HAWKS 113, MAVS 87

[hakeemfaan]

I am in shock that there is almost no conversation about how poor Luka looked. 

Am I crazy? Did I not see reality last night? I'm confused.

This is a guy who has always faced the other team’s best defender, often surrounded with weaker talent and has still dominated. He is owed some poor games. Isn’t he?  Bucks got crushed by the Heat too. Should folks rag on Giannis?  Plus even Dirk used to have poor games and someone would be anointed as a Dirk killer. Only for Dirk to roast them as time progressed. 

The team also has a new coaching staff and trying some different things that will require some adjustments from Luka. Give them all some time.  2011 would not have happened with Dirk just hanging on the perimeter. 


I have been critical of some aspects of Luka’s game but we all know he is a legit stud. So the vast majority of the critique will rightfully be on other things.

[omahen]

https://twitter.com/iztok_franko/status/...linechrome&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpozareport.si%2F

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Only because Capela helped Hunter. He is a great player Hunter, but Luka would destroy him one on one, and he did that previous seasons in one on one matchups. If Capela didnt wait in the paint, Hunter would stand no chance. I remember the same with Hunter and Reddish in previous games. This is 90% gameplan, and then 10% Luka forcing it against the double team in the paint when we were down 20+ points.

 
Fair enough. But Hunter still played great position defense on Luka, staying in front of him.  How many times did Luka get past him on his forays to the hoop?  Not many. Sure Capela was waiting in the lane, but Luka didn't get to the hoop at will like he usually does, and Hunter had a lot to do with that. I give credit where it's due.

[KillerLeft]

Fair enough. But Hunter still played great position defense on Luka, staying in front of him.  How many times did Luka get past him on his forays to the hoop?  Not many. Sure Capela was waiting in the lane, but Luka didn't get to the hoop at will like he usually does, and Hunter had a lot to do with that. I give credit where it's due.

I agree that Hunter did a good job, but why would Luka even try to get into the paint when there are multiple defenders waiting for him there? There's no point. 

If the lane is clogged AND you get way fewer good looks from three than you're used to seeing, that's bad design, imo - inexperience from the coaching staff. OR...if not, it's inexperience in a new system from the players at the very least.

All those picks from Powell early on: did they result in open lanes for him to roll? If not, did Luka come off of the screens with open spaces to use creatively? If the defense is taking BOTH of those things away, where should the ball go? In the past, taking those things away would've resulted in WIDE open looks from somewhere, and we know Luka knows how to find them. Last night they weren't there very frequently, imo.

[Kammrath]

This is a guy who has always faced the other team’s best defender, often surrounded with weaker talent and has still dominated. He is owed some poor games. Isn’t he?  Bucks got crushed by the Heat too. Should folks rag on Giannis?  Plus even Dirk used to have poor games and someone would be anointed as a Dirk killer. Only for Dirk to roast them as time progressed. 

The team also has a new coaching staff and trying some different things that will require some adjustments from Luka. Give them all some time.  2011 would not have happened with Dirk just hanging on the perimeter. 


I have been critical of some aspects of Luka’s game but we all know he is a legit stud. So the vast majority of the critique will rightfully be on other things.

For sure. Luka is a stud, I am not suggesting otherwise! But he is the superstar of this team that is expected to carry and elevate the rest. 

I am just incredibly disappointed in how he takes care of his body, it makes his shot inconsistent, it makes him wear down as a game goes, and it makes him a step slow.

[KillerLeft]

Another thing that dawned on me last night that I should have realized long ago: why Carlisle had this team playing at such a slow pace, offensively. It was my one and only complaint about (the theory of) his approach. I have felt in recent years that the pace was a little slow. 

But, last night was eye-opening. They clearly came into the game with a mandate to push the ball in transition. But, Luka is not a fast player (not meant as a criticism), so the way HE can be an asset in a fast break situation most often is to make an amazing outlet or early pass that advances the ball to someone in great position to force some type of advantage. Kidd did that all the time late in his career, but, this is not the same approach as what you'd see from Fox or other fast ball-handlers. 

...and it means that someone other than Luka becomes the decision maker. Like, a lot. If that guy is Brunson, then great. Dragic? OK. But DFS? SBrown? Bullock? Not sure it's actually playing to this roster's strengths to push it into their hands.

[Hypermav]

https://twitter.com/iztok_franko/status/...linechrome&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpozareport.si%2F

DFS, Bullock and Brown were 4 of 21.  It was one game, so I need to see a trend to be worried. There are some warning signs here though, from scheme to talent.  I hope it was a one-off.

[omahen]

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2021/10/22...son-opener

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https://fansided.com/2021/10/22/tyler-he...s-passing/

[omahen]

https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/10/22/thr...in-dallas/

[burekemde]

 
Fair enough. But Hunter still played great position defense on Luka, staying in front of him.  How many times did Luka get past him on his forays to the hoop?  Not many. Sure Capela was waiting in the lane, but Luka didn't get to the hoop at will like he usually does, and Hunter had a lot to do with that. I give credit where it's due.

Majority of time Hunter was putting pressure from behind Luka when Capela had Luka down underneath. I will go trough the game again and notice whether that was Hunter or someone else. My impression was that was Hunter most of the time however. I dont think there were many single team situations with Hunter in front at all, very few. The lane was super clogged by Hawks. I will try counting the situations and reporting back.

[omahen]

Majority of time Hunter was putting pressure from behind Luka when Capela had Luka down underneath. I will go trough the game again and notice whether that was Hunter or someone else. My impression was that was Hunter most of the time however. I dont think there were many single team situations with Hunter in front at all, very few. The lane was super clogged by Hawks. I will try counting the situations and reporting back.

Check the Mavs Moneyball piece I posted. It has nice photos of those situations

[omahen]

Twitter will be fun this season. Also click on twit below to get more of his opinions in the comments

https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/145...5552101376

[dirkfansince1998]

Just to highlight how incredible bad the offense was yesterday.

Last season the Mavs scored 87 or less points once. In a win against OKC.
In 19/20 the Mavs only had two games with less than 100pts. Lowest was 95pts.
Even in the tanking seasons 17/18 and 18/19 the Mavs only combined for four games with 87 or less points.

[omahen]

https://twitter.com/iztok_franko/status/...2908753930

My comment: I don't think this strategy will be sustainable with this crew. Mavs would need far better players.

[KillerLeft]

Twitter will be fun this season. Also click on twit below to get more of his opinions in the comments

https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/145...5552101376

I’m not a fan of Voulgaris but I’m in lock step with him on this one.

[KillerLeft]

https://twitter.com/iztok_franko/status/...2908753930

My comment: I don't think this strategy will be sustainable with this crew. Mavs would need far better players.

I think the worst part of the approach, at least in one game, was that it seemed like everyone on the floor had permission to freelance. I think exploring looks where guys like DFS are allowed to floor the ball and create in certain situations might be good, but only in controlled, safe, planned environments. 

I sure hope Kidd doesn’t believe that everyone will see the game like he and Luka do simply by being allowed to “just have fun and play basketball.”

[KillerLeft]

Twitter will be fun this season. Also click on twit below to get more of his opinions in the comments

https://twitter.com/haralabob/status/145...5552101376

You should all click on this tweet if you haven’t already. I think he is so right on point with this stuff.  

Still don’t like the guy, but when he’s right, he’s right.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Majority of time Hunter was putting pressure from behind Luka when Capela had Luka down underneath. I will go trough the game again and notice whether that was Hunter or someone else. My impression was that was Hunter most of the time however. I dont think there were many single team situations with Hunter in front at all, very few. The lane was super clogged by Hawks. I will try counting the situations and reporting back.

Not getting into a pissing contest about it. Luka said Hunter guarded him as well as anybody has. I watched the game too.  Take it for what it's worth.

[burekemde]

Not getting into a pissing contest about it. Luka said Hunter guarded him as well as anybody has. I watched the game too.  Take it for what it's worth.

Did you ever hear Luka criticise others? He is kind to everyone. The fact is that the paint was clogged and Luka got got past him. He did a good job (Hunter) putting pressure on Lukas back. But if Capela was not in front of Luka, he would destroy Hunters defense. Let's take a look at these situations in this game, and also next games against Hawks. Kidd should be able to adapt to this by going 5 out and let Hunter try defend Luka one on one.

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Check the Mavs Moneyball piece I posted. It has nice photos of those situations

Thanks thats very useful. I noticed it all game along, but have difficulty finding time to rewatch and giving proper examples. Would you mind posting a link if possible?

[omahen]

Thanks thats very useful. I noticed it all game along, but have difficulty finding time to rewatch and giving proper examples. Would you mind posting a link if possible?

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2021/10/22...son-opener