Game 53: Oklahoma City Thunder (35-16) vs. Dallas Mavericks (29-23)

[SleepingHero]

THAT WAS BASICALLY A PERFECT FIRST QUARTER HOLY SHIT

[BigDirk41]

Looks like we're the best team in the league now. Championship

[dirkfansince1998]

THAT WAS BASICALLY A PERFECT FIRST QUARTER HOLY SHIT

To nitpick. Offense was as good as it gets. Defense wasn't as good after THJ, PJ and Gafford entered the floor. Combination of THJ in isos against SGA and Gafford not having Kleber level mobility.

[SleepingHero]

Literally no complaints. Sure some possessions could've been better. But they played incredible every time down. The defense was great. Just keep it up.

Kidd keep them locked in.

[KillerLeft]

To nitpick. Offense was as good as it gets. Defense wasn't as good after THJ, PJ and Gafford entered the floor. Combination of THJ in isos against SGA and Gafford not having Kleber level mobility.

Agreed. This is actually one of the teams where a guy like Kleber is required, ironically. 

But, Gafford should be able to do well on the offensive glass.

[Mavs2021]

To nitpick. Offense was as good as it gets. Defense wasn't as good after THJ, PJ and Gafford entered the floor. Combination of THJ in isos against SGA and Gafford not having Kleber level mobility.

Didn´t think it was bad at all. They gave up one clean three, when Luka got lazy on a Wallace three. Otherwise everything was tough shots or broken plays like Holmgren at the end.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Gafford is a beast. Luka was magical.

Too much fouling on defense.

[dirkfansince1998]

No penetration. Kyrie needs to attack the rim. Long 2s aren't it.

[SleepingHero]

Scott Foster is taking over

[KillerLeft]

PJ is comfortable with the ball in his hands, and he boxes out on defense.

If we can just get him to stop moving when he sets screens, he will be a great Maverick.

[SleepingHero]

AMAZING DEFENSE INTO A TIMMY 3

HARDY PARTY IS JUST GETTING STARTY

[KillerLeft]

I have counted at least two defensive rebounds this quarter that the Mavericks wouldn’t have gotten without PJ.

[Mavs2021]

I think we keep this Hardy guy.

[bodhisattva]

Whole team on drugs today.

[KillerLeft]

I think we keep this Hardy guy.

I think so, too, for all the same arguments people were making these last couple of days about why it was smart to bring Dinwiddie in. 

Hardaway won’t be here forever, and in the meantime, Hardy can work on becoming a poor man’s Kyrie for the millions of games he’s going to miss.

[Mavs2021]

Whole team on drugs today.

No late night sessions of Settlers of Catan. Also this is European basketball time. Maybe Cuban should think about where Luka is from.

[SleepingHero]

Wow I'm impressed by Kidd.

2 tough shots to exit the timeout and Kidd stops OKC's run. Good call.

[dirkfansince1998]

Goot time out. Mavs lost their rhythm on offense. No need for those early shot clock heat checks. Make sure that the ball touches the paint.

[Mavs2021]

Luka needs to learn to play serious basketball for four quarters. Inside out. Nobody can stop this offense.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

As well as they've played, OKC is still only down 12.