(12-19-2019, 01:00 PM)fifteenth Wrote:Naw, it's all good! And I'll quote myself from the start of the Mavs/Celts game thread:(12-15-2019, 11:53 PM)fifteenth Wrote: Seriously though, my expectation is that the non-Luka Mavs will be a pain in arse for teams. I don't care about the whole "1 subpar starter" thing. I expect them to play hard, to play well coached and to give teams fits. I think they'll play a lot like our bench has played the last few years, sound, unselfish, together and scrappy.
They may get outclassed by superior talent in some of these games, but teams should beware. If they let their guard down because Luka is out, we'll snatch that W.
Is it bad form to keep quoting myself?
"It's going to be a lot harder to beat the Celtics than it was to beat the Bucks". Which turned out to be the case.
The Celts are so aggressive to the rim and have numerous players who can finish and draw fouls. They are disciplined and their defense is top notch. I think the Bucks are going to have their hands full with Boston in the East.
Having watched a good bit of the Sixers vs Heat game, the Sixers look to me beatable for the Mavs. Embid is just not very disciplined and tends to chuck that three point shot way too much. And with Simmons on the floor, they really only have four shooters on the court. Against the Sixers, I would go with more Wright and less Brunson.