Game 14: Dallas Mavericks (6-7) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-2) | 6:00pm CST

[SleepingHero]

That was an incredible 1st half.

2nd half adjustments are almost a given for OKC. Mavs have to be ready for that. Can't really out-adjust size right now. So I hope they continue attacking like crazy in the 2nd half.

[BigDirk41]

Also just hypothetically speaking, if you trade Luka you need a young star in return not an older one with lots of mileage. That never works out.

It would have to be packages like Garland/Mobley, Markkanen/Sexton/Hendricks, Wagner/Suggs.

Make it happen. Luka isn't going to be in the NBA in 10 years. He'll be 300 pounds on a couch.

[SleepingHero]

Make it happen. Luka isn't going to be in the NBA in 10 years. He'll be 300 pounds on a couch.

This dude literally just led the team to the finals not just 6 months ago...

[Mavs2021]

I knew Marshall was going to be better offensively than most of us expected, but I didn’t know he would be THIS deadly with the ball going downhill. He is like a better passing version of Julius Randall. I’m sure that comparison would fall off at a certain volume, but I have not seen him reach that volume yet on this team, and I am game for pushing the boundary a little bit.

Maybe as Randall, but not as Randle. But yeah he´s not the advertised 3 pt shooter, but a fantastic slasher/passer, mid-range floater. Just a useless skill, when Luka is dominating the ball too much. I think today you see how expansive him, Washington, Hardy and Grimes can be, if you let them all get involved. Lively has three assists, too. Kyrie let the game come to him, too. We saw glimpses of this, when Luka didn´t bring up the ball. Every time somebody else initiated the offense, we scored regularly in the other games, too. I´d bet most of Luka´s good plus/minus stats this year came from the stretches he was more of a passenger than the captain.

I´ll be honest, if Luka had played, I would not have watched tonight.

[BigDirk41]

This dude literally just led the team to the finals not just 6 months ago...

I love Luka when he's on and I know he's a generational talent and all that. Personally, I'm fed up with his lack of motivation to take care of his body. It actually irritates the hell out of me. That alone is changing my long term view of him. I also don't like how the team plays with him and everything is to keep him happy. That's just my personal opinion. Great player, but his attitude and weight issues drive me crazy.

[SleepingHero]

PJ's effort on the boards is invaluable.

Grimes with a big 3 for a 5 point possession.

[Mavs2021]

Lively needs to be smarter, if we can´t put people through the rim.

[SleepingHero]

Mavs have stopped attacking the paint the last 2-3 minutes. PLEASE go back to that!

[KillerLeft]

I see Klay Hardaway is having another good game.

[Mavs2021]

Maybe Klay is better with Luka. At least he gets no open looks to miss. He´s singlehandedly kept OKC in this game with his 1-9 shooting, virtually all wide open.

Rest of team is 5-10 from three, Klay is 1-7.

[Smitty]

Lively has been bad. Klay with a poor shooting night. Can PJ carry us to a W?

[KillerLeft]

Lively has been bad. Klay with a poor shooting night. Can PJ carry us to a W?

I disagree that lively has been bad. I thought he was incredible on defense in the first half!

[SleepingHero]

Kyrie felt the moment and restored peace.

Should've gotten the call on the first drive. Then hits a great 3. Then draws a foul and goes 2-2 from the line.

[Smitty]

I disagree that lively has been bad. I thought he was incredible on defense in the first half!

He can’t get a single rebound over 6’7 guys. That’s more or less why I said he’s been bad. I thought he’d dominate and he’s been JAG

[SleepingHero]

Kyrie legit has taken over. Continues. Great pass to Lively for the easy deuce. Then attacks again for the easy layup

[KillerLeft]

He can’t get a single rebound over 6’7 guys. That’s more or less why I said he’s been bad. I thought he’d dominate and he’s been JAG

Idk, man. There have been some miscues here and there, but his defensive first half was next level, in my humble opinion.

[KillerLeft]

Case in point: Gafford comes in and immediately gives up a wide open three on his very first possession.

[SleepingHero]

This is Gafford's best game of the year so far imo. Absolutely destroying the Thunder on the boards.

[Smitty]

Idk, man. There have been some miscues here and there, but his defensive first half was next level, in my humble opinion.

His defense is fine. 3 rebounds is rough. Hasn’t gotten a single contested one and the tallest opponent is 6’7. I’m an optimist by nature. Didn’t mean to overly criticize Lively. Just expected more is all.

[KillerLeft]

And then gives up an and one on the SGA drive that lively was habitually cutting off during the first half, causing SGA to pass out.