GAME 1 Playoffs 2024: Dallas Mavericks (0-0) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (0-0)

[Chicagojk]

Kleber looks lost out there. Clippers are not even goin g to try to guard him or Jones. They need to provide something on offense this series

[SleepingHero]

3 fts, and the ball back.


Can the Mavs capitalize?

[SleepingHero]

Kleber offensively has been so so so bad

[Chicagojk]

I think Mavs are going to need Green in this series to match guys like Manns energy

[ThisIStheYear]

Mavs are +18 in FTAs and still getting beat by double digits. Didn’t have that on my bingo card either. Maybe the Xlipps have been dirty, but they’ve paid for it. The Mavs just couldn’t capitalize.

[SwisherPrice]

This is all bad...we are really having to rely on Kleber AGAIN in 2024 as the best big man option because Lively and Gafford have been ineffective. But it's not like Kleber is that much better but he just poses the "threat" of a 3-point shot.

[Mavs2021]

I think Mavs are going to need Green in this series to match guys like Manns energy

Yeah and especially for his relentless help defense to trap guys and steal the ball when they put it on the floor. We played some good defense, but they always missed the right moment to double from the blind side and poke balls away.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Ty Lue is one of the best drawing up plays out of TO's.

[dirkfansince1998]

What I would change...

- PJ/Kleber small ball to slow down Harden and hopefully force Zubac to guard in space (play him off the floor with better shooting). Gafford can be the token starter. Not sure if they have minutes for Lively
- Josh Green instead of THJ
- More Exum. Less DJJ. 1v1 defense isn't as valuable because the Clippers will switch hunt anyway. Three guard lineup is needed to find mismatches.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Clippers have 5 players in double figures, and one with 9. Mavs have 3. Need more players to contribute.

[SleepingHero]

The difference between Green vs THJ has been so apparent

[SleepingHero]

Imagine if the Mavs actually were locked in from the beginning and were ready to play from the get go. This was a winnable game that they blew.

Now Kawhi is gonna be back for game 2 and it's gonna a become that much harder to beat this team.

[ThisIStheYear]

Clipper’s biggest weakness this season is transition defense. Josh can definitely exploit that better than THj. THj shouldn’t see a meaningful minute the rest of the way.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Not gonna be easy even without Kawhi.

[speedkilz88]

They got murdered in the 1st half. 8 pts in the second quarter. You can't shoot that bad, you just can't.

[SwisherPrice]

Gafford/Lively/Kleber: 9 points, 7 rebounds
Zubac: 20 points, 15 rebounds

We are in BIG trouble if they get outplayed like that!

[ThisIStheYear]

Great win for the Clippers. They deserved that one. Game 2 is must win for both teams. It will decide things. Clippers did absolutely nothing special to defend Luka today. Not a thing. Just played him straight up. Luka needs to punish them for that to win. He’ll need to get 40 with 65% TS against that kind of defense for the Mavs to win. And a third option needs to step up.

[BigDirk41]

Gafford and Lively better get their stuff together or be prepared to play very little this series. Zubac destroyed them.

[BigDirk41]

THJ should never play another minute in a Mavs uniform and Green should get his minutes this series. I would even consider starting Green and sitting DJJ

[Chicagojk]

Gafford/Lively/Kleber: 9 points, 7 rebounds
Zubac: 20 points, 15 rebounds

We are in BIG trouble if they get outplayed like that!

Yep, mavs made a point in the second half of the season to be bigger than most teams, get more easier baskets, and defend the rim better than most teams.  The need to win the matchup.

Sure, Kleber is a nice change of pace for quick segments but I don’t think he is the answer for long runs.  My opinion