Mavs Let Another One Slip Away
After leading almost the entire game, the Mavericks melted down in the clutch. A disappointing end to a very entertaining match.
Game Story
Mudiay was out for the Jazz. Dallas' injured list included Powell and Broekhoff (said to be almost ready to return). Newly acquired center Willie Cauley-Stein was not yet with the team. Seth again replaced Powell in the starting lineup.
The Mavs jumped out to a lead in the first quarter, and ended the frame with a 36-25 advantage. The boys in blue were 6-11 from three-point land, and Luka led the squad with 12 points.
The Jazz went on a 12-0 run to briefly take the lead in the second. Dallas recovered immediately, maintained their advantage over the remainder of the period, and went in to halftime with a 58-55 edge. A Utah media guy bemoaned the situation that "the Mavs aren't playing anyone Gobert can leave to play help defense," and that the fact that the Jazz guards and wings were being beaten by the Mavs' straight-line ball handlers did not bode well.
The Jazz tied the game for a brief period early in the third, but the Mavs recaptured their lead and held on to it throughout, closing the quarter with an 84-80 margin.
Utah tied the game a couple of times in the fourth, and even achieved a one-point lead for a possession at 5:07. The Mavericks were up by 4 with three minutes left, when the wheels came off.
2:55 Bogdanovic hits a three. Mavs up 1.
2:37 Gobert is called for his fifth foul. DFS misses both free throws. Aargh. Bogdan misses a three.
1:50 Luka completes a driving bank shot in his only score of the quarter. Mavs up 3.
1:37 Mitchell hits a step-back three from 26 feet. Tie game.
1:18 Luka loses his dribble and commits a live-ball turnover. Mitchell misses the ensuing layup, but Gobert tips it in. Jazz up 2.
0:52 Hardaway hits a three in what would be the Mavs' last score. Mavs up 1.
0:38 O'Neale drops a three in the bucket. Jazz up 2.
0:25 Gobert blocks Wright's layup attempt. DFS intentionally fouls Mitchell, who completes both free throws. Jazz up 4.
0:16 Luka misses a step-back three from 30 feet. DFS misses the tip-in attempt. KP intentionally fouls Gobert, who hits one of two free throws. Jazz up 5.
0:06 KP misses a three. Game over.
So.
Jazz go on a 14-5 run in the last three minutes. The Mavs miss two free throws. Allow three Jazz triples. Turn the ball over, resulting in a Jazz score off an offensive rebound. Gobert has an amazing block on Wright's attempted layup. Miss two threes and a tip-in. Luka takes three shots in the quarter and misses two of them. Mavs are 3-13 in the period from long range. Sad end to what had been a fun contest.
Analytics
The Mavs got six more shots up than the Jazz, and shot 39% from deep. However, they had a 9-attempt deficit on free throw attempts, and missed six of the 13 they got (four misses from Luka, two from DFS). Grrrr. They were +3 on points from threes, +2 on two-point shots, and -10 in made free throws. They lost the rebounding battle 44-54, and allowed Utah 28 second-chance points. They kept the game close with 19 points off Utah turnovers, along with good three-point shooting. Quarterly point differentials were +11, -8, +1, -9. Only three Mavs were in positive territory (KP, DFS, and Seth). The game was lost at the free throw line, on the glass, and in the clutch.
Players
Luka (36 min) had a 25-6-7 line, along with two steals, but also had 4 turnovers and went 2-10 from three and 1-5 from the line. He delighted the bench with a throw down in the first quarter, and fell down but executed a thrilling cross-court pass from the ground to avoid being tied up. Carlisle accounted for Luka's lack of attempts in the final frame as a defensive effort by the Jazz to push the ball into anyone's else's hands, and said that he will study the issue to see if there is anything he can do to put Luka into better situations at the ends of games. Rick brushed off a question about Luka's poor free-throw shooting, saying he will be fine. Luka, addressing the same issue, says the problem is "mental." Not his best effort, but he still entertained with exciting moments.
Seth (34 min) performed well in his starting role, and was the team's second-leading scorer, with 15 points on 6-9 shooting, including 4-5 triples. Harp called him a very underrated player. He did a decent job defensively, considering. His ball handling and passing were good, and his threes were brilliant.
Wright (31 min) was 11-8-4 off the bench, and led the offense well in Luka's absence. He and DFS were the squad's leading rebounders (8 and 10, respectively).
Porzingis (25 min) had 15 points on not especially good shooting (6-14), grabbed only two rebounds on the night, and turned the ball over three times. He did provide some rim protection, as much as he could, and had a nifty pass to DFS for a flush. I thought he might have been a little winded a couple of times, although it's hard to tell from a TV screen. After the game, he said that the Mavs got a little unlucky at the end, but are also still learning to play under high pressure.
Maxi (17 min) had a rough night, with 8 points, 2-8 from three, and three boards. He spent most of the second half in foul trouble, being called for his third on an away-from-the-play foul in the last two minutes of the first half. He committed his fourth on a loose ball foul in the middle of the third quarter and had to head for the bench early. He missed all four of his shot attempts in the fourth. Utah's big guys are tough covers.
Boban (6 min) had a short runout, due to KP and Maxi both having four fouls in the third quarter. He scored only 2 points, but was the only Mav who could go toe-to-toe with Gobert on the glass.
Bench. The second unit failed to show up in the fourth quarter. In a combined 27 minutes, they contributed one field goal and two free throws to the scoreboard. They had 28 points on the night, 11 of which were scored by Wright, who played starter minutes.
Jazz. Gobert chewed the Mavs up and spit them out with 22 points on 8-8 shooting, 17 rebounds, and a game-high 5 blocks. I thought he might foul out at the end, but no such luck. Rick thinks he will be Defensive Player of the Year again, and said he made an amazing impact on the defensive end. Can't argue. Other Jazz in double figures were Donovan Mitchell (25), Bogdanovic (23), and O'Neale (12). Quite a crew of big men, there.
Remarks
Rick liked the effort and the togetherness, and thought his squad did a lot of good things. He acknowledged, however, that they are a young group and still gaining experience, and need to do "a lot of things a lot better." Only one big man at a time was in the lineup for most of the game, and Rick said that the smalll units gave them a disadvantage in rebounding and maintaining the pace. His guys didn't run as well as he hoped, which he attributed partly to the altitude and partly to bad habits. He likes the five-out offense, while allowing that certain trade-offs come with it.
I suppose the glass-half-full perspective on this is to admire the team for playing a competitive game in altitude, on the road, in front of a noisy hostile crowd, against a team that had won 18 of their last 20 games. And there was a lot to like, not least the quality entertainment. Just disappointing to come so close and not be able to get over the line. I guess that's the way it is with inexperienced teams.
Next. The Mavs face the Thunder to close out their road trip in Oklahoma City. Willie Cauley-Stein is expected to be available, but will not have practiced with the team, and may or may not be activated or play. Rick says they will give him a crash course in their system, and simplify the schemes when he is on the floor for a while. Compared to Powell, WCS is I believe a little bigger, and may provide more rebounding and defense than DP could. He is also a rim-runner. However, he doesn't space the floor, which would seem to limit his utility in Carlisle's system. Coach said that WCS will "add to our depth," which is usually Rick-speak for "he's a rabbit I can pull out of my hat occasionally." But time will tell, and we'll see what happens.
Hang in there, MFFLs!
After leading almost the entire game, the Mavericks melted down in the clutch. A disappointing end to a very entertaining match.
Game Story
Mudiay was out for the Jazz. Dallas' injured list included Powell and Broekhoff (said to be almost ready to return). Newly acquired center Willie Cauley-Stein was not yet with the team. Seth again replaced Powell in the starting lineup.
The Mavs jumped out to a lead in the first quarter, and ended the frame with a 36-25 advantage. The boys in blue were 6-11 from three-point land, and Luka led the squad with 12 points.
The Jazz went on a 12-0 run to briefly take the lead in the second. Dallas recovered immediately, maintained their advantage over the remainder of the period, and went in to halftime with a 58-55 edge. A Utah media guy bemoaned the situation that "the Mavs aren't playing anyone Gobert can leave to play help defense," and that the fact that the Jazz guards and wings were being beaten by the Mavs' straight-line ball handlers did not bode well.
The Jazz tied the game for a brief period early in the third, but the Mavs recaptured their lead and held on to it throughout, closing the quarter with an 84-80 margin.
Utah tied the game a couple of times in the fourth, and even achieved a one-point lead for a possession at 5:07. The Mavericks were up by 4 with three minutes left, when the wheels came off.
2:55 Bogdanovic hits a three. Mavs up 1.
2:37 Gobert is called for his fifth foul. DFS misses both free throws. Aargh. Bogdan misses a three.
1:50 Luka completes a driving bank shot in his only score of the quarter. Mavs up 3.
1:37 Mitchell hits a step-back three from 26 feet. Tie game.
1:18 Luka loses his dribble and commits a live-ball turnover. Mitchell misses the ensuing layup, but Gobert tips it in. Jazz up 2.
0:52 Hardaway hits a three in what would be the Mavs' last score. Mavs up 1.
0:38 O'Neale drops a three in the bucket. Jazz up 2.
0:25 Gobert blocks Wright's layup attempt. DFS intentionally fouls Mitchell, who completes both free throws. Jazz up 4.
0:16 Luka misses a step-back three from 30 feet. DFS misses the tip-in attempt. KP intentionally fouls Gobert, who hits one of two free throws. Jazz up 5.
0:06 KP misses a three. Game over.
So.
Jazz go on a 14-5 run in the last three minutes. The Mavs miss two free throws. Allow three Jazz triples. Turn the ball over, resulting in a Jazz score off an offensive rebound. Gobert has an amazing block on Wright's attempted layup. Miss two threes and a tip-in. Luka takes three shots in the quarter and misses two of them. Mavs are 3-13 in the period from long range. Sad end to what had been a fun contest.
Analytics
The Mavs got six more shots up than the Jazz, and shot 39% from deep. However, they had a 9-attempt deficit on free throw attempts, and missed six of the 13 they got (four misses from Luka, two from DFS). Grrrr. They were +3 on points from threes, +2 on two-point shots, and -10 in made free throws. They lost the rebounding battle 44-54, and allowed Utah 28 second-chance points. They kept the game close with 19 points off Utah turnovers, along with good three-point shooting. Quarterly point differentials were +11, -8, +1, -9. Only three Mavs were in positive territory (KP, DFS, and Seth). The game was lost at the free throw line, on the glass, and in the clutch.
Players
Luka (36 min) had a 25-6-7 line, along with two steals, but also had 4 turnovers and went 2-10 from three and 1-5 from the line. He delighted the bench with a throw down in the first quarter, and fell down but executed a thrilling cross-court pass from the ground to avoid being tied up. Carlisle accounted for Luka's lack of attempts in the final frame as a defensive effort by the Jazz to push the ball into anyone's else's hands, and said that he will study the issue to see if there is anything he can do to put Luka into better situations at the ends of games. Rick brushed off a question about Luka's poor free-throw shooting, saying he will be fine. Luka, addressing the same issue, says the problem is "mental." Not his best effort, but he still entertained with exciting moments.
Seth (34 min) performed well in his starting role, and was the team's second-leading scorer, with 15 points on 6-9 shooting, including 4-5 triples. Harp called him a very underrated player. He did a decent job defensively, considering. His ball handling and passing were good, and his threes were brilliant.
Wright (31 min) was 11-8-4 off the bench, and led the offense well in Luka's absence. He and DFS were the squad's leading rebounders (8 and 10, respectively).
Porzingis (25 min) had 15 points on not especially good shooting (6-14), grabbed only two rebounds on the night, and turned the ball over three times. He did provide some rim protection, as much as he could, and had a nifty pass to DFS for a flush. I thought he might have been a little winded a couple of times, although it's hard to tell from a TV screen. After the game, he said that the Mavs got a little unlucky at the end, but are also still learning to play under high pressure.
Maxi (17 min) had a rough night, with 8 points, 2-8 from three, and three boards. He spent most of the second half in foul trouble, being called for his third on an away-from-the-play foul in the last two minutes of the first half. He committed his fourth on a loose ball foul in the middle of the third quarter and had to head for the bench early. He missed all four of his shot attempts in the fourth. Utah's big guys are tough covers.
Boban (6 min) had a short runout, due to KP and Maxi both having four fouls in the third quarter. He scored only 2 points, but was the only Mav who could go toe-to-toe with Gobert on the glass.
Bench. The second unit failed to show up in the fourth quarter. In a combined 27 minutes, they contributed one field goal and two free throws to the scoreboard. They had 28 points on the night, 11 of which were scored by Wright, who played starter minutes.
Jazz. Gobert chewed the Mavs up and spit them out with 22 points on 8-8 shooting, 17 rebounds, and a game-high 5 blocks. I thought he might foul out at the end, but no such luck. Rick thinks he will be Defensive Player of the Year again, and said he made an amazing impact on the defensive end. Can't argue. Other Jazz in double figures were Donovan Mitchell (25), Bogdanovic (23), and O'Neale (12). Quite a crew of big men, there.
Remarks
Rick liked the effort and the togetherness, and thought his squad did a lot of good things. He acknowledged, however, that they are a young group and still gaining experience, and need to do "a lot of things a lot better." Only one big man at a time was in the lineup for most of the game, and Rick said that the smalll units gave them a disadvantage in rebounding and maintaining the pace. His guys didn't run as well as he hoped, which he attributed partly to the altitude and partly to bad habits. He likes the five-out offense, while allowing that certain trade-offs come with it.
I suppose the glass-half-full perspective on this is to admire the team for playing a competitive game in altitude, on the road, in front of a noisy hostile crowd, against a team that had won 18 of their last 20 games. And there was a lot to like, not least the quality entertainment. Just disappointing to come so close and not be able to get over the line. I guess that's the way it is with inexperienced teams.
Next. The Mavs face the Thunder to close out their road trip in Oklahoma City. Willie Cauley-Stein is expected to be available, but will not have practiced with the team, and may or may not be activated or play. Rick says they will give him a crash course in their system, and simplify the schemes when he is on the floor for a while. Compared to Powell, WCS is I believe a little bigger, and may provide more rebounding and defense than DP could. He is also a rim-runner. However, he doesn't space the floor, which would seem to limit his utility in Carlisle's system. Coach said that WCS will "add to our depth," which is usually Rick-speak for "he's a rabbit I can pull out of my hat occasionally." But time will tell, and we'll see what happens.
Hang in there, MFFLs!