team together while also looking for an upgrade in a few roster spots (Wing, backup  4, backup ball handler).   Be ready to strike when that moment arrives.    

The DJJ is very tricky to fill.   That player needs to be able to guard the SGA, ANT, and other elite wings.   While also being a solid shooter.   Tough to find.  Not impossible, but don't throw everything away because Jones is not a perfect fit.    Try to keep him and then keep looking for that last piece (or two pieces) over the next two years.

[Chicagojk]

fouls 2 and 4 were really careless fouls. For a guy who does so many things right that was low IQ plays.

Brown was also really smart. He was right to attack Luka. I think he did it the possession earlier. That was a real smart play.

https://x.com/AndrewKSchlecht/status/180...0292617581

[ThisIStheYear]

The coach was the problem last night as much as Luka’s failure to lead and Tim’s sabatouge. How are you going to fix that? Calling a timeout with a transition opportunity on a 20-0 run? How do you fix something like that? Stubbornly sticking with your guy who hasn’t made a shot in a month and is single handedly getting you beat? Not fixable. The top teams in the West beat Boston up this year. Dallas hasn’t even drawn blood. The run that Kidd stopped was the only moment when it looked like the Mavs could even be competitive. They’ve pretty much just gotten smoked for the entire series. I guess I’m disappointed the Mavs haven’t shown any real sign of being a legitimate opponent. This is the most lopsided finals I can remember in 40ish years. The Mavs haven’t been in position to win even a single game really. The coach is holding the team back. His offensive scheme is AAU and he doesn’t even understand his own roster. A coaching overhaul is necessary.

[hakeemfaan]

The coach was the problem last night as much as Luka’s failure to lead and Tim’s sabatouge. How are you going to fix that? Calling a timeout with a transition opportunity on a 20-0 run? How do you fix something like that?  Stubbornly sticking with your guy who hasn’t made a shot in a month and is single handedly getting you beat?  Not fixable.  The top teams in the West beat Boston up this year. Dallas hasn’t even drawn blood. The run that Kidd stopped was the only moment when it looked like the Mavs could even be competitive. They’ve pretty much just gotten smoked for the entire series.  I guess I’m disappointed the Mavs haven’t shown any real sign of being a legitimate opponent.  This is the most lopsided finals I can remember in 40ish years. The Mavs haven’t been in position to win even a single game really. The coach is holding the team back. His offensive scheme is AAU and he doesn’t even understand his own roster. A coaching overhaul is necessary.

Yet the same Mavs with the same coach beat those other West teams you are talking about. 

When you go against Boston or any skilled  team that tries to counter your size advantage with a 5 out scheme you have to pick your poison. Do you try to match up with them to prevent open shots or you live with some open shots and try to beat them inside while maintaining a defender inside.  I think Kidd struggles against teams that go small. Clips when Lou went small. GS which IMO didn’t have that great a team that year. Boston this year. 

Yesterday as others have mentioned the Mavs finally didn’t have Luka just chasing and gave up some open looks. Some of it worked out but then Boston adjusted to that. However that is something you have to live with.  I like the core strength of this team with our two mobile defensive centers. We can definitely use a better offensive coach who uses PJ at the top of the key than as a stand-alone shooter. At the same time Luka did turn on a much better Xs and Os guy here with a title under his belt.  So just getting an offensive minded coach might not be the answer.  Kidd is ok but he needs an experienced offensive assistant around him who can help him scheme against 5 out teams without panicking and trying to play their game which is exactly what they want you to do.

[Chicagojk]

Yet the same Mavs with the same coach beat those other West teams you are talking about. 

When you go against Boston or any skilled  team that tries to counter your size advantage with a 5 out scheme you have to pick your poison. Do you try to match up with them to prevent open shots or you live with some open shots and try to beat them inside while maintaining a defender inside.  I think Kidd struggles against teams that go small. Clips when Lou went small. GS which IMO didn’t have that great a team that year. Boston this year. 

Yesterday as others have mentioned the Mavs finally didn’t have Luka just chasing and gave up some open looks. Some of it worked out but then Boston adjusted to that. However that is something you have to live with.  I like the core strength of this team with our two mobile defensive centers. We can definitely use a better offensive coach who uses PJ at the top of the key than as a stand-alone shooter. At the same time Luka did turn on a much better Xs and Os guy here with a title under his belt.  So just getting an offensive minded coach might not be the answer.  Kidd is ok but he needs an experienced offensive assistant around him who can help him scheme against 5 out teams without panicking and trying to play their game which is exactly what they want you to do.

We were stuck with Boston....and they took advantage.  Going 5 out against Boston with our team is not a winning formula.    It has worked against some teams.   I just think it has to be smaller stretches.  I just don't think you can count on Kleber to be that level of player in these top level series.    He is just limited.   Good at times.    Our small ball lineup is not as good as Bostons.  Way too limited.

Our bigs were also a mismatch.    I thought Gafford played ok.  It is just a real tough series for him.   Lively is not the player he will be in two years.   Boston was able to limit his effectiveness until last night.

Mavs played a style of ball where they had length on the wings and big guys to protect the rims.   They really helped Luka and Kyrie being a rim presence on defense.   Only one team this playoff run made that lineup ineffective.    LAC had some moments.   OKC had some smaller ones.   The mavs were able to bully teams and limit finishing at the rim.  Only one team was our kryptonite.

Also, not many teams can switch everything and force us into isolation ball.  I think OKC is building towards that though.   Mavs need a counter to this defense.  I mentioned before the series the constant looking for a switch when everyone watches was a concern for me.   Mavs need to find ways to counter this.   Not many teams can do this defense and be effective.   Although how the game is being played, the teams that can do this are probably going to be really good.

[Winter]

We were stuck with Boston....and they took advantage.  Going 5 out against Boston with our team is not a winning formula.    It has worked against some teams.   I just think it has to be smaller stretches.  I just don't think you can count on Kleber to be that level of player in these top level series.    He is just limited.   Good at times.    Our small ball lineup is not as good as Bostons.  Way too limited.

Our bigs were also a mismatch.    I thought Gafford played ok.  It is just a real tough series for him.   Lively is not the player he will be in two years.   Boston was able to limit his effectiveness until last night.

Mavs played a style of ball where they had length on the wings and big guys to protect the rims.   They really helped Luka and Kyrie being a rim presence on defense.   Only one team this playoff run made that lineup ineffective.    LAC had some moments.   OKC had some smaller ones.   The mavs were able to bully teams and limit finishing at the rim.  Only one team was our kryptonite.

Also, not many teams can switch everything and force us into isolation ball.  I think OKC is building towards that though.   Mavs need a counter to this defense.  I mentioned before the series the constant looking for a switch when everyone watches was a concern for me.   Mavs need to find ways to counter this.   Not many teams can do this defense and be effective.   Although how the game is being played, the teams that can do this are probably going to be really good.

Some important points there. The Mavs were tossing easy lobs on every opponent up until this series. Because the P&R was so non-existent in this series, the Mavs offense just looked stuck in the mud. They were clearly uncomfortable. Every dish out to a wing was still too slow for an open shooter. 

This was just the Celtics year. I agree that we're still missing tweak in our rotation, but I also think Luka needs to take a hard look at his behavior on the court. I would really like to see a different attitude next year.

[Chicagojk]

I didn't notice this last night. Not a great look. Everyone gets tired and has their moments when they are on E. This stuff happens too much though.

Luka does all the really hard stuff that very few can do. I put some of this under maturity, some under leadership. Just needs to be a better example on these types of plays.

https://x.com/Jacobtheclipper/status/180...2667139375

[Chicagojk]

Game two is the one I will look back on. The Mavs had played really good in all previous game 2's. They got a average Celtics game and the game was there for the taking. The Mavs just didn't jump on it. If they win game 2, even with last nights crushing loss we would have a chance on Friday to bring it back to 2-2 and make it a best of 3 game series.

[omahen]

I didn't notice this last night.    Not a great look.    Everyone gets tired and has their moments when they are on E.  This stuff happens too much though.

Luka does all the really hard stuff that very few can do.  I put some of this under maturity, some under leadership.    Just needs to be a better example on these types of plays.

https://x.com/Jacobtheclipper/status/180...2667139375

After the performances he showed in this playoffs, I find it totally unbeliveable that he would just quit on the team, that he was just lazy, didn't care or stuff like that. I said in the first post after the game - it seemed to me that something happened at the end of the first quarter and he wasn't the same from there on. I find it much more probable that one of his injuries got so bad that he couldn't overcome it anymore, than him "quitting" on the team. In a game that was last chance for them.

[SleepingHero]

After the performances he showed in this playoffs, I find it totally unbeliveable that he would just quit on the team, that he was just lazy, didn't care or stuff like that. I said in the first post after the game - it seemed to me that something happened at the end of the first quarter and he wasn't the same from there on. I find it much more probable that one of his injuries got so bad that he couldn't overcome it anymore, than him "quitting" on the team. In a game that was last chance for them.

It's even worse cause in that tweet, Luka isn't even the last man. It's PJ. And PJ got beat by Tatum to the rim despite being near half court while Tatum started at the 3pt line. 


It's a silly tweet. Could Luka have hustled back more? Sure. But it also wasn't his fault Tatum got a free drive to the rim.

[SwisherPrice]

Rewatched the final minutes after Luka fouled out. The Celtics definitely targeted THJ and Kyrie. I've bashed THJ plenty but Kidd put him in a tough spot there for a guy who has only played spot minutes for like an entire month. Should have stuck with DJJ for defense and then hope that Kyrie can go 1 vs. 5 because that is exactly what happened on offense anyway!

[ThisIStheYear]

Yet the same Mavs with the same coach beat those other West teams you are talking about. 

When you go against Boston or any skilled  team that tries to counter your size advantage with a 5 out scheme you have to pick your poison. Do you try to match up with them to prevent open shots or you live with some open shots and try to beat them inside while maintaining a defender inside.  I think Kidd struggles against teams that go small. Clips when Lou went small. GS which IMO didn’t have that great a team that year. Boston this year. 

Yesterday as others have mentioned the Mavs finally didn’t have Luka just chasing and gave up some open looks. Some of it worked out but then Boston adjusted to that. However that is something you have to live with.  I like the core strength of this team with our two mobile defensive centers. We can definitely use a better offensive coach who uses PJ at the top of the key than as a stand-alone shooter. At the same time Luka did turn on a much better Xs and Os guy here with a title under his belt.  So just getting an offensive minded coach might not be the answer.  Kidd is ok but he needs an experienced offensive assistant around him who can help him scheme against 5 out teams without panicking and trying to play their game which is exactly what they want you to do.

Countering 5 out hasn’t been the problem. The defense has performed good enough. The problem has been offense. Kidd can only “coach” one side of the ball. He needs significantly more help coaching offense, maybe a guy you just turn that side over to and stay out. The Mavs are tremendously talented. The offense got by on individual brilliance before this series. But they need an actual scheme.  Carlisle would have this offensive talent at #1 rated.  The Mavs have underachieved on that side of the ball since Kidd arrived.

And even if you fix the scheme, you still have to deal with a coach who can’t find a rotation or manage a game. You just have to hold your breath that the right guys are injured so they’re not an option (Mavs have been so lucky THJ has been injured during this playoff run, as they were when he was injured two years ago) and that you don’t get some all time baffling decision like last night. The Mavs making it this far overcoming Kidd’s offensive scheme is an accomplishment but they couldn’t also overcome the lineup malfeasance and the horrible, momentum stopping time out. That was just too much for a single game. I can’t see the Mavs winning a title with such a wildcard at coach.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Maxi and THJ... 0 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 0-7 FG, 0-4 3pt, 27 minutes, -29 +/-

In no way, shape, or form should either see a minute of playing time going forward, including next year.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Countering 5 out hasn’t been the problem. The defense has performed good enough. The problem has been offense. Kidd can only “coach” one side of the ball. He needs significantly more help coaching offense, maybe a guy you just turn that side over to and stay out. The Mavs are tremendously talented. The offense got by on individual brilliance before this series. But they need an actual scheme.  Carlisle would have this offensive talent at #1 rated.  The Mavs have underachieved on that side of the ball since Kidd arrived.

And even if you fix the scheme, you still have to deal with a coach who can’t find a rotation or manage a game. You just have to hold your breath that the right guys are injured so they’re not an option (Mavs have been so lucky THJ has been injured during this playoff run, as they were when he was injured two years ago) and that you don’t get some all time baffling decision like last night. The Mavs making it this far overcoming Kidd’s offensive scheme is an accomplishment but they couldn’t also overcome the lineup malfeasance and the horrible, momentum stopping time out. That was just too much for a single game. I can’t see the Mavs winning a title with such a wildcard at coach.

Co-signed.  I think the success from the 2022 season was very much to the detriment of the team.  It hid the loss of KP.  It made Brunson look redundant.  Personnel wise, could you imagine the big 3 of Luka, KP, and Brunson?

Success also puts lipstick on Kidd's pig of an offensive scheme.  Yes, we need an offensive coordinator.  With two of the best distributors in the same backcourt, this offense should be far more dynamic.  Luke HAS TO play off the ball more with Kyrie at the point.

[hakeemfaan]

Co-signed.  I think the success from the 2022 season was very much to the detriment of the team.  It hid the loss of KP.  It made Brunson look redundant.  Personnel wise, could you imagine the big 3 of Luka, KP, and Brunson?

Success also puts lipstick on Kidd's pig of an offensive scheme.  Yes, we need an offensive coordinator.  With two of the best distributors in the same backcourt, this offense should be far more dynamic.  Luke HAS TO play off the ball more with Kyrie at the point.

I am not disagreeing with both of your viewpoints regarding Kidd making some decisions that didn’t work out. What I am saying is we had one of the best Xs and Os coach here and Luka had a fallout with him. From a fan’s POV it’s easy to ask to bring a better offensive mind as a coach but in today’s NBA coaches are also under a lot of pressure as star players can make or break them. 

Overall Kidd is not going anywhere even if the Mavs get swept.  At least not the coming year. So the best we can realistically hope is to get a sharp experienced asst.  One who Kidd doesn’t feel threatened by. Else we know he will sabotage him.

[Chicagojk]

I agree with the post. I would like to see this as well. The role players seem to respond this this style. throw it ahead to Kyrie, Green, Hardy/Exum. If PJ can be productive here, try him to. Especially when they are in open space.


https://x.com/MavsFilmRoom/status/1801315075128758521