02-07-2023, 01:29 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-07-2023, 01:49 AM by SleepingHero.)
I love how gave the ability to choose more than 1 in the poll, because both Green and Hardy deserved it.
WOW. Just wow.
The Good:
The Mean Green Machine
Josh Green has arrived. Holy shit. What a game by the guy. This was the ideal vision of him we all had when we saw him as a rookie. His first step is lethal. He was all over the court tonight. He literally blew by every single Jazz defender for dunk after dunk, and then sprinkled in some pull up jumpers just to remind you he's put in the work and he isn't the same ol' timid Greenie. Further, his defense was otherworldly. The Thunder from Down Under literally shut down almost every single Jazz player himself. I cannot sing enough praises for the guy. I was super high on him last year, so much so I created a thread and titled it "The Subtle Emergence of Josh Green". Well? There is nothing subtle about Green's game anymore. This was a statement game and he has the "Green Light".
The Hardy Party
Hardy saw Green throwing a slam fest down in UTA and said "not without me you aren't". Hardy played as though he was a 10 year vet. Always in control. He picked his spots and never forced the issue. He was the spark to bring the Mavs back down 12 in the 2nd. I mean what rookie has the audacity to hit 3 straight threes, and then flex on y'all? What a game. He was so poised that Kidd felt comfortable running the offense through him with 3 mins left, and he delivered. He was hyper efficient and smooth as all hell. He snatched the ankles of Olynyk and calmly sank his free throws. Just spectacular by the young fella. I was always ready and willing to throw in Hardy in a trade if it meant the Mavs could get a solid starter back, but now? No way. This guy is gonna be good.
Diamond in the Rough
This might have been Dwight Powell's best game ever as a Maverick. I wished he played like this on the boards every night. He outhustled and outworked the Jazz big men and thoroughly embarrassed them. Aside from a missed chippy, I felt he played almost a perfect game. He displayed his fantastic touch, he rebounded time and again, and he was locked in on defense. Great game from the Diamond.
Team Defense has Arrived
Again, the defense has to be mentioned. Even THJ was rotating well. Everyone was locked in and ready to go. That was the best defensive game of the year by far.
FT's Woes No Mo and Offense Galore
The team hit their FT's tonight. It was a joy to see. Had they not, this game would've been WAY closer.
The offense was fantastic too. The motion and cuts were beautiful. There was a stark contrast on how this team ran it's offense compared to when Dinwiddie was running the show. I said to myself many times that the lack of isos and increase of off ball cuts was bringing a tear to my eye. I'm more than fine when Luka does it, because he's Luka. But my rope for iso heavy offense is A LOT shorter for basically anyone else. Dinwiddie obviously wasn't good enough.
They ran very well in transition. Something I hope they continue to do after Kyrie is integrated. Kyrie is a great transition player, so I have some hope.
The Duds
Hollow Wood
Wood had a bad game tonight. Real bad. He looked pretty selfish with his shot selection. I point to his 30 foot three at the end of the half that he forced instead of moving the ball. I felt like he forced it all over tonight. He didn't let the game come to him, and I felt like he was trying to show "see look how good of a piece I can be next to Luka and Kyrie". It didn't work. He also didn't have the legs under him, as sitting out a week and a half can do that. Hopefully he bounces back on Wednesday.
Basketball Terrorist THJ
Timmy continues to draw my ire. I didn't even think he was THAT bad tonight, yet he was still 5-16 and overall just not good enough.
All in all, much deserved co-Dirkies to Hardy and Green.
WOW. Just wow.
The Good:
The Mean Green Machine
Josh Green has arrived. Holy shit. What a game by the guy. This was the ideal vision of him we all had when we saw him as a rookie. His first step is lethal. He was all over the court tonight. He literally blew by every single Jazz defender for dunk after dunk, and then sprinkled in some pull up jumpers just to remind you he's put in the work and he isn't the same ol' timid Greenie. Further, his defense was otherworldly. The Thunder from Down Under literally shut down almost every single Jazz player himself. I cannot sing enough praises for the guy. I was super high on him last year, so much so I created a thread and titled it "The Subtle Emergence of Josh Green". Well? There is nothing subtle about Green's game anymore. This was a statement game and he has the "Green Light".
The Hardy Party
Hardy saw Green throwing a slam fest down in UTA and said "not without me you aren't". Hardy played as though he was a 10 year vet. Always in control. He picked his spots and never forced the issue. He was the spark to bring the Mavs back down 12 in the 2nd. I mean what rookie has the audacity to hit 3 straight threes, and then flex on y'all? What a game. He was so poised that Kidd felt comfortable running the offense through him with 3 mins left, and he delivered. He was hyper efficient and smooth as all hell. He snatched the ankles of Olynyk and calmly sank his free throws. Just spectacular by the young fella. I was always ready and willing to throw in Hardy in a trade if it meant the Mavs could get a solid starter back, but now? No way. This guy is gonna be good.
Diamond in the Rough
This might have been Dwight Powell's best game ever as a Maverick. I wished he played like this on the boards every night. He outhustled and outworked the Jazz big men and thoroughly embarrassed them. Aside from a missed chippy, I felt he played almost a perfect game. He displayed his fantastic touch, he rebounded time and again, and he was locked in on defense. Great game from the Diamond.
Team Defense has Arrived
Again, the defense has to be mentioned. Even THJ was rotating well. Everyone was locked in and ready to go. That was the best defensive game of the year by far.
FT's Woes No Mo and Offense Galore
The team hit their FT's tonight. It was a joy to see. Had they not, this game would've been WAY closer.
The offense was fantastic too. The motion and cuts were beautiful. There was a stark contrast on how this team ran it's offense compared to when Dinwiddie was running the show. I said to myself many times that the lack of isos and increase of off ball cuts was bringing a tear to my eye. I'm more than fine when Luka does it, because he's Luka. But my rope for iso heavy offense is A LOT shorter for basically anyone else. Dinwiddie obviously wasn't good enough.
They ran very well in transition. Something I hope they continue to do after Kyrie is integrated. Kyrie is a great transition player, so I have some hope.
The Duds
Hollow Wood
Wood had a bad game tonight. Real bad. He looked pretty selfish with his shot selection. I point to his 30 foot three at the end of the half that he forced instead of moving the ball. I felt like he forced it all over tonight. He didn't let the game come to him, and I felt like he was trying to show "see look how good of a piece I can be next to Luka and Kyrie". It didn't work. He also didn't have the legs under him, as sitting out a week and a half can do that. Hopefully he bounces back on Wednesday.
Basketball Terrorist THJ
Timmy continues to draw my ire. I didn't even think he was THAT bad tonight, yet he was still 5-16 and overall just not good enough.
All in all, much deserved co-Dirkies to Hardy and Green.
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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