12-26-2023, 03:12 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-26-2023, 03:15 AM by SleepingHero.)
Honestly what a game. The Mavs pretty thoroughly dismantled the Suns, and if it wasn't for a Greyson Allen uncharacteristic explosion from 3, this would've been a blowout.
The gameplan was smart and effective. They overloaded on Book and Durant, forced them to make a pass, and made literally anyone else beat them. The Suns role players got a lot of wide open looks that they didn't knock down. But the Mavs also forced so many turnovers doing this that it made the game easy.
THJ played some pretty heavy D on Booker and Durant. I actually thought he rotated well all game. I hate how in the 2nd quarter the offense seems to run through him regardless of who's on the court *cough* Kyrie, but he hit his shots so it's a moot point. Good game from Timmy. He played very well. Well enough for a Dirkie? That I wouldn't say.
DJJ showed some tremendous growth this game. He was tasked to guard Durant. He held his own and despite giving up a 3pt foul in the 3rd, he made sure every Durant look was hard. Kudos to DJJ. It was painfully obvious the Suns 2nd half adjustment was to make him beat them from 3. And that adjustment was working. He had 6 wide open threes he just couldn't convert well enough. I was screaming at Kidd to put Seth in to punish the Suns and it made me think that despite DJJ's improvements he's still a weakpoint. Then the 4th quarter happened. Dude attacked the rim like he was dying of thirst and that was a cold glass of water. He started to knock down those threes and punish the Suns and at that point it was goodnight. DJJ amazing game. 23 points on 50% shooting is incredible. I would give him the Dirkie if it wasn't for that turd of a 3rd quarter.
Now onto Lively. SHEEESH. WELCOME BACK! THANK YOU! WHAT A GAME YOUNG FELLA. The Mavs and Luka have really fallen in love with punishing the double with a Lively entry pass and the rookie just keeps delivering. He is such a force within 3 feet. His athleticism basically makes teams surrender an easy 2 if you double Luka and we saw what happens when you can't double Luka. He protected the rim well even if he doesn't have the blocks to show for it. 10 total rebounds including 3 offensive ones that contributed to 10 2nd chance points is incredible stuff. Pair it with a 20 point outing on 8-9 shooting and you got yourself a helluva game. He would 1000% be my Dirkie if it wasn't for....
Luka "50 burger" Doncic. One of the best games I've ever seen him play. He became Steph out there. He had some threes that really made me think he was like Steph how he relocated off of a pass only to catch a sleeping defender. When Luka is hitting his outside shot, he is the most unstoppable player in the league. This game just showed the load Luka carries is not for the faint of heart and really requires a certain level of talent. Booker is being asked to play a similar role that Luka does being the one to play PG and also be a primary scorer. Booker had 20pts and 10 asts on 43% shooting. Not bad. Luka though puts up 50/6/14 on 60% from the field. MY GOODNESS. I didn't even get to his 4 steals and 3 blocks. Luka Legend. Cool Hand Luka. HalleLuka. Whatever you want to call him, he had himself a game. Hands down dirkie material.
Exum had his first mediocre game in a while, and he still played so well. His hustle is a huge driving force for this team. We need more of that. He wasn't his best tonight, but it's clear he's a key part of this team.
Side note, Luka looks so incredibly gassed. He was huffing air at the end of the 3rd and most of the 4th. He still played remarkably well, but Kyrie can't come back soon enough to relieve some of this pressure.
The gameplan was smart and effective. They overloaded on Book and Durant, forced them to make a pass, and made literally anyone else beat them. The Suns role players got a lot of wide open looks that they didn't knock down. But the Mavs also forced so many turnovers doing this that it made the game easy.
THJ played some pretty heavy D on Booker and Durant. I actually thought he rotated well all game. I hate how in the 2nd quarter the offense seems to run through him regardless of who's on the court *cough* Kyrie, but he hit his shots so it's a moot point. Good game from Timmy. He played very well. Well enough for a Dirkie? That I wouldn't say.
DJJ showed some tremendous growth this game. He was tasked to guard Durant. He held his own and despite giving up a 3pt foul in the 3rd, he made sure every Durant look was hard. Kudos to DJJ. It was painfully obvious the Suns 2nd half adjustment was to make him beat them from 3. And that adjustment was working. He had 6 wide open threes he just couldn't convert well enough. I was screaming at Kidd to put Seth in to punish the Suns and it made me think that despite DJJ's improvements he's still a weakpoint. Then the 4th quarter happened. Dude attacked the rim like he was dying of thirst and that was a cold glass of water. He started to knock down those threes and punish the Suns and at that point it was goodnight. DJJ amazing game. 23 points on 50% shooting is incredible. I would give him the Dirkie if it wasn't for that turd of a 3rd quarter.
Now onto Lively. SHEEESH. WELCOME BACK! THANK YOU! WHAT A GAME YOUNG FELLA. The Mavs and Luka have really fallen in love with punishing the double with a Lively entry pass and the rookie just keeps delivering. He is such a force within 3 feet. His athleticism basically makes teams surrender an easy 2 if you double Luka and we saw what happens when you can't double Luka. He protected the rim well even if he doesn't have the blocks to show for it. 10 total rebounds including 3 offensive ones that contributed to 10 2nd chance points is incredible stuff. Pair it with a 20 point outing on 8-9 shooting and you got yourself a helluva game. He would 1000% be my Dirkie if it wasn't for....
Luka "50 burger" Doncic. One of the best games I've ever seen him play. He became Steph out there. He had some threes that really made me think he was like Steph how he relocated off of a pass only to catch a sleeping defender. When Luka is hitting his outside shot, he is the most unstoppable player in the league. This game just showed the load Luka carries is not for the faint of heart and really requires a certain level of talent. Booker is being asked to play a similar role that Luka does being the one to play PG and also be a primary scorer. Booker had 20pts and 10 asts on 43% shooting. Not bad. Luka though puts up 50/6/14 on 60% from the field. MY GOODNESS. I didn't even get to his 4 steals and 3 blocks. Luka Legend. Cool Hand Luka. HalleLuka. Whatever you want to call him, he had himself a game. Hands down dirkie material.
Exum had his first mediocre game in a while, and he still played so well. His hustle is a huge driving force for this team. We need more of that. He wasn't his best tonight, but it's clear he's a key part of this team.
Side note, Luka looks so incredibly gassed. He was huffing air at the end of the 3rd and most of the 4th. He still played remarkably well, but Kyrie can't come back soon enough to relieve some of this pressure.
14x All-Star, 12x all-NBA, 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 1 NBA Championship: Dirk Nowitzki, the man, the myth, the legend.
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