GAME 4 Playoffs 2024: Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (2-1)

[omahen]

PJ taking the second most FGA's, is a win for the Thunder. Sure, he made some shots. He took 19 and led them in scoring. PJ shoudn't be leading the team in FGA's. It should be Luka and Kyrie. But they've effectively taken Kyrie away by putting JDub on him, and Kyrie has struggled. Combined with a hobbled Luka, Dallas has to make an adjustment to get Kyrie open for more opportunities.

That is their whole defensive plan, to make shots as tough as possible for Luka and Kyrie and pack the paint to take away the lobs. They are sticking to the plan. It worked in games 1 and 4, didn't work in games 2 and 3. Not sure what Mavs could do to change that, since Luka or Kyrie are always playing against more than one defender, whatever they try to do. Its either them taking tough shots or try to pass to PJ and others for more open shots.

The only chance is for them to hit tough shots. Luka is shooting badly and Kyrie is not shooting (enough). SGA has been better. He also can't get to the rim due to Mavs defense and all his shots are contested, but he is hitting them with better accuracy compared to Luka and taking way more than Kyrie. Mavs I think are doing a better job in contesting the rest of the OKC players compared to OKC contesting the rest of Mavs players. For example they totally stopped Joe in game 4. 

I don't think it was shooting that was the main culprit for game 4 loss. It was some really bad turnovers and free throw shooting.