GAME 7: ORL (2-6) @ DAL (5-2) | 107-106 win

[SleepingHero]

JJ single handedly kept us in it.

Mavs should be down by double digits with the effort and awful defense their playing tonight.

Offensive spacing looks all off and ORL is reading every pass like a book.

Carlisle needs to bench Powell tonight.

[donzingis38]

And so many of you wanted Barea gone. Smh.

He's a Maverick for life.

[Tyler]

Even with a terrible half of basketball, Dallas is only down 2.  This feels like another game that he bench might take over.

[Kammrath]

Getting killed in the paint. 

Need bigger bodies inside......BOBAN.

[Mak]

AD, Love, and Vuc actually are all-stars and really good players tho ...  it’s not like they’re just feasting on Powell to ‘look’ like all stars.

I knew you were going to reply to this. 

The fact they are good players is even more puzzling as to why Carlisle puts Powell on them. Powell is one of the worst post defenders in the league, and putting him on all-stars is inane.

2 things to consider for your puzzlement: (1) those  guys aren’t exclusively post players, they’re quick, versatile scorers with range (2) Powell isn’t as bad as you think. These are superstar players you’re talking about, they’d likely get similar or better numbers against virtually anyone.

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Even with a terrible half of basketball, Dallas is only down 2.  This feels like another game that he bench might take over.

RETIRE BAREA’S JERSEY

[SportPsychMav]

Just play zone. Orlando cannot shoot like at all. And that's no fluke, they just suck at it.
We will win as long as it stays close.

[Hypermav]

And so many of you wanted Barea gone. Smh.

He's a Maverick for life.

Who says that? Many?  You might want to count your straw man again.

[Aussiebballer]

Lowest scoring team in the league huh

Dallas can only play better, hopefully they sort their crap out at half time and play some useful D and turn it over less.

Start Maxi instead of Powell, not sure why they made Powell the starter straight away when he missed so many games.

[Mak]

.

Start Maxi instead of Powell, not sure why they made Powell the starter straight away when he missed so many games.

Im not too concerned with who starts and would be fine if it was Maxi but Powell has missed only 2 more games than Maxi this season. Is 2 really “so many”?

[donzingis38]

And so many of you wanted Barea gone. Smh.

He's a Maverick for life.

Who says that? Many?  You might want to count your straw man again.

So many didn't want him back during the offseason. I still remember from the old forum.

[SleepingHero]

AD, Love, and Vuc actually are all-stars and really good players tho ...  it’s not like they’re just feasting on Powell to ‘look’ like all stars.

I knew you were going to reply to this. 

The fact they are good players is even more puzzling as to why Carlisle puts Powell on them. Powell is one of the worst post defenders in the league, and putting him on all-stars is inane.

2 things to consider for your puzzlement: (1) those  guys aren’t exclusively post players, they’re quick, versatile scorers with range (2) Powell isn’t as bad as you think. These are superstar players you’re talking about, they’d likely get similar or better numbers against virtually anyone.

My issue is that the Mavs have a proven better defender on the roster in Maxi, and should most definitely be getting the start over Powell.

Historically, Powell has always been a terrible defender.  Anthony Davis scored 19 points on Powell, on 7/12 shooting last year (AD didn't play much against the Mavs last year but when he did he lit Powell up). Compare that with Maxi, whom AD shot 11/22, which is 8% less. AD got his numbers but had to work for them with Maxi. 

Love against Maxi shot 1/4 last year. On Powell 5/9. 

Vucevic there's no data for Maxi, but against Powell he shot 1/5, which I'll give it to him is pretty good.  

But thats not even the point. The issue is that Powell cannot defend anyone, let alone superstars. Take for instance Steven Adams, a player not known for his scoring prowess. On Powell last year, Adams shot 8/11 for 16 points. Maxi- 8 points 3/6. 

I'm tired of Carlisle pretending that Powell can defend. He is a great roll man, but just like Brendan Wright, he shouldn't be starting.

[Mak]

Barea took Brunson’s starter spot so quick lol

[SleepingHero]

Luka got lucky there getting control but way to go up and finish!

He had Kristaps wide open at the top of the key though.

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Great drive by Luka.


Mavs had 3 good defensive possessions so far.

[Tyler]

Man, Isaac is really good defensively.

[donzingis38]

They should've stayed home. My goodness.

[TATU]

Mother of God, this game is slop. Mavs refuse to take the lead. KP has been TRASH.

[jesusshuttlesworth82]

Issac is a beast on defense.

[SleepingHero]

SO many sloppy passes tonight jesus. 14 turnovers. 

Most the Mavs had since the versing the Lakers (22). They're on pace to break that tonight.

[SportPsychMav]

Orlando is a great defensive team, guys chill. It's a good learning game early in the season. As long as it stays close they will win this.

[SleepingHero]

KP has to stop putting the ball down like that. Gotten stripped 4 times already.