GAME 42: DAL (23-19) @ MEM (30-15) | 112-85 win

[dirkfansince1998]

This team just cannot shoot. It´s broken. Maybe beyond repair. I am not sure what they can do but something needs to change. Bring in a new shooting coach, player development staff. Bring in a new psychologist.

[Kammrath]

Like the effort from JB to at least try to get that loose ball. Need some urgency like that.

[dirkfansince1998]

Brunsons needs to be aware of the shot clock. He cannot reset the offense with 5s left on the clock and give the ball to DFS. Forcing him into an difficult midrange attempt.

[KillerLeft]

Playing zone right now?? 

Why??

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They’re defending pretty hard, with varied success. I can’t believe how far this offense has fallen in just a year.

[Kammrath]

Well at least they got the lead....briefly.

[Kammrath]

This team just cannot shoot. It´s broken. Maybe beyond repair. I am not sure what they can do but something needs to change. Bring in a new shooting coach, player development staff. Bring in a new psychologist.

This is THE great mystery of this season.

[KillerLeft]

Good for Kleber. Don’t back down.

[KillerLeft]

Brunson just passed on the TWO best shot opportunities during that possession.

[Kammrath]

Feels lucky the Mavs are this close at half.

[KillerLeft]

Feels lucky the Mavs are this close at half.

Very.

[Kammrath]

Brunson just passed on the TWO best shot opportunities during that possession.

He is an anomaly to me....sometimes I am like "stop shot hunting JB!"....other times I am like "be more aggressive, take the shot!"

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Only down 5 at the half. Been keeping Ja and Bane pretty much in check. They've got a shot if they make shots, and don't turn the ball over.

[Mavs2021]

Luka needs a signature shot. There is not a move, where I think it´s automatically going in. He´s not making wide open threes either.

[Kammrath]

Luka is averaging 4.8 TOs per game this season (career worst) and has 5 TOs already at half. 

Thoughts on this from others? 

Is this a result of defenses learning his tendencies and practicing how to rotate? Is this a scheme thing? Is this just carelessness on Luka's part?

I think at least part of it is that he is making riskier passes as he is often in more compromising situations because he is a step or two slow.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Luka needs a signature shot. There is not a move, where I think it´s automatically going in. He´s not making wide open threes either.

His 3 pt shot has fell off big time.

[KillerLeft]

Luka needs a signature shot. There is not a move, where I think it´s automatically going in. He´s not making wide open threes either.

I’m not trying to contradict this, but I think the issue is that he’s simply not playing well in general right now.

[BackToSquareOne]

I think he is a good defender. Not elite. But consistently good, someone you can count on to not be a negative on that end. *shrug*

60th percentile defender. Maybe a little higher. Certainly not above 65th percentile.

[KillerLeft]

Luka is averaging 4.8 TOs per game this season (career worst) and has 5 TOs already at half. 

Thoughts on this from others? 

Is this a result of defenses learning his tendencies and practicing how to rotate? Is this a scheme thing? Is this just carelessness on Luka's part?

I think at least part of it is that he is making riskier passes as he is often in more compromising situations because he is a step or two slow.

I think he is not the type of PG Kidd is trying to make him into, at least not yet. 

And, I think he’s confused and discombobulated out there in way we didn’t see much from him in the first few seasons.

[dirkfansince1998]

Luka is averaging 4.8 TOs per game this season (career worst) and has 5 TOs already at half. 

Thoughts on this from others? 

Is this a result of defenses learning his tendencies and practicing how to rotate? Is this a scheme thing? Is this just carelessness on Luka's part?

I think at least part of it is that he is making riskier passes as he is often in more compromising situations because he is a step or two slow.

Combination of all of it. Feels like he is getting stripped more often this year. Also feels like his teammates are fumbling a lot of passes. Also seeing some miscommunication where Luka expects players to be in certain spots (that might have been occupied in RCs offense) but they already cut to the rim or rotated on the perimeter.

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Would love to see a PFF like tracker of turnovers that actually adjusts for teammates mistakes.

[BackToSquareOne]

Luka is averaging 4.8 TOs per game this season (career worst) and has 5 TOs already at half. 

Thoughts on this from others? 

Is this a result of defenses learning his tendencies and practicing how to rotate? Is this a scheme thing? Is this just carelessness on Luka's part?

I think at least part of it is that he is making riskier passes as he is often in more compromising situations because he is a step or two slow.

All of the above. Also, hobbled by the ankle injury and unable to rehearse (walk through) the offence, which is necessarily because of roster rotation, covid etc.