05-02-2024, 12:01 AM
This was a cathartic game for. I was mentally broken after game 4. The rollercoaster of going down 31, coming back miraculously, and then losing in a tragic fashion really made me depressed.
But this game was a new game. The Mavs bounced back. They bounce back hard. They seemed to wipe the slate clean and came out locked in and focused. They were relentless on D. They attacked every loose ball. They fought over every screen. They wanted this game and they took it. Great game by the Mavs. I love these kinds of Dirkie threads because you can give it to anyone and you wouldn't be wrong.
Gafford was ok tonight. He was outshone tonight by Lively. But he had a lot of energy plays and he kept fighting for rebounds all night. He also nearly took Zubac's soul.
PJ had one of his quietest games of the series. Only 2 points on the night with some pretty bad clanks from 3. Also a heart breaking floater that just didn't bounce in. But did this deter PJ? Not at all. He was aggressive all night and had a highlight assist to DLive to put the Clips away for good. His defense has been the most striking thing this entire series and this game was no different. It wasn't his best game, but he did the right things that the team needed for them to win. Good game PJ.
Green had a crazy momentum killing 4pt play that destroyed any and all hope the Clippers had going into the 4th. He also hustled all night. Solid game from Green.
Dereck Lively. MAN! WHAT A DIFFERENCE MAKER! He was an enforcer tonight. He switched and rotated impeccably. He finished and attacked the short roll (could've even had some more if he was more aggressive!). His rim defense was apparent. He had a massive stuff on Westbrook that brought me to my feet. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't believe this dude is a rookie. He's too good to be a rook. Great game from DLive.
Kyrie freaking Irving. Talk about a killer. He is a winner through and through. You could see him all night call out defensive sets, made sure guys were in the right spots, and got deflection after deflection. He was everywhere tonight defensively. He took the responsibility for picking up Harden to start the game and for most possessions, and Harden had a stinker. Irving was a big reason why. Offensively, his game tonight shows that the box score doesn't show everything. Every single one of his shots were daggers in the hearts of the Clippers. He was unstoppable and the Mavs with him tonight looked it.
Speaking of bounce back, LUKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BACKS AGAINST THE WALL, BUM KNEE, SICK, IT DIDN'T MATTER! WHAT A FUCKING GAME FROM THE DON!!!!!!!!! 35/7/10!!! He showed up REAL big tonight. He almost single-handedly put the Clips away in the 3rd. Defensively he was active and hustled. You can see his movement is limited and he doesn't have the same lift on his jumpers. The dude put together a masterclass playing at what he called only 50%! The funny thing is, Luka dropping 70/14/20 is not a crazy thing and has already been close to happening!! What really stood out to me was as soon as Luka got his final and-1 to put him at 35 you could see him tell everyone on the court, bench, even the crowd, ONE MORE GAME! I love it. Great game Luka!
Now to my finalists for the Dirkie. DJJ and Maxi. Seriously a toss up. DJJ was by far and away our most impactful defender tonight. He was the major reason why the Clippers couldn't score for half a quarter at a time. He had one possession where Russ was coming down and Kyrie took the foul, DJJ still flew in and knocked him into the stands just to remind him it won't be that easy. That kind of aggression is what is needed to win. DJJ brought it tonight. He brought it all night. Offensively he hit 2 big corner 3s when no one could buy anything from outside. He had some great poster dunks too.
But honestly, when it comes down to it, I think I have to give it to Maxi. When no one could hit a 3, Maxi stepped up and hit one after another after another after another. He was lethal. HE was so clutch. He was the primary reason why the Mavs pulled away initially. His defense was another primary reason why the Mavs maintained their lead. He was by far and away the biggest guy outside of Luka and Kyrie tonight. DESERVING DIRKIE FOR MAXI!!!!!!!!!!!! THE SPIRIT OF WURZBURG IS STILL WITH DALLAS!
ONE MORE GAME MAVS. COME OUT. BE READY. KNOCK THEM IN THE JAW AND TAKE THIS SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE LUKA SAID, ONE MORE GAME!!!!
But this game was a new game. The Mavs bounced back. They bounce back hard. They seemed to wipe the slate clean and came out locked in and focused. They were relentless on D. They attacked every loose ball. They fought over every screen. They wanted this game and they took it. Great game by the Mavs. I love these kinds of Dirkie threads because you can give it to anyone and you wouldn't be wrong.
Gafford was ok tonight. He was outshone tonight by Lively. But he had a lot of energy plays and he kept fighting for rebounds all night. He also nearly took Zubac's soul.
PJ had one of his quietest games of the series. Only 2 points on the night with some pretty bad clanks from 3. Also a heart breaking floater that just didn't bounce in. But did this deter PJ? Not at all. He was aggressive all night and had a highlight assist to DLive to put the Clips away for good. His defense has been the most striking thing this entire series and this game was no different. It wasn't his best game, but he did the right things that the team needed for them to win. Good game PJ.
Green had a crazy momentum killing 4pt play that destroyed any and all hope the Clippers had going into the 4th. He also hustled all night. Solid game from Green.
Dereck Lively. MAN! WHAT A DIFFERENCE MAKER! He was an enforcer tonight. He switched and rotated impeccably. He finished and attacked the short roll (could've even had some more if he was more aggressive!). His rim defense was apparent. He had a massive stuff on Westbrook that brought me to my feet. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't believe this dude is a rookie. He's too good to be a rook. Great game from DLive.
Kyrie freaking Irving. Talk about a killer. He is a winner through and through. You could see him all night call out defensive sets, made sure guys were in the right spots, and got deflection after deflection. He was everywhere tonight defensively. He took the responsibility for picking up Harden to start the game and for most possessions, and Harden had a stinker. Irving was a big reason why. Offensively, his game tonight shows that the box score doesn't show everything. Every single one of his shots were daggers in the hearts of the Clippers. He was unstoppable and the Mavs with him tonight looked it.
Speaking of bounce back, LUKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BACKS AGAINST THE WALL, BUM KNEE, SICK, IT DIDN'T MATTER! WHAT A FUCKING GAME FROM THE DON!!!!!!!!! 35/7/10!!! He showed up REAL big tonight. He almost single-handedly put the Clips away in the 3rd. Defensively he was active and hustled. You can see his movement is limited and he doesn't have the same lift on his jumpers. The dude put together a masterclass playing at what he called only 50%! The funny thing is, Luka dropping 70/14/20 is not a crazy thing and has already been close to happening!! What really stood out to me was as soon as Luka got his final and-1 to put him at 35 you could see him tell everyone on the court, bench, even the crowd, ONE MORE GAME! I love it. Great game Luka!
Now to my finalists for the Dirkie. DJJ and Maxi. Seriously a toss up. DJJ was by far and away our most impactful defender tonight. He was the major reason why the Clippers couldn't score for half a quarter at a time. He had one possession where Russ was coming down and Kyrie took the foul, DJJ still flew in and knocked him into the stands just to remind him it won't be that easy. That kind of aggression is what is needed to win. DJJ brought it tonight. He brought it all night. Offensively he hit 2 big corner 3s when no one could buy anything from outside. He had some great poster dunks too.
But honestly, when it comes down to it, I think I have to give it to Maxi. When no one could hit a 3, Maxi stepped up and hit one after another after another after another. He was lethal. HE was so clutch. He was the primary reason why the Mavs pulled away initially. His defense was another primary reason why the Mavs maintained their lead. He was by far and away the biggest guy outside of Luka and Kyrie tonight. DESERVING DIRKIE FOR MAXI!!!!!!!!!!!! THE SPIRIT OF WURZBURG IS STILL WITH DALLAS!
ONE MORE GAME MAVS. COME OUT. BE READY. KNOCK THEM IN THE JAW AND TAKE THIS SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE LUKA SAID, ONE MORE GAME!!!!
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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