Game 43: Boston Celtics (34-10) vs. Dallas Mavericks (24-19) 119-110 loss

[Chicagojk]

The second play is a rebound Lively needs to get better reacting too. Big three point momentum change. They are hard to secure but very good rebounders get those balls.

Thoughts on the third play? What can be different here in the Jrue three?

https://x.com/iztok_franko/status/174976...18399?s=46&t=iwQP5yZoJF3Ulzfb9MH7Cg

[Chicagojk]

The second play is a rebound Lively needs to get better reacting too.  Big three point momentum change.  They are hard to secure but very good rebounders get those balls.

Thoughts on the third play?  What can be different here in the Jrue three?

https://x.com/iztok_franko/status/174976...18399?s=46&t=iwQP5yZoJF3Ulzfb9MH7Cg

Just noticed on the second play, why is Grant trying to sneak out after guarding the three?  He was not really on fault of that play, but we need him to crash the boards there.

BTW, that second and third play are just fascinating to watch the other players on the court.  Neither play probably would have changed the outcome but the game was close in both plays.

[omahen]

Luka is so good offensively that he creates a paradox. Only centers and Exum are more efficient than him. Based on this it is difficult to say he should take less shots because everyone else is less efficient despite mostly getting far easier looks than Luka. On the other hand I do understand the argument of others perhaps being more confident if ball would be shared more. But, most of the players on this team are still too limited. It is also possible the overall efficiency would just drops because those guys would be less efficient taking more shots that would be tougher.

I think RC was awesome at getting all players in position to succeed. Playing to their strengths and abilities. Kidd seems way more like wanting the players to fit his system, especially on defense. Problem is, his system was never really proven to work on a high level.

[IamDougieFresh]

Far from impressed about some guy yelling at Mavs defense for every Boston basket made. Boston average ppg is 120 and Mavs kept them right there. Far from saying Mavs defense was excellent, but it also wasn't that bad as this guy is trying to show. There is a reason Boston is league leader. 4th best offense, second best defense. Boston has a (considerably) better team than Mavs.

His analysis is correct. Idgaf if you're impressed. The difference in the game is all right there in the video. Lack of coaching. Lack of effort.

[mvossman]

Good stuff on the Luka conundrum.  

As to the above, when we talk about "6' 8" or taller and can dribble" and specific names get mentioned, people often say "he's not any better than THJ".  But, if that guy can negate the need for THJ, you eliminate this lineup (and variations that are even worse).  You put more size and presumably more rebounding on the floor.  Even if the guy does nothing more than the "THJ waive" at 3 point shooters, he'll at least be 3-4 inches closer to the release point (sarcasm alert...I just wanted to say the words "THJ waive".  Luka is even worse BTW.  We are so susceptible to an extra pass or two.  Our aggressive defenders fly into the first row and THJ/Luka are in the paint "waiving" at wide open shooters).

I interpret "and can dribble" to mean the player can create for himself and others.  That just isn't in Hardaway's wheelhouse, but everyone else is so limited that he has to play.  We need to put 3 defenders on the floor and you can't get there with THJ being a critical offensive cog.  Even Kuzma (for example) out there getting cardio half the game lets you keep two of Luka, Kyrie, Kuzma on the floor with any two of them able to create for themselves and others.  The extra size also lets you keep your on-ball defenders on the floor without being so undersized.

I think the problem is that if you get a big wing who can create for themselves and others (like Kuz) they are going to be somebody you are basically forced to start and finish with.  If that guy can't play defense (again like Kuz) then you are looking at significant court time without three defenders, including the most important minutes of the game.  That is why a lot of us feel like if you are going to get that third best player, he needs to be able to play defense.  We can't get a guy like that right now with the assets we have, but we will have the assets to do it in the offseason.  I did not look at that game last night and think we are a Kuz away.  Our biggest issue was defense.  If we are going to spend significant assets, it has to be for somebody that can play defense at a high level.

[mvossman]

Luka is so good offensively that he creates a paradox. Only centers and Exum are more efficient than him. Based on this it is difficult to say he should take less shots because everyone else is less efficient despite mostly getting far easier looks than Luka. On the other hand I do understand the argument of others perhaps being more confident if ball would be shared more. But, most of the players on this team are still too limited. It is also possible the overall efficiency would just drops because those guys would be less efficient taking more shots that would be tougher.

I think RC was awesome at getting all players in position to succeed. Playing to their strengths and abilities. Kidd seems way more like wanting the players to fit his system, especially on defense. Problem is, his system was never really proven to work on a high level.

I think it depended on the player.  Guys that were willing to stick to specific roles worked really well.  It didn't work well for guys like Delon and JRich.  Needed to be the right kind of role player.

[omahen]

When Exum returns, I hope THJ will be losing a lot of minutes. Stop with extremely small ball nonsense. DJJ, GW and Maxi take the PF spot and hopefully GW comes back to life. Exum, Green and THJ take most of non Luka and Kyrie minutes at PG, SG and SF. A bit over 60 minutes between them.

[SleepingHero]

The second play is a rebound Lively needs to get better reacting too. Big three point momentum change. They are hard to secure but very good rebounders get those balls.

Thoughts on the third play? What can be different here in the Jrue three?

https://x.com/iztok_franko/status/174976...18399?s=46&t=iwQP5yZoJF3Ulzfb9MH7Cg

Just noticed on the second play, why is Grant trying to sneak out after guarding the three?  He was not really on fault of that play, but we need him to crash the boards there.

BTW, that second and third play are just fascinating to watch the other players on the court.  Neither play probably would have changed the outcome but the game was close in both plays.

Lots of stuff happening on the 2nd play.

First Lively should've gotten that board, but it went a bit long. Unfortunate.

Second, Grant leaking out is by design. If the person you are guarding is shooting then you should leak out to see if you can get easy buckets as you are theoretically the furthest from the basket. Normally 2 strong side guys should leak out while 3 crash the board as most rebounds occur on the weakside (which makes sense as its the opposite side where the guy is shooting it). Lets say Lively secures that bucket, Grant is now the 1st one down on the other end for an easy layup. Mavs usually only leak the shooter out. It works if they actually could rebound.

The real sin to me isn't Lively switching onto Brown. After the offensive rebound everyone matches up and Lively is guarding Horford. Luka literally stands still under the basket even though Brown was his guy. Sure Lively could've contested, but Luka stopped defending. If he followed his man that isn't a wide open 3.

[surfpuckmd]

Luka is so good offensively that he creates a paradox. Only centers and Exum are more efficient than him. Based on this it is difficult to say he should take less shots because everyone else is less efficient despite mostly getting far easier looks than Luka. On the other hand I do understand the argument of others perhaps being more confident if ball would be shared more. But, most of the players on this team are still too limited. It is also possible the overall efficiency would just drops because those guys would be less efficient taking more shots that would be tougher.

I think RC was awesome at getting all players in position to succeed. Playing to their strengths and abilities. Kidd seems way more like wanting the players to fit his system, especially on defense. Problem is, his system was never really proven to work on a high level.

Luka's offense is the primary reason that we have a winning record.  Our biggest problem offensively is that our 3-point specialists haven't been very good at shooting 3-pointers.  THJ, Grant Williams and Seth Curry are all shooting around league average.  All 3 of those players are bad at everything else on the court and have little value if they can't hit 3-pointers at an above-average rate.  Luka and Kyrie are succeeding offensively despite a fairly pitiful supporting cast.  We need a lot of things but we need 3-point specialists who can shoot over 40% from 3.  Luka on offense is not our problem.

[Reunion Mav]

I do really want to see Exum minutes as he seems like he can be a good part of the solution. I refuse to blame THj for being the best he can be. If others like Green, and Williams could find their way to confident and efficient scorers THJ could also become a more efficient scorer as would Luka and Kyrie. Others on this team are free to add to this efficient scorer list as well. When our guys score they play better defense so sadly I suppose efficiency in scoring might be our quickest way to better defense for now anyway.

[ThisIStheYear]

0-2 since Kidd removed +/- darlings Lawson and Dwight Powell from the rotation 
 


Last 15 games

Powell on 125.3 OffRtg
Powell off 111.5 OffRtg

Powell on 105.1 DefRtg
Powell off 119.3 DefRtg

Lawson on 122.2 OffRtg
Lawson off 116.3 OffRtg

Lawson on 104.1 DefRtg
Lawson off 117.1 DefRtg

Maybe there’s something positive when the team plays better with you than without you. Lawson should move ahead of someone.