PLAYOFF GAME 1 (1st Rnd): DAL (0-1) @ LAC (1-0) | 110-118 loss

[SwisherPrice]

My impression is that Luka pretty much needs an entirely different roster around him. I don’t see a keeper anywhere on the roster outside of him.  They were totally overmatched. Too many slow, awkward, unathletic players. 

Maybe Brunson can stay as a backup point guard and Curry as a specialist.  The rest of them can go (though is like to see more MKG).

Too many one-dimensional specialists and not enough all-around basketball players who can do more than just catch and shoot. The Mavs teams that actually did something in the playoffs in the Dirk Era all had at least 2 additional capable SCORERS (not just shooters) outside of Dirk and whoever the #2 option was (Finley or Jet)

Nash and NVE in the Nellie years
Josh Howard, Stackhouse, and Harris in 2006
Marion and JJB could get baskets in 2011

[Scott41theMavs]

My impression is that Luka pretty much needs an entirely different roster around him. I don’t see a keeper anywhere on the roster outside of him. They were totally overmatched. Too many slow, awkward, unathletic players.

Maybe Brunson can stay as a backup point guard and Curry as a specialist. The rest of them can go (though is like to see more MKG).

That's a pretty major shock value take on KP, tbh. If you're right (you're not), at least we should be able to get three real starters for him in trade (as opposed to VAJ, Tank Commander, and DSChina) since he has demonstrably shown himself to be better than he was in NY.

[Hypermav]

https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1...12806?s=20

[dirkfansince1998]

Thought that a short TV/internet break would help but I am still angry. Mavs had a legit chance to steal game one. Gain momentum and put pressure on the Clippers to deliver in the coming games. I don´t doubt that Kawhi could have dealed with it but PG and Lou Will are known for their playoff short comings.

[hakeemfan]

Every player has flaws. KP is a keeper. The things he does are rare and cannot easily be replaced. Plus Luka and he still have not fully developed chemistry. If he can stay healthy KP is not just a keeper but a legit stud.


What we are missing around those two is more players that don’t back down from a fight. You don’t need thugs. You still need skill and more importantly toughness. Hardaway and Brunson, no matter their flaws are tough minded players. Wright, Justin Jackson, Maxi don’t inspire confidence if I am going into an alley and ready to battle which is what most playoff games are.

[omahen]

Thought that a short TV/internet break would help but I am still angry. Mavs had a legit chance to steal game one.

Yeah, refs really did this one badly. I could accept if the T would be given in a heat of a moment, immediately. But they went to look at the monitor, knowing he already got one, and they gave him another. That is beyond weak. You just don't call that in such an important game. 

Even weaker will be league explaining how call was perfectly according to the rules.

Too bad we will be dealing with this stupid call. There are still a lot of things Mavs can improve. Hopefully Clippers can't  Overall, I liked the game and the approach. I can live with the silly mistakes, which there were too many off. This is learning. A will to fight and play defense, this is not, this you have to have.

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Wright, Justin Jackson, Maxi don’t inspire confidence

Maxi is a nice guy and I agree with you, too nice guy. Wright and Jackson should be gone in the offseason, and I think their minutes are indicating that.

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This team needs a couple of enforcers like Beverly/Morris. It should be Maxi/DFS/MKG___ (insert role player name) running there protecting Luka, not KP. He showed he is tough, which I admire. But he is too important for this team to lose him this way.

[ThisIStheYear]

My impression is that Luka pretty much needs an entirely different roster around him. I don’t see a keeper anywhere on the roster outside of him.  They were totally overmatched. Too many slow, awkward, unathletic players.

Maybe Brunson can stay as a backup point guard and Curry as a specialist.  The rest of them can go (though is like to see more MKG).

That's a pretty major shock value take on KP, tbh. If you're right (you're not), at least we should be able to get three real starters for him in trade (as opposed to VAJ, Tank Commander, and DSChina) since he has demonstrably shown himself to be better than he was in NY.

A bit on the fence about KP.  He’s so slow to react and gives up so much ground in pick and roll defense, he just doesn’t seem like the best fit next to Luka.  He was a idiot tonight so I need to cool down. That was out of character. The moment must have gotten to him. I wouldn’t give him away, but if I could get a near equally good player at a wing position, I’d do it.  I just want to see some other guys look like they belong on the court with the Clippers this season.

[omahen]

As I said it will happen. The NBA explanation about the second techical is even weaker than the call itself. Everything is legit and according to the rules, they say. Only NBA star viewers, Mavs, ESPN crew and opposing coach disagree with the call, but they called everything according to rules. Good job. Only, I bet I could find like a 100 small things in every game that should be called according to rules and they aren't called, because refs (correctly) leave the game running.

https://twitter.com/fishsports/status/12...4564876290

The only one escalating things in the game were refs.
1) not calling the foul on KP (Zubac "block")
2) immediately after that calling foul on KP for much less contact on blocking George (arguably wrong call)
3) awarding KP with a tech (correct call, he shouldn't throw punch and everyone knows that - this is always a T)

Good refs acknowledge their mistakes. Bad refs find excuses why their calls were correct.

[ThisIStheYear]

That was on Zinger. He did rush into the scrum and escalate the situation. He had no business getting mixed up in that. I’ve got no problem with the second technical. The first was weak ass though.

[hakeemfan]

@"ThisIStheYear" Let us not be so quick to forget how well KP played with a Luka out. He is a rare talent and he has an edge to his game too.

We have two studs. Most teams don’t have one. I am not in any rush to give KP up. As @"omahen" said if we just have Beverly and Morris this series is a toss up. We are not that far off. No need to overthink and pull a Jim Clemons and get rid of a stud.

[omahen]

This is well written imho

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2905...-if-moment

[Scott41theMavs]

@"ThisIStheYear" Let us not be so quick to forget how well KP played with a Luka out. He is a rare talent and he has an edge to his game too.

We have two studs. Most teams don’t have one. I am not in any rush to give KP up. As @"omahen" said if we just have Beverly and Morris this series is a toss up. We are not that far off. No need to overthink and pull a Jim Clemons and get rid of a stud.

I'll give up Zinger if the Suns give us Ayton, Oubre, and Bridges in return. They won't, but yeah, for that kind of return, bye, now, KP. He's the unicorn, dammit.

[donzingis38]

This place sucks. Pretty much every other fanbase are jealous of us for having Luka and KP on the same fn team and you guys talk about trading KP?

Give your head a shake.

[Scott41theMavs]

This place sucks. Pretty much every other fanbase are jealous of us for having Luka and KP on the same fn team and you guys talk about trading KP?

Give your head a shake.

It's not me. I'm saying, if you theoretically did trade KP, it had better be for a stellar return. KP is a 7'3" player who can shoot threes, drive to the basket, and is developing a Duncan-like post-game on offense, while changing and blocking shots on defense, with markedly improved rebounding this year. Damn right I'm glad he's a Mav.

[SleepingHero]

This place sucks. Pretty much every other fanbase are jealous of us for having Luka and KP on the same fn team and you guys talk about trading KP?

Give your head a shake.

Pretty sure only 1 person was saying that. 

And the person that said that obviously misspoke. I too think this team needs better role players. But Luka/KP foundation is as solid as it comes.

[dirkfansince1998]

Talking about role players. I am happy that Beverley isn´t our problem. Terrible decision making and shot selection. Even his defense wasn´t what it used to be.
Luka was doing whatever he wanted all game long.

[Scott41theMavs]

This place sucks. Pretty much every other fanbase are jealous of us for having Luka and KP on the same fn team and you guys talk about trading KP?

Give your head a shake.

Pretty sure only 1 person was saying that.

And the person that said that obviously misspoke. I too think this team needs better role players. But Luka/KP foundation is as solid as it comes.

We don't need better role players. We need minimally-competent 3rd- and 4th-best players, like nearly all of the other playoff teams.

[Aussiebballer]

Main issue was no one besides Luka stepped up when KP was ejected.
Needed THJ or Curry to bring it, but they shot poorly and made bad decisions.
Burke and Wright did nothing to help the team win, Wright had some terrible decisions.
MKG did some ok stuff but I won't be surprised if he doesn't hit another three in the series.

[Scott41theMavs]

Main issue was no one besides Luka stepped up when KP was ejected.
Needed THJ or Curry to bring it, but they shot poorly and made bad decisions.
Burke and Wright did nothing to help the team win, Wright had some terrible decisions.
MKG did some ok stuff but I won't be surprised if he doesn't hit another three in the series.

THJ is a 5th-best player on a contending team, while all of those other guys are bench players. Get Luka and KP some help. That is all.

[DanSchwartzgan]

This is well written imho

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2905...-if-moment

Agree.  I thought it was going to be tough to come out of the minor dust up without a double T.  

The most egregious T IMHO was the first one.  The series of events started earlier.  KP was clearly fouled on what was called a block.  It wasn't close and that got him fired up.  To then get called for a clean block seconds later put him over the top.  I hate when ref's compound their mistake by calling a T.  Yes, George got a T earlier for an aggressive arm waive (a different motion than what KP did).  But, later in the game they swallowed their whistles with Leonard flailing both arms and taking a couple of aggressive steps toward the ref.  The ref's clearly have some latitude here.  I think the one they blew was the first one.