MAVS 104, LAKERS 107

[SleepingHero]

To be honest, I didn't notice any of these.  On the Westbrook travel, I did notice Cuban was doing his crazy traveling this with the refs, but I usually don't pay him much attention with refs. 

I noticed most of these. In fact I felt the Lakers got away with quite a few double dribbles and travels throughout the whole game. Mavs also got away with a few non-fouls, but not at the same level.

Still, if it takes 2 last second corner threes and a slew of calls from the refs for the Lakers to beat the Mavs without Luka, then I feel good about this teams chance against them in the future.

[Fuerza1]

Still if we would have gotten the rebound, we win.  But still this sucks.

To be honest, I didn't notice any of these.  On the Westbrook travel, I did notice Cuban was doing his crazy traveling this with the refs, but I usually don't pay him much attention with refs. 

https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1471614626181918729

https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1471615831574462474

https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1471616385222680584

https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1471616790556024840

Obvious foul on Brunson who split the Lakers defense and gets mugged on layup attempt, which would have likely made it a 2-possession game with little time to spare. Also, great defensive play to force the Westbrook travel, unfortunately refs didn't "see" it. 

Mavs defense was GREAT all night against 3 top 75 players of all time. In fact it's been pretty solid all season ranking 13th in the NBA currently. Pretty impressive considering KP/Kleber missed several games and Bullock has played much less than anticipated.

[KillerLeft]

Mavs defense was GREAT all night against 3 top 75 players of all time.

I agree with this. In particular, I thought their plan to double both Davis and Lebron was executed well, usually including a solid understanding of how/when to rotate to shooters in order to see it through. 

I think the last shot, being blamed on Hardaway, was actually a really smart action drawn up by a Lakers staffer to capitalize on the Mavs' defensive approach that had been beating them all day long. I think they knew the ball might end up there, and that whomever had dropped down with Lebron into the paint would have a devil of a time getting back out to the perimeter. Well done, Lakers. 

But that one play shouldn't have made such a difference. The Mavs' offense has to improve, especially in the 4th quarters. The defense has been pretty damn good in most of the recent losses, imo.