Game 1 thoughts
Mavs got plenty of open threes in the first half but they didn't go in. On a good shooting night they might have scored 70 by halftime.
Something to watch though ... they were not the same open threes this team is used to getting. Dallas seemingly got very little penetration but were able to generate looks by passing it around the perimeter. Guys were open, but not in the same rhythm.
Lack of rhythm threes off penetration often plagued this team early in the year too. The spacing was different and the guards weren't getting into the paint because KP was in the way, but the result was the same. Good three point shooters like Bullock, DFS and THJ often looked discombobulated until KP was traded and they started getting different open threes.
Case in point, Dorian got six shots but only one of his shots --his only make.
Brunson took five threes and could've tried a lot more. Those are shots the Warriors want him to take. They're open threes, but it's not Brunson's game to take 10 threes, and they're not the type of open threes this team is used to getting. They have to get in the paint and put the Warriors in the blender.
I made the point in another thread but Dallas needs to win the +/- game when Looney is on the floor and ultimately force the Warriors to play small. This whole thing works because the Mavs force big dominant guys off the floor or win big when they play.
Mavs are the bigger and more physical team when the Warriors play small and the Warriors have a big advantage with Looney and Draymond on the floor. But, Dallas got whupped on the glass by the Warriors' guards and wings. That has to change.
This was an emotional letdown game. The Mavs looked stuck in the mud in the second half. Definitely a step slow. This could be because of the emotional Game 7 win, or frustration at shots not falling, or simply bad luck of the bounce. Who expected Curry to lead the Warriors with 12 rebounds?
Warrior's offense is dizzying and Mavs defense looked like they just rode the Tilt-A-Whirl. Mavs switching scheme should muck up a motion offense but the defense was a mess.
Green could reemerge as a factor with his speed. Warriors beat the Mavs in transition way too often.
Dorian may also need to lay off crashing the offensive glass on every attempt. He got some, but again, transition defense was poor. DFS looked out of sorts.
Luka needs to get Wiggins in early foul trouble. That may be easier at home.
Mavs got plenty of open threes in the first half but they didn't go in. On a good shooting night they might have scored 70 by halftime.
Something to watch though ... they were not the same open threes this team is used to getting. Dallas seemingly got very little penetration but were able to generate looks by passing it around the perimeter. Guys were open, but not in the same rhythm.
Lack of rhythm threes off penetration often plagued this team early in the year too. The spacing was different and the guards weren't getting into the paint because KP was in the way, but the result was the same. Good three point shooters like Bullock, DFS and THJ often looked discombobulated until KP was traded and they started getting different open threes.
Case in point, Dorian got six shots but only one of his shots --his only make.
Brunson took five threes and could've tried a lot more. Those are shots the Warriors want him to take. They're open threes, but it's not Brunson's game to take 10 threes, and they're not the type of open threes this team is used to getting. They have to get in the paint and put the Warriors in the blender.
I made the point in another thread but Dallas needs to win the +/- game when Looney is on the floor and ultimately force the Warriors to play small. This whole thing works because the Mavs force big dominant guys off the floor or win big when they play.
Mavs are the bigger and more physical team when the Warriors play small and the Warriors have a big advantage with Looney and Draymond on the floor. But, Dallas got whupped on the glass by the Warriors' guards and wings. That has to change.
This was an emotional letdown game. The Mavs looked stuck in the mud in the second half. Definitely a step slow. This could be because of the emotional Game 7 win, or frustration at shots not falling, or simply bad luck of the bounce. Who expected Curry to lead the Warriors with 12 rebounds?
Warrior's offense is dizzying and Mavs defense looked like they just rode the Tilt-A-Whirl. Mavs switching scheme should muck up a motion offense but the defense was a mess.
Green could reemerge as a factor with his speed. Warriors beat the Mavs in transition way too often.
Dorian may also need to lay off crashing the offensive glass on every attempt. He got some, but again, transition defense was poor. DFS looked out of sorts.
Luka needs to get Wiggins in early foul trouble. That may be easier at home.