Tim Cato has an article in the Athletic on the strategic wrinkles that fueled Dallas' win in Game 5, and in the three wins.
1. The third quarter Mavs run in Game 5, most of which was attributable to Zubac being on the court. Cato's conclusion is that Zubac probably should not play another minute in this series, at least while Bobi is not on the court. Powell was particularly effective in this stretch.
2. Luka's magical passing in Game 5 was crucial. Complete with illustrations.
3. Shotmaking has determined most of the series. He has a graph that shows the teams'
shotmaking, compared to expected performance determined by where and when the shot was attempted. It won't surprise anyone to know that it shows the Mavs' putting on a shotmaking clinic in Game 2 and way underperforming in Game 4.
Here is his closing paragraph.
I would’ve predicted that Game 2 would be high on this list [of over performance]. That’s the game when Luka Doncic, almost unnecessarily, took a one-footed fallaway 3-pointer with a defender blanketing him and made it anyway. It was an absurd shooting display from the Mavericks in every regard. But I wouldn’t have thought Game 4 was as bad as the numbers show. I think it offers some comfort about the blowout. Doncic wasn’t at his best due to the nerve pain in his neck, and we know the rest of the team regressed as well. But to regress that significantly — to the point where the data shows it was a statistical anomaly, essentially — pushes back on the idea the Clippers simply took control of the series in that game and proved they were the more talented team. No. The Mavericks lost soundly and deservedly, but they’ve been capable of beating L.A. all series. Now, up 3-2 and just one win away from advancing to the second round, that key factor still rings true.
https://theathletic.com/2631534/?source=twitterhq
1. The third quarter Mavs run in Game 5, most of which was attributable to Zubac being on the court. Cato's conclusion is that Zubac probably should not play another minute in this series, at least while Bobi is not on the court. Powell was particularly effective in this stretch.
2. Luka's magical passing in Game 5 was crucial. Complete with illustrations.
3. Shotmaking has determined most of the series. He has a graph that shows the teams'
shotmaking, compared to expected performance determined by where and when the shot was attempted. It won't surprise anyone to know that it shows the Mavs' putting on a shotmaking clinic in Game 2 and way underperforming in Game 4.
Here is his closing paragraph.
I would’ve predicted that Game 2 would be high on this list [of over performance]. That’s the game when Luka Doncic, almost unnecessarily, took a one-footed fallaway 3-pointer with a defender blanketing him and made it anyway. It was an absurd shooting display from the Mavericks in every regard. But I wouldn’t have thought Game 4 was as bad as the numbers show. I think it offers some comfort about the blowout. Doncic wasn’t at his best due to the nerve pain in his neck, and we know the rest of the team regressed as well. But to regress that significantly — to the point where the data shows it was a statistical anomaly, essentially — pushes back on the idea the Clippers simply took control of the series in that game and proved they were the more talented team. No. The Mavericks lost soundly and deservedly, but they’ve been capable of beating L.A. all series. Now, up 3-2 and just one win away from advancing to the second round, that key factor still rings true.
https://theathletic.com/2631534/?source=twitterhq