2024 NBA Playoffs: West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-2)

[bbms]

worse than all of that combined was his decision to start fouling derrick lively in the fourth quarter. the mavs were just as miserable as the thunder were offensively when the game got choppy, and the thunder were forcing turnovers and at least had some hope of getting into transition. but that all goes away when you foul lively- even if he misses one or both, you're forced to play in the half court against the mavs set defense. a real bizarre decision, maybe one of the worst in-game choices i have witnessed from a thunder coach. okc had a top five defense, has chet, and we're doing prison rules- and you don't trust your guys to get stops in a one possession game?

brazilian broadcasters were able to point out that misjudgment. did american broadcast do the same?

[bbms]

Him and SGA have skated under the radar until this season and suddenly they're the #1 seed so there's no history of failure in the playoffs because they never made the playoffs. It's all rainbows and sunshine about how they overachieved but if they bow out a couple of times in the playoffs early it'll change.

when you are top 5 O and D, struggle to score against an average defense and don't have your defense make plays by playing a hack-a, we're talking about underachieving, not overachieving.

[Mr B]

I knew the game was over once OKC started fouling Lively. To me it seemed as if they had quit at that point. Other teams were struggling offensively at that point and the game was within reach for OKC. Then Lively started hitting his free throws and that was it. It came across as the coach was throwing in the towel.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I feel like Nico Harrison deserved more votes if not to outright win Executive of the Year. The player they chose in the draft, the trades to address glaring needs. Am I crazy?

[One Last Shot]

I knew the game was over once OKC started fouling Lively. To me it seemed as if they had quit at that point. Other teams were struggling offensively at that point and the game was within reach for OKC. Then Lively started hitting his free throws and that was it. It came across as the coach was throwing in the towel.

What? They stop hacking Lively with 3 minutes left. It's still a one posession game under a minute left until Kyrie hit a clutch bucket then SGA on the other end tried to draw a foul just mindlesslyt driving to the basket and got an offensive foul instead that basically ended the game with his turnover.

[Chessboxer]

I like those 24-1 odds I got on the Mavs.

To win the series or the title?

[MFT5]

I knew the game was over once OKC started fouling Lively. To me it seemed as if they had quit at that point. Other teams were struggling offensively at that point and the game was within reach for OKC. Then Lively started hitting his free throws and that was it. It came across as the coach was throwing in the towel.

What? They stop hacking Lively with 3 minutes left. It's still a one posession game under a minute left until Kyrie hit a clutch bucket then SGA on the other end tried to draw a foul just mindlesslyt driving to the basket and got an offensive foul instead that basically ended the game with his turnover.

you’re answering your own question and validating his thought. mark deciding 2 foul lively was the team grasping at straws at how to actually compete which is also why they are playing dirty. its a reflection of how weak the thunder actually believe they are. showing thier inexperience and exhausting all viable options at competing was on full display … these are tactics a cinderella would use to compete with the 1seed

the thunder aren’t operating from a place of power more from a perspective of desperation. mavs appear as the 1seed and the thunder showed that to be the closer truth

[HoopsterJones]

PJ Washington has been a Godsend for the Mavs.

[ChipotleWest]

Him and SGA have skated under the radar until this season and suddenly they're the #1 seed so there's no history of failure in the playoffs because they never made the playoffs. It's all rainbows and sunshine about how they overachieved but if they bow out a couple of times in the playoffs early it'll change.

when you are top 5 O and D, struggle to score against an average defense and don't have your defense make plays by playing a hack-a, we're talking about underachieving, not overachieving.

Since the trade deadline the Mavs had the best defensive rating in the NBA. No one outside of OKC fans expects OKC to make the Finals because youngest team to get a #1 seed ever. That alone is overachieving.

[ChipotleWest]

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[Patches Perry]

Him and SGA have skated under the radar until this season and suddenly they're the #1 seed so there's no history of failure in the playoffs because they never made the playoffs. It's all rainbows and sunshine about how they overachieved but if they bow out a couple of times in the playoffs early it'll change.

when you are top 5 O and D, struggle to score against an average defense and don't have your defense make plays by playing a hack-a, we're talking about underachieving, not overachieving.

Since the trade deadline the Mavs had the best defensive rating in the NBA. No one outside of OKC fans expects OKC to make the Finals because youngest team to get a #1 seed ever. That alone is overachieving.

Even OKC fans don't think they're going to make the finals lol

[One Last Shot]

I knew the game was over once OKC started fouling Lively. To me it seemed as if they had quit at that point. Other teams were struggling offensively at that point and the game was within reach for OKC. Then Lively started hitting his free throws and that was it. It came across as the coach was throwing in the towel.

What? They stop hacking Lively with 3 minutes left. It's still a one posession game under a minute left until Kyrie hit a clutch bucket then SGA on the other end tried to draw a foul just mindlesslyt driving to the basket and got an offensive foul instead that basically ended the game with his turnover.

you’re answering your own question and validating his thought. mark deciding 2 foul lively was the team grasping at straws at how to actually compete which is also why they are playing dirty. its a reflection of how weak the thunder actually believe they are. showing thier inexperience and exhausting all viable options at competing was on full display … these are tactics a cinderella would use to compete with the 1seed

the thunder aren’t operating from a place of power more from a perspective of desperation. mavs appear as the 1seed and the thunder showed that to be the closer truth

I don't see it that way. It seems like the Thunder coach trying to outsmart everyone by initiating hack-a-Lively strategy as a viable tactics in his mind, not some kind of desperation move with the intention to take him out of the game so his team can feast on the board. It didn't work, they stop doing it with 3 minutes in the 4th and it's still anybody's ball game under a minute left. While Kyrie decided to go for the basket and suceed, Shai decided to bait for a foul driving to the basket that cause them a turnover, that for me was the deciding factor of Game 3. SGA came up short in the crunchtime and he should do better next game if they want to tie this series, if he made a basket in atleast one of their possession below rather than bricking the shot or a turnover then the game might have a different outcome.


5:24 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lost ball turnover (Kyrie Irving steals)

4:28 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses 8-foot two point shot

4:20 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses two point shot

1:28 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bad pass

1:02 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses 25-foot step back jumpshot

29.1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offensive foul

[NZB2323]

I like those 24-1 odds I got on the Mavs.

To win the series or the title?

The title.

[ChipotleWest]

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[ChipotleWest]

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[bucknut]

I knew the game was over once OKC started fouling Lively. To me it seemed as if they had quit at that point. Other teams were struggling offensively at that point and the game was within reach for OKC. Then Lively started hitting his free throws and that was it. It came across as the coach was throwing in the towel.

intentional fouling has never worked. It's a signal you don't believe you can get a stop.

Pop lost the series vs clippers intentionally fouling. ......your either good enough to get a stop or your not gonna win. NBA players will make free throws

[Handlez]

Is Dort trying to injure Luka?

I hear he's flopping all over the place and throwing himself around awkwardly.

[ChipotleWest]

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[Handlez]

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Lmao @ that twitter name.

[ChipotleWest]

So far it's working.

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