04-08-2021, 04:18 PM
(04-08-2021, 04:05 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Mavs enter the 4th quarter down 11. When KP comes back they are down 4. Only allowed 9pts in more than 5 minutes.
I think this stretch was more about Rockets reserves being bad than Mavs lineup being so much better without KP. I think Mavs actually played good defense in the first half, with the exception of PnR drop coverage. They were forced (or just training time?) to switch to zone defense because of that.
(04-08-2021, 04:05 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: The Mavs are a better team when they play a switch heavy defense. That´s not possible with KP.
He played good defense lately, but his defense yesterday was bad again. Mavs were killed by Wall-Wood PnR. There was this one time KP gave Wall like 3 meters of space and Wall still blew by him for a layup. On the other side, as you said, Luka - KP PnR didn't produce anything as Houston was just switching everything.
Still, I think Mavs played excellent basketball lately, once KP stopped worrying about his shots and forcing stuff. Everyone is dissapointed by this terrible loss, but I still have hope Mavs pull it together in the playoffs. I think this game is more about not being 100 % mentally than as a reference of things being fundamentally wrong. It will be certainly interesting to see how they respond tonight.