03-04-2024, 10:32 AM
(03-04-2024, 10:14 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: Observation during a stretch of a game where Kyrie missed three consecutive shots and gave up two corner 3s because he overplayed help defense. Luka missed two shots in the paint. Glared at the refs and didn't get back on defense.
There is a lot going on and the star players are a part of it. Both played sloppy. Turnovers. Missed shots. Kyrie was 7/17 with 2:15 left in the game. Garbage time contribution isn't helping the Mavs.
Fans are always searching for a scapegoat. Kidd is a bad coach. He isn't the reason why Irving and Luka missed some shots they usually make. The scheme is bad but with the same scheme the Mavs beat the Thunder and many where ready to crown them. We know that the Mavs aren't competitive when Luka and Kyrie have off games. The margin of error is small. 11 combined turnovers. Mediocre shooting if we ignore the last few minutes.
A few examples: First two are clearly on Kyrie.
Overplayed help defense in the paint.
https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=527&GameID=0022300871&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=Oubre%20Jr.%203PT%20Jump%20Shot%20(16%20PTS)%20(Batum%203%20AST)
Doubled for no reason. From the wrong side.
https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=481&GameID=0022300871&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=Batum%2024%27%203PT%20Jump%20Shot%20(3%20PTS)%20(Oubre%20Jr.%202%20AST)
Pick between Luka getting burned in the pick and roll and Kyrie making the rotation when Lively is the low man.
https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=527&GameID=0022300871&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=Oubre%20Jr.%203PT%20Jump%20Shot%20(16%20PTS)%20(Batum%203%20AST)
Last one. Just so many basic things I really don't know what they are doing or want to do. Is it just misscommunication or a wider problem.
Luka is always switching when defense sets a screen. Always. Not sure if he should do it or not (what scheme coach wants to play), but he always switches (and expects a switch when a screen is set on him).
So Batum (guarded by Luka) sets a screen on Green for Maxey (it could be easily argued also that Batum made an offensive foul with that screen). Luka switches on Maxey. Green tries to fight over the screen and is basically out of the play getting behind Maxey. Kyrie sort of hinted to help on the Batum drive but didn't really do it. Than Lively needed to step up (was already way late as Batum had plenty of choices). Not sure it should be Kyrie or Lively helping on that drive, but a man would be open in any case.
If Luka and Green would communicate a simple switch, defense would not fall apart as it did. Green would go below Batum screen and would still be able to double Maxey if needed.