2024 Playoffs- 2nd Round: Oklahoma City Thunder - Dallas Mavericks- MAVS WIN 4-2!

[DanSchwartzgan]

https://www.landofbasketball.com/statist...es_2_1.htm

Gotta feel pretty good about the odds, right about now.

I’m actually glad game 3 wasn’t a blowout. Keeps the Mavs from getting complacent.

This data almost makes it feel like home court is a disadvantage unless you go to seven games.

Our SOP seems to be go steal a game on the road.  That is just crushing to the team with Home Court Advantage.  If you get game 3 and one of either 4 or 5, you can close it out at home in game 6.  It is playing with fire if you don't get game four because the advantage gained from stealing one on the road is lost.  Hopefully that doesn't happen again this time.

I almost did a pre-series post to say that I thought this series would come down to the best "Josh".  I thought our Josh and Lively were the biggest keys to our 16-0 run yesterday after giving up 10 straight to start the second half.  One of the other had made a contribution to everything that happened during that run.  Our Josh is 7/18 from three in this series (39%).  Their Josh is 1/8 from 3.  Our (bench) Josh is averaging 18.7 minutes.  Their (starter) Josh has been limited to 13.7 minutes per game.  Their Josh has been negative in all three games.  Our Josh has been +9 and +15 in the two wins.

I realize others are contributing much more.  But, in a game of inches, every inch matters.  To the extent the stars offset each other, Josh vs. Josh is an important inch.  

PJ has also been an important inch (maybe a foot), but we've also given ground with the loss of Maxi.  He would have been incredibly helpful yesterday.

Welcome back Tim Hardaway.  I like that he's working the midrange game and getting to the basket.  For the most part he's taking what the game gives him and not shot-hunting as he so often does.  And, he's playing real D.  Not the "Hardaway Waive" that he so often does.

If Lively looks scared and Josh/Tim aren't hitting, we are in trouble with a sub-standard version of Luka.  If the three of them play up to their ability, we can overcome the loss of Maxi (unless Luka's injuries take an even bigger toll on his game).