Playoffs 2024 - R2 - G6 - Mavs vs Thunder (Sat., 8PMEST)

[Dirk]

Now that Luka lost some weight, maybe he keeps going, Kyrie is inspired and aggressive and the Thunder are put away. A game 7 would be bad for the health, so this is the game 7.



“I talked to them normal without complaining,” Dončić said afterward. “I just (went) out there and had fun. It was the old Luka.”

The Thunder were happier with the shots they created in G5 and just think they "missed".

[Baz]

They gotta come dressed in black ready to close this one out. Agreed = this is game 7. Luka needs the extra days to rehab if we want a chance to extend this run to the finals & the home advantage shouldn't be wasted.

[Darren]

The nba is going crazy. I think the competition is as strong as 2011 Finals, especially in the West. All teams are better than the Finals team in 2011. Minny blows out the ex-champion team by almost 50. This is a repeat on what MJ had done on Utah Jazz. Anthony Edward's do like the comparison with Michael Jordan.

Over the summer, Luka could try out the routine Kobe and Shaq have done - meditation. By meditation, you can abandon all the exhaustion and awful feelings and stay in the moment. I think Phil Jackson is right making meditation a part of training in basketball, especially when the physicality of competition is stronger than ever.

[GermanFan120]

Nuggets going into game 7 is a good news for us if we can close the series tomorrow! Go Mavs!

But in reality, how many times had we choked at home?!

OKC and the refs will win by 15+ points to extend the series once again, and Luka will be back to his crybaby form!

[Mavrelous]

Go Mavs!!
Finish the job please and rest for Wednesday...

[Bob8]

3 days rest is disastrous for Mavs, Luka might put on 10 pounds.

[41Dirk41]

[kacey ring]

Take care of business.

Need the defense Iocked in. Make your free throws. Destroy them in the rebound battle.

[Archx]

3 days rest is disastrous for Mavs, Luka might put on 10 pounds.

[Bob8]

3 days rest is disastrous for Mavs, Luka might put on 10 pounds.

He looks skinny.
I just want to go with the same mood in game 6, that we went in both games 2 and both games 5. We will change in optimistic mode after the win.

[ChipotleWest]

Well the fix is in, the league is sending Tony Brothers to make sure OKC gets a game 7.

[dirkules_41]

Game 7, this is it - do or die - let's **** go Mavs!

[GermanFan120]

Well the fix is in, the league is sending Tony Brothers to make sure OKC gets a game 7.

[GermanFan120]

Nuggets going into game 7 is a good news for us if we can close the series tomorrow! Go Mavs!

But in reality, how many times had we choked at home?!

OKC and the refs will win by 15+ points to extend the series once again, and Luka will be back to his crybaby form!

This is going to be turning to reality 100%. The league wants 3 series to go to game 7 before conference final next week.

[41Dirk41]

Well the fix is in, the league is sending Tony Brothers to make sure OKC gets a game 7.

SGA 20+ FTs. Book it.

[Archx]

DPOY plays for Mavs not Wolves btw...

Best Defended FG% Among Active Players In The Playoffs (Min. 100 Total DFGA) :

Luka Doncic — 41.1%

Jrue Holiday — 41.1%

Kyrie Irving — 41.2%

Dereck Lively II — 41.3%

Chet Holmgren — 41.5%

Daniel Gafford — 41.9%

Derrick Jones Jr. — 41.9%

Miles McBride — 42.9%

Luguentz Dort — 44.0%

Aaron Nesmith — 44.1%

[ChipotleWest]

DPOY plays for Mavs not Wolves btw...

Best Defended FG% Among Active Players In The Playoffs (Min. 100 Total DFGA) :

Luka Doncic — 41.1%

Jrue Holiday — 41.1%

Kyrie Irving — 41.2%

Dereck Lively II — 41.3%

Chet Holmgren — 41.5%

Daniel Gafford — 41.9%

Derrick Jones Jr. — 41.9%

Miles McBride — 42.9%

Luguentz Dort — 44.0%

Aaron Nesmith — 44.1%

I saw that on twitter I was going to post it but the last time I posted something from twitter about Luka guarding SGA I was told it was incorrect so i didn't bother.

[Archx]

DPOY plays for Mavs not Wolves btw...

Best Defended FG% Among Active Players In The Playoffs (Min. 100 Total DFGA) :

Luka Doncic — 41.1%

Jrue Holiday — 41.1%

Kyrie Irving — 41.2%

Dereck Lively II — 41.3%

Chet Holmgren — 41.5%

Daniel Gafford — 41.9%

Derrick Jones Jr. — 41.9%

Miles McBride — 42.9%

Luguentz Dort — 44.0%

Aaron Nesmith — 44.1%

I saw that on twitter I was going to post it but the last time I posted something from twitter about Luka guarding SGA I was told it was incorrect so i didn't bother.

They are correct numbers this time .. But there are some other players in between as well. Though those players usually don't have a big impact in games. Like Exum for example is ahead of everyone on the team with 37.9% of defended shots. But opposing team takes insane amount of shots vs Doncic 17.4 but Luka defends with an amazing 41% in return.

[joesha1698]

Luka needs to keep being aggressive, decisive, and poise. Kyrie needs to keep pushing the pace when those opportunities are there and take what the defense gives him. Keep feeding your teammates. Block out the noise and keep playing the right way. I look at Kyrie's game right now like I use to look at Derek Jeter's(Yes, the baseball player) (who cares abt stats) play the right way and be clutch and win. I think Kyrie's defense and decision making (along with Luka and our supporting cast) have put us in position to literally win every game of this series except game 1 that was a basically a blowout.

Aside from game 1 - the only loss we had in this series was really due to us missing half of our free throws and not making proper adjustments offensively. I think Jason Kidd did a heck of a job in game 5 fixing that by running less pick and rolls with our BIGS and using our 2/3/4's in the pick and roll b/c they can make better decisions in space/finish/pass. Our bigs were missing a lot at the basket and making poor decisions in space.

We also added movement on the backside - after Luka or Kyrie gives the ball up by the foul line (on doubles) we're sneaking people's to the rim (DJJ mostly) to counter how OKC was guarding our BIGS for the lobs. The other adjustment was getting Kyrie more rest (by bringing in Jaden Hardy) to give us more energy and a scoring threat. I would be remise to not mention guys stepping up and hitting their 3s at a high level. DJJ for starters.

All in all, I think we figured something out in game 5. I wouldn't change much. Luka needs to stay aggressive. Resist the temptation to turn this to the Luka show early on. Stay aggressive but get into the lane and get quality shots. OKC will be looking to push for easy baskets if Luka settles for those step back 3s. Kyrie needs to keep making the right play. We need to bring Jaden in for energy and give Kyrie an early rest. I only thing I would do a little different is when Luka is out of the game - Jason Kidd needs to monitor the flow of the game and make sure Kyrie gets some opportunities/touches to score in his best spots in the 3rd and 4th. This shouldn't be forced but in a close out game - if those opportunities present themselves - have some of your best plays for Kyrie ready to go and ask him to be extremely aggressive. (hard back door cuts for layups, hard off double screen for 3, transition 3s, etc)

[ChipotleWest]

We need a blowout to make the refs a non-factor. Won't be easy especially if SGA shoots 20 free throws and the Mavs team shoot 6.