GAME 59: MIN (31-29) vs. DAL (31-28)| 124-121 Loss

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

I think Wood might be better than Powell and McShaqtin?

Nah, third string C according to Kidd.
So not that better.

[Mavs2021]

Nah, third string C according to Kidd.
So not that better.

I wonder whether the Kings dropped off a copy of their broadcast in Wood´s inbox. The female broadcaster called him the 3rd string center every 30 seconds. It was excellent trolling.

[BigDirk41]

Kidd needs to hand the keys to Kyrie until Luka can run up and down the court with pace. He'll still get his shots.

[SwisherPrice]

Minnesota is just too big and the 3-pt shooting is terrible tonight...nothing they can do unless those threes fall. But they are always scared of Gobert so they can't go inside

[Mavs03]

Kidd is a joke of a coach.  Did he not learn from the playoff last year that Dwight Powell offers nothing of substance to our starting lineup?  He's more of an energy guy at best.

Powell starts = Slow start

Curious if Powell starts the 2nd half.  Knowing Kidd he'll stick to the same game plan.

[Jym]

It’s honestly impressive how Luka can put on 15 lbs in nine days off. No defense. No transition offense. Wont shoot catch and shoot 3s.

for real 
is he on the 10,000 calories a day diet like Phelps back in his prime?

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

After seeing the fast paced non Luka offense, this is hard to watch. Luka needs to adapt. This team is talented. Pass the ball around and let it find the open man.

I don't think he'd totally buy-in.
Maybe meet somewhere in the middle?

Slow it down and do half court sets with less able handlers..

But..

When playing with Kyrie, Green, Wood and Hardy (4 guys who are mobile and can dribble), he needs to quicken the pace.
Kyrie and Green are devastating in the open court, Luka (and most specially Kidd) shouldn't take away that advantage.

[Dundalis]

kyrie is a better player than brunson of course, but by what's shown in last game and this one, he ain't as good a fit for luka as brunson was.

Brunson was and is a ball pounder. He's 3rd in the league in time of possession and 4th in dribbles per possession. Kyrie 23rd in TOP, 78th DPP. Completely disagree with this.

[donzingis38]

Fn Brunson has 40 points

[Dundalis]

While the faster paced offense is great, the idea that we aren't getting absolutely wide open shots regardless of the slower pace, but our guys aren't all just bricking them is straight false. Luka has created a bunch of wide open looks for Kyrie, and he's not hitting them. That's not Luka's fault.

Typical that 90% of posts in this thread are whining and moaning about offensive issues, when if we could play a lick of defense, our offense would be more than enough to win games.

[Chicagojk]

could be a recurring theme....not many good perimeter players and no good rim protection.  Hardaway is a our third best perimeter player.   Tonight both Bullock and Green have had trouble.  If that is the case, this team is going to have trouble.  Our interior protection is a try hard effort guy, a space cadet and an offensive center.   Not much resistance by any of them.

If we don't shoot well, it is tough.

Going to be an interesting to see if they can piece together an average defense.   Not looking promising tonight.

[HAguiar95]

For those who still want no traditional bigs, this game is for you.

Wood/Powell are a complete joke protecting the paint. Rebounding the ball will always be an issue even with Kleber coming back (at this rate I fully expect us to lose the rebounding battle by double digits most games).

MIN will double Luka/Kyrie every instance and welcome the Pinson 3's or the Powell 4v3's (especially with Bullock/Pinson/Ntilikina that can't catch and drive).

Edwards will keep feasting on our weak bigs. 

If we could land Aldridge, it'll be a steal. Also, can we play Morris please?

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

Our interior protection is a try hard effort guy, a space cadet and an offensive center.   Not much resistance by any of them.

I'd take the offense-only center over the current starting C and backup C any day.

[dirkfansince1998]

While the faster paced offense is great, the idea that we aren't getting absolutely wide open shots regardless of the slower pace, but our guys aren't all just bricking them is straight false. Luka has created a bunch of wide open looks for Kyrie, and he's not hitting them. That's not Luka's fault.

The whole idea that offense is the problem is off. Mavs can score. With Luka. With Kyrie. With Kyrie and Luka.
As long as opponents are shooting 60% nothing they do on offense matters.

---

Green getting cooked.

[LukaMVP]

we need a traditional defensive big on court yet we are DNPing mcgee the whole match.

[donzingis38]

I was so hyped for nothing.... lol

Congrats, haters! I can't defend this!

[Chicagojk]

Whole teams defense is bad but Luka’s has been absolutely awful

[dirkfansince1998]

we need a traditional defensive big on court yet we are DNPing mcgee the whole match.

Because he is even worse on defense. Short stretch in the first half was brutal.

[Chicagojk]

The first game back home after a long road trip is always a tricky game to win.   Lets hope the Mavs take care of business tonight.

Looks like this is what exactly happened.  Disappointing.  Really pitiful performance.  Give it a few more minutes and give Luka some rest.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Luka and Kyrie a combined 8 for 24.