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

[Chicagojk]

Awesome game and an almost screw up at the end. But it didn't happen. The only Mav who didn't play well was Klay. We aren't winning anything without a healthy Luka, but it was a nice change to see the team respond and play at a faster, more free approach with Luka out. I hope we can continue to find a middle ground between the two.


This won't be the OKC team we see in the playoffs but props to the Mavs to really attack them without any centers. It is exactly what you should do. Man, OKC has some magic. When did Dort turn into a killer three point shooter? And they pick up two rookies who just look like they know how to play. They probably won't play much when everyone is healthy, but they have guys like Joe, Wiggins, Dort who are second rounders or undrafted guys and drastically outperform expectations. One of the the few who didn't was Poku. Poor Poku.

PJ is so streaky. I like how they went to him in the post early. They did the same thing against OKC in the playoffs. Maybe we should try that more. He seems like a guy who gains confidence when he sees the ball go in the basket. If I am the point guard, I am looking to get PJ and Gafford going. Both play better when they get buckets early.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Carlisle made a lot of bone headed decisions in the playoffs last season. The earlier meeting with the Celtics this year that they ended up winning had more bone headed decisions as well. Pacers fans seem like they will be glad to have him gone.

LOL

The Pacers were the only team in the NBA that put up any resistance against the Celtics in the playoffs.

[sefant]

Some random game stats:

• SGA scored 8 pts (44 % TS) with Lively on the floor
  
• 28 without him (90 % TS) without Lively on the floor
  

• Lively +17 with Grimes
  
• Lively -5 without Grimes
  

• Grimes/PJ/Lively together +17 on the game
  

[MavUGA23]

Win on road we needed badly, but the End of game decision making/turnovers, guys getting doubled and everyone else not finding open area and the ball not being passed, etc...  The late game turnovers were like watching a H.S. game when pressure is applied.  The double teams to leave OK shooters open still puzzling when they are on a run.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It seems like we currently have OKC's number. But I imagine they'll be a different team when they get their bigs back along with Caruso who's also out.

[SleepingHero]

Some random game stats:

• SGA scored 8 pts (44 % TS) with Lively on the floor
  
• 28 without him (90 % TS) without Lively on the floor
  

• Lively +17 with Grimes
  
• Lively -5 without Grimes
  

• Grimes/PJ/Lively together +17 on the game
  

I love it. 

And it was apparent too. Whenever Lively was on the court, OKC was scared to shoot. 

Grimes is finally getting consistent minutes and we're slowly seeing his impact. His defensive pressure is more than anything Josh Green gave us and he can score much more consistently too. And this is before his shot is really falling.

[SleepingHero]

Win on road we needed badly, but the End of game decision making/turnovers, guys getting doubled and everyone else not finding open area and the ball not being passed, etc...  The late game turnovers were like watching a H.S. game when pressure is applied.  The double teams to leave OK shooters open still puzzling when they are on a run.

It's not the first time it's happened to the Mavs. I remember when the Raptors full court pressed the Mavs that led them to blowing a 20+pt lead in the 4th and they ultimately lost.

[KillerLeft]

Some random game stats:

• SGA scored 8 pts (44 % TS) with Lively on the floor
  
• 28 without him (90 % TS) without Lively on the floor
  

• Lively +17 with Grimes
  
• Lively -5 without Grimes
  

• Grimes/PJ/Lively together +17 on the game
  

That's three of the Mavs' five good defenders, playing together with synergy that's easy to envision, so this makes lots of sense. Thanks for the stats!