MAVS 123, SPURS 109

[mavsluvr]

MAVERICKS WITH DECISIVE WIN OVER SPURS

The Mavs faced the silver and black for the third time this season, down in old San Antone. Coming off a rough performance in Chicago, they hoped for a reversal of fortune tonight. And their prayers were answered, with a contest that turned into a laugher before the end of the third quarter, and an overall effort that looked like the Mavs we hoped to see going into the season.  


GAME NOTES

Maxi continued out with his back strain. Kidd suggested that an update on his condition might be available as soon as Monday. Jakob Poeltl was out for the Spurs. 

Pre-game, Dameris is discussing the starting lineup issues in a rather forthcoming analysis. Shows several videos of KP and DP messing up the spacing. Says Kidd is trying to use a system that worked for the Lakers, but with Mavs personnel. Harris adds that KP and DP are not on the same page, and that’s bringing the offense to a halt. They like the idea of using the court as a lab, but think adjustments will clearly  be warranted. Wow. Pretty blunt criticism for a Mavs-sponsored show. Good explanations, though. 

However all that may be, Kidd sent the usual starting lineup out there. 

FIRST QUARTER

Luka draws a foul on the first possession. 2-2 from the line. Hardaway cut for a dunk from Luka. DFS-KP alley-oop. Yeah baby! Keldon Johnson knocks down two threes. Murray dunks over THJ. Little floater from KP. THJ and KP collide, Tim indicates his ankle hurts, earns free throws on the play. KP puts Luka miss back. Bullock and Brunson in. Luka drive and slam! Luka three at the shot clock buzzer! Willie in. Another Luka three! Luka look-away pass to DFS for a jam. 10-0 Dallas run!  21-16 3:53

Luka leads all scorers with 10 points. Frankie in. Now Sterling Brown makes it an all-bench lineup. Young over Willie. JB draws free throws on a drive. Bullock follow-up gives Mavs a 10-point lead. KP and THJ re-enter. Frank on the money from three! Mavs close on 18-6 run. Looking good! 31-22 after one. 

Mavs have gotten 5 more shot attempts up than the Spurs, and 4 more FTAs. 

SECOND QUARTER

Timmy contested midrange effort hits. KP from downtown, courtesy of the French Prince! Brunson drive, with a foul! Harp compliments his use of angles. Thaddeus Young knocks Luka down. Grr. DFS with a jam! Ball movement looks very good tonight. Luka attacks Young, wins free throws. Misses both, and Mavs can’t capitalize on two ORs by DP. Murray bank shot over Powell. 41-36 7:26

Luka-DP alley-oop. DFS corner three! Glad to see that! Young put back when THJ doesn’t box him out. Luka long runner off the glass! 48-41 5:32

Spurs shooting a higher FG% than Mavs, but not getting nearly as many shots up. They have also been hampered by 6 turnovers. Luka-KP for the one-handed authoritative slam. Luka to a cutting KP for another jam! KP banks in a hook shot from Luka! 54-47 3:29

KP leading the Mavs with 15 points on 7-10 shooting. Look-ing Good! McD dunk over KP. Luka with two more free throws. Hits 1 of two. JB baseline jumper. KP blocks a Spurs hook shot, follows that up with a LONG three. Then another successful challenge at the rim! KP free throws off a defensive rebound attempt. He’s up to 20 points. McD three well-defended but successful. Luka three from South Texas! Unselfish pass from Luka to Porzee, and KP beats the buzzer with a three from the logo!!! Woah!! 68-57 halftime

Mavs have slight advantages in PIP (26-20), second-chance points (15-10), and fast-break points (7-0). Have gotten 10 more FGAs up than SA. As far as individual performances, this is the Luka-KP show tonight. Kris has 23 points (9-13). Luka already nearing a triple double (16-7-10).  Six of those assists led to KP buckets. Good times!

THIRD QUARTER

Luka scores over several Spurs. Luka-DP! DFS steal of a McD bobble ends with KP freebies. Hits ‘em both. KP block of Johnson dunk! Luka scores on a post-up. DFS-DP jam! 78-62 8:38

DFS corner three again! DFS intercepts a pass and races down the court for a dunk! 83-64 5:43

Luka has his triple-double now. DFS above-the-break three! 88-68 3:21

All-bench unit again. S Brown from the corner! Brunson from center court! Back to back! Timeout to wipe blood off Frankie’s lip. Frenchie for three! 102-77 after three

Unless the Mavs undergo a spectacular collapse, this one is looking pretty done and dusted. Mavs had a 34-20 edge, along with six threes, in the third period. 

FOURTH QUARTER

Luka takes a tumble into the crowd. Looks like he’s in the second or third row. He’s okay.  Probably some pretty thrilled fans he fell into there, lol.  Luka-KP jam has the Mavs contingent swooning! 107-87 7:54

KP cleans the offensive glass for a throw down! Kidd yelling at Frankie to get his butt to the sideline to inbound, lol. Luka layup, followed by a three. These Spurs players have their brains  fried, haha. 117-99 4:05

Not sure why the starters are still on the floor, but the closing unit is the starters, minus Powell and plus Brunson. That lineup closes out the game. 123-109 FT


ANALYSIS

FG% was close to the same for both teams, but the Mavs put up 16 more shots, including 15 more threes, than SA. That’ll do it, most nights. They had 22 second-chance points, fed partially by 10 offensive rebounds. The Spurs lost 16 points via 13 turnovers, some of which were attributable to the Mavs’ 9 steals. In that regard, Dallas had 13 FB points. The Mavs were also helped by a very low-turnover night (6). Balanced attack, with 4 Mavs in double figures. 


PLAYER NOTES

DONCIC (36 min). Luka was in very fine form tonight, with his first triple-dub of the season, featuring a spectacular 32-12-15 line, six threes, and only two turnovers. He was brilliant in the PNR, and looked to be playing with joy. What a night for our young phenom! 

Devin believes that Luka was not happy with his own performance in Chicago, and was anxious to redeem himself. Kidd revealed that Luka went to the gym the previous evening and worked on his shooting. His three-point shooting was looking good (6-13), and there was a certain amount of symbiosis between his teammates making their shots and his having enough space to do his thing. Kidd thinks that Luka’s best is yet to come, with it still being so early in the season, and he advised against making the foolish gaffe of writing Luka off after the first ten games. You tell ‘em, Coach! 

PORZINGIS (34). Looked like a breakout game for Kris this season, with 32 points, along with 7 boards and 3 blocks. He and Luka were a scoring machine, and he was driving, cutting, taking threes, passing to other guys, and otherwise keeping the Spurs guessing. Dameris said that this is the template for how the coaches want KP to play. Kris looked proud in the post-game interview, and opined that the team had been really good in the first half, not quite so much in the second half, but an overall fine effort. Kidd commended a “very aggressive” performance by his prized big man. 

DFS (34). Dorian's old self seemingly showed up in this one, and it was a welcome return. Previously looking offensively challenged this season, he had 15 efficient points, shooting 6-10 (3-5 3PTA). Good to see that three-point stroke reappearing. He also put up a well-rounded 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a block. The Bally studio crew speculated that his initial inside scoring gave him the moxie to shoot his threes with confidence. As usual, he was great on the defensive end. 

THJ (31). Timmy was 2-11 tonight, and he had only 5 points, but fortunately, his teammates had his back. He also contributed 6 rebounds and 2 assists. With so many other guys stepping up, a team can afford an off night from its shooter. 

JB (27). Brunson did another great job running the second unit, led the bench with 15 points, and dished 3 dimes. He scored very efficiently (6-13), and had no turnovers. Harris, who seems to have a bit of an avuncular attitude toward Jalen, thought he played well in every aspect of the game. I wouldn’t argue the point. 

MENTIONS. BULLOCK (21) was 3-9, and his stat line was modest at 7 points, 4 boards, and 2 steals, but I heard no complaints, and it was Doe-Doe’s night to shine, anyway. FRANKIE (17) had six points and three assists and shared in the management of the second unit. He had a couple of bad turnovers, but overall, I really like the way this guy plays — he's not the offensive liability we had been expecting, and he's so confident with his moves. POWELL (16) didn’t play heavy minutes, but hit all three of his shots, led the team in offensive rebounds (3), and put up 2 assists and 2 blocks. He took a back seat to KP, but, as far as I could tell, did what he was asked to do. STERLING (14)  had 3 points, 5 boards and 2 steals in his action with the bench units. Kidd looks to have him slotted into 10-15 mpg in the rotation, hopefully on his way to becoming a stalwart off the bench.  WILLIE didn’t score, but had a couple of rebounds and a block. Filled a few backup big minutes. 

MOSES, BOBAN, BURKE, and GREEN were DNP-CDs. It was Trey’s 29th birthday, and we hope he had a happy. 

SPURS. The Spurs had a balanced offense, with 6 guys in double figures, led by Devin Vassell, with 20 points off the bench. I thought they were a bit disadvantaged with their small lineups, particularly in the rebounding department. Mostly, though, they had a talent deficit compared to the Mavs, and acquitted themselves reasonably well, considering they are in the rebuilding stage. We were treated to one of Popovich's facial expressions of the most supreme disgust, talking to a ref on the sideline, lol. I'm going to miss Pop and his sense of humor when he's gone. 


OBSERVATIONS

Kidd said the group talked quite a bit after the disappointing performance in Chicago, and Kidd asked them to focus on attacking the rim, especially at first, since they already know they can hit threes (they do??). He wanted Luka and KP to start in the post and make an effort to play inside. He was especially pleased with the “very high-energy” night by the whole team. 

Devin Harris observed that we all may have been a little too quick to judge the Luka-KP duo. The Luka-Kris PNR was out in full force, and working beautifully. A fine sight to see!

I thought this game represented a leap in performance by the Mavs, and they played some very attractive basketball, with all the ball movement, player movement, sparkling attacks, and gorgeous long shots. I know, it was “only” the Spurs, but iirc, the victory was the Mavs’ first blowout win of the season. More of the same, please!


NEXT. The Mavs will host the Nuggets on Monday night. We’ll see if they can sustain their performance against tougher opposition. 


8-4, Bay-bee!!