GAME 67: DEN (43-22) @ DAL (40-27) | 113-97 win

[Dahlsim]

Boban could have had high 30's - he was missing easy shots early.

Which is why its important to stay with him instead of a short few minutes and then going away based on that small stretch. 
Staying with the inside big man attack or coming back to it in the clutch and during runs was something Coach had not been doing but did it this game probably because the team was so shorthanded especially without KP.   They needed the offense but maybe, just maybe a    comes on for Carlisle and company.  Its shouldn't be purely matchup dependent either.  Make teams matchup to you inside, especially when you have such a size advantage with Luka, KP, Boban, and a nice sized rotation of bigs in general.  

The centers were used well this game without the full availability of the small ball roster.  I thought WCS was also a nice change of pace along with Kleber of course. 
Against the Spurs he was hacked a few times brutally and didn't get the call then the Coach went completely away from him. 
This time Boban didn't get yanked after missing a few shots he delivered a more consistent high efficient offense overall when it mattered most.

Was waiting for Dahl to post.  I understand his shortcomings against a small ball lineup but he has size that other teams also have to account  for when they play defense. RC should give him more leeway and force other teams also to worry about us than always the other way around.

  We've been on this topic of the Mavs big men for a few years I think HK.  Carlisle's use or lack of use can be a frustrating since he seems to think what happened to night only applies when the matchup works for him. 

Sure, it works easier when the matchup allows a big like Boban to reduce his defensive liability but the fact is as you suggest, when a guy can go out and give you 31 and 12 on 60% FG and almost 90% from the FT line, how can that be limited to certain matchups? 

RC should give him more leeway and force other teams also to worry about us than always the other way around.

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That´s the thing. The success with Boban on the floor depends on the opponents ability to shoot and their ability to defend Boban. Mavs just cannot prevent open 3s with him on the floor but when the opponent is ice cold they can take advantage. As I mentioned Boban was -17 at some point in the early 3rd quarter and Denver was hitting 3s at a high rate. Once they started missing the Mavs dominated and Boban ended the game with a +5 on court rating.

Ok, but you're still saying its entirely matchup dependent.  Any player can be -17 at a stretch in a game, even superstars. 
That can be as simple as your guys are missing their 3's at the time, might not even be on the player.   The stats are more meaningful over time. 
+5 doesn't even begin to tell the story here.  Denver's entire defense was compromised by his presence.  His rebounding is also a huge help for Dallas. 
Now where the matchup made it easier for Carlisle to go with Boban can be seen the fact that Boban actually helped defend better against Jokic who is a great Allstar big man. Boban could make him at least work harder than the other Mavs could likely do. 

Against the Spurs Aldridge had an easier time with Boban out.  He killed the Mavs inside without anyone to go back at him and force him to hack.

Against the Spurs Boban wasn´t nearly as dominant in the paint because the refs allowed Aldridge to hack him. Spurs also never cooled down from 3. It´s difficult to make a call on minutes for a unique player like him and it´s not like RC is using him less than previous coaches. Looking at the early minutes of todays game I thought it would end in a blow out loss. Nuggets started the game with 8 consecutive open 3s and made 5 and Boban was missing easy layups.

Basketball obviously is a game of runs and once Boban found his touch he was unstoppable but for nearly 2 quarters (2nd, half of the 3rd) that made no difference because the Nuggets were still taking advantage of him on defense and continued to create open 3s.
It´s not like the Nuggets had worse looks in the 4th. They just missed.

Right, that's the nature of the game.  The point of the analytics is to see what tends to be more reliable and more efficient over time. 
3's are very efficient over time from a good shooting team but over short stretches longer shots can and will go cold where over the same stretches inside shots are more reliable. 

Nobody is hot all the time.  This isn't much different than if Shaq was still playing and you could use him for limited minutes. He would not be a great defender today but he could definitely get you high percentage scoring and boards when you need reliable scoring even in todays NBA.  

Sure Shaq is better overall than Bobi no doubt but Boban is similarly efficient inside over particular stretches of games and he comes with bonus of making his free throws! 

[omahen]

Wow, this was a surprise. Mavs need to do everything possible to avoid Clippers and face Denver in the playoffs. Denver doesn't seem to have a player capable to seriously bother Doncic. Their 3point shooting is questionable. They still might be better overall, but I think it would be a very interesting series. IMHO, Mavs have absolutely no chance against healthy Clippers and I think it would be painful to watch it.

[bartlettbear]

It was so fun to watch basketball played the smart way, you take a teams will away when you score in the point over over again.

It also let's you the FT battle which is key to play off basketball.