GAME 6: DAL (4-2) @ CLE (2-4) | 131-111 win | 3-0 on the road since 10-11

[SleepingHero]

Things to watch:

• Must win. Hard to say this early in the season, but the margin of error in the West is slim. Have to beat the teams you're supposed to beat.
  
  
• I calmed down from lasst night and have to say that the refs can still suck it. What a pathetic performance.
  
  
• Cavaliers are not a scary team at all, but they feature a surprisingly potent frontcourt. Both Love and Thompson have been playing well and the Cavs even give Love the playmaking opportunities that made him a beast in Minnesota.
  
  
• The only other one to contain in the starting unit is Sexton. He's a dynamic young score-first guard, but I think defensively we have plenty options to guard him.
  
  
• Our bench should dominate. Lance and Clarkson are their best guys off their bench, which is not exactly terrifying.
  

I really like these pre and post game Things to watch!

I agree usually with almost all the points.

[TheCustodian]

I will be in attendance for this game. I'm really excited to watch Luka torch the Cavs. 

Things to note: 

1. I really hope the team has moved on from the Lakers game. It was a tough loss, which really shouldn't have been a loss had it been officiated fairly. We need to be mentally ready for this game. Cavs have some weapons and can win random games against good teams so we need to be ready. We need to argue less with refs and get back on defense. We need to focus on the current play. 

2. Cavs have a lot of waterbug guards that we need to contain. They're talented and can score (Garland, Sexton, Clarkson, Delly to an extent). They're all able to carve into the defense and shoot over our guys. Wright, Dorian and Seth's defense will be important here. 

3. Love and Thompson have been balling this year. Thompson is averaging 20ppg and 10rpg while Love is playing like Minnesota Love. KP is going to have to close out on Love and limit his 3pt shooting and long 2s. Maxi and Powell will need to do a good job of locking Thompson down and limiting his offensive rebounding. 

The Cavs aren't one of the top teams in the league but I believe they're of the status of being competitive on a nightly basis and if a team isn't ready, the Cavs can upset them. We need to keep our foot on the gas the whole way.

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/townbrad/status/1191067040020336641

[SleepingHero]

test gif

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/coopmavs/status/1191072980132073480

[j0Shi]

I really like these pre and post game Things to watch!

I agree usually with almost all the points.

Cheers!

[MrGoat]

Should win, but I am a bit worried about the glass in this game. I could easily see Love and Thompson bullying us there

[SportPsychMav]

Should win, but I am a bit worried about the glass in this game. I could easily see Love and Thompson bullying us there

After the first 5-6 games Dallas ranks 6th in overall rebounding. I don't think rebounding will be a concern this season if this early measure is any worthwhile indicator.

Luka, Maxi, Dfs are great for their positions and Dallas is great in rebounding by committee thus far.

Should be fine.

I think Cleveland is a favorable matchup for us.

Biggest risk is underestimating them. They look to be a vastly different team this year but I feel that young teams tend to play up or down to their competition. 
Have not checked any data to back this up though.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

Think we could rest Porzingis in this one and still win quite handily.

maybe

but a weekend game on the road can be weird.  Cleveland isn't as bad as we thought going into the season.  Wouldn't be shocked if this one is close, at least for a bit.

[SleepingHero]

Think we could rest Porzingis in this one and still win quite handily.

I don't know. On the one hand I think yeah, we could rest KP and still probably win the game, but at the same time I think KP should be getting as much gametime as possible to get back into top form.

Games like this are valuable for guys working their way back into it because there is less pressure and he can find a rhythm. Plus, Cavs have been playing hard this year. None of their losses have been necessarily blowouts. Their biggest loss came against the Bucks, and even then they put up 112.


I hope the Mavs come out mad after losing to the Lakers because a loss against the Cavs would hurt 10x more, and that;s why I think KP should play.

[fifteenth]

maybe

but a weekend game on the road can be weird.  Cleveland isn't as bad as we thought going into the season.  Wouldn't be shocked if this one is close, at least for a bit.

I agree. I'd be disappointed with a loss but the "must win" talk doesn't fit how the NBA works. Everyone wins some they shouldn't and loses some they shouldn't.

We're 3-2 for the first 5, now we need to be 5-3 for the first 8. But it sure would be nice to build a cushion against some of these lesser teams coming up.

[SportPsychMav]

Things to watch:

• Must win. Hard to say this early in the season, but the margin of error in the West is slim. Have to beat the teams you're supposed to beat.
  
  
• I calmed down from lasst night and have to say that the refs can still suck it. What a pathetic performance.
  
  
• Cavaliers are not a scary team at all, but they feature a surprisingly potent frontcourt. Both Love and Thompson have been playing well and the Cavs even give Love the playmaking opportunities that made him a beast in Minnesota.
  
  
• The only other one to contain in the starting unit is Sexton. He's a dynamic young score-first guard, but I think defensively we have plenty options to guard him.
  
  
• Our bench should dominate. Lance and Clarkson are their best guys off their bench, which is not exactly terrifying.
  

I really like these pre and post game Things to watch!

I agree usually with almost all the points.

Yup Joshi is a great poster on multiple Mavs forums. Are you still a journalist in some capacity btw?

[StepBackJay]

Think we could rest Porzingis in this one and still win quite handily.

maybe

but a weekend game on the road can be weird.  Cleveland isn't as bad as we thought going into the season.  Wouldn't be shocked if this one is close, at least for a bit.

Little worried if Maxi doesn't play bc I think he can make Love's life hard and if he's out then we could have a tough time with Love. Cavs roster does not scare me all but you never know.

[Fuerza1]

It's funny that so many of us have an eerie feeling about this game. Gut instincts. 

Nothing is given in the NBA. I mean the Mavs had trouble putting away below average teams like the Wiz and Pelicans too. So against the Cavs on the road after a tough, physical, overtime battle 2 days ago, who knows. But this is definitely a game we SHOULD win, no excuses.

[SportPsychMav]

It's funny that so many of us have an eerie feeling about this game. Gut instincts. 

Nothing is given in the NBA. I mean the Mavs had trouble putting away below average teams like the Wiz and Pelicans too. So against the Cavs on the road after a tough, physical, overtime battle 2 days ago, who knows. But this is definitely a game we SHOULD win, no excuses.

I'm still most worried about Luka's head. I still think he shouldn't have played after his knock on the head. He clearly didn't look right. Otherwise we would have had a chance in OT.
Mavs medical staff made a mistake from my armchair position.
Concussions are nothing to joke about, were empathized during my masters degree as well.


https://youtu.be/Io6hPdC41RM

[sefant]

It's funny that so many of us have an eerie feeling about this game. Gut instincts. 

Nothing is given in the NBA. I mean the Mavs had trouble putting away below average teams like the Wiz and Pelicans too. So against the Cavs on the road after a tough, physical, overtime battle 2 days ago, who knows. But this is definitely a game we SHOULD win, no excuses.

I have that feeling after Kleber is confirmed to be out. Don't like that.

Powell hasn't played well so far. Hopefully Love doesn't go off.

[Mavericks321]

Should get a win here tonight.

[Kammrath]

https://twitter.com/bobbykaralla/status/...4594743301

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https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/11...6306744321

[j0Shi]

Yup Joshi is a great poster on multiple Mavs forums. Are you still a journalist in some capacity btw?

No, I'm a full stack web developer. Covering sports was fun, but really just something I only did as a side gig for a solid 4-5 years.

[SportPsychMav]

https://twitter.com/bobbykaralla/status/...4594743301

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https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/11...6306744321

Makes he hopeful that Luka plays a bit off ball.

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Let's gooo