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

[Handlez]

Why the **** did we have to trade PJ man…

Would it have mattered for that franchise?

He's in a perfect situation now.

[sunsbg]

OKC are a bit overrated as expected. They are young, deep and move the ball which makes them fun to watch, but don't see anything too special about this team to consider them a real contender. No experience, can't rebound, shooting is streaky. Their leader in SGA is a bit overrated too being mostly a midrange shooter on offense. Him going ISO and missing well contested shots with 10pt lead was a major reason for Mavs' comeback and he also failed in the clutch. Being so young, the time is on their side though.

Mavs will need a healthy Luka for next round. His injuries are a bit of a mystery after playing 40 mins again.

[ChipotleWest]

OKC are a bit overrated as expected. They are young, deep and move the ball which makes them fun to watch, but don't see anything too special about this team to consider them a real contender. No experience, can't rebound, shooting is streaky. Their leader in SGA is a bit overrated too being mostly a midrange shooter on offense. Him going ISO and missing well contested shots with 10pt lead was a major reason for Mavs' comeback and he also failed in the clutch. Being so young, the time is on their side though.

Mavs will need a healthy Luka for next round. His injuries are a bit of a mystery after playing 40 mins again.

You spent an entire paragraph talking about SGA's game and it ended it with "being so young, time is on their side" but SGA is 6 months older than Luka, he just has young teammates.

[sunsbg]

OKC are a bit overrated as expected. They are young, deep and move the ball which makes them fun to watch, but don't see anything too special about this team to consider them a real contender. No experience, can't rebound, shooting is streaky. Their leader in SGA is a bit overrated too being mostly a midrange shooter on offense. Him going ISO and missing well contested shots with 10pt lead was a major reason for Mavs' comeback and he also failed in the clutch. Being so young, the time is on their side though.

Mavs will need a healthy Luka for next round. His injuries are a bit of a mystery after playing 40 mins again.

You spent an entire paragraph talking about SGA's game and it ended it with "being so young, time is on their side" but SGA is 6 months older than Luka, he just has young teammates.

Try reading it again. I count two sentences about SGA in the paragraph.

[ChipotleWest]

OKC are a bit overrated as expected. They are young, deep and move the ball which makes them fun to watch, but don't see anything too special about this team to consider them a real contender. No experience, can't rebound, shooting is streaky. Their leader in SGA is a bit overrated too being mostly a midrange shooter on offense. Him going ISO and missing well contested shots with 10pt lead was a major reason for Mavs' comeback and he also failed in the clutch. Being so young, the time is on their side though.

Mavs will need a healthy Luka for next round. His injuries are a bit of a mystery after playing 40 mins again.

You spent an entire paragraph talking about SGA's game and it ended it with "being so young, time is on their side" but SGA is 6 months older than Luka, he just has young teammates.

Try reading it again. I count two sentences about SGA in the paragraph.

Who cares the point is he's not 21 like some of you make him out to be and give him a pass and oh he has so much time while Luka gets dogged on.

[sunsbg]

You spent an entire paragraph talking about SGA's game and it ended it with "being so young, time is on their side" but SGA is 6 months older than Luka, he just has young teammates.

Try reading it again. I count two sentences about SGA in the paragraph.

Who cares the point is he's not 21 like some of you make him out to be and give him a pass and oh he has so much time while Luka gets dogged on.

Your reading comprehension still needs improvement. I clearly meant OKC, not SGA, so playing the victim is weird. As for Luka vs SGA, Doncic is better right now, but his fitness is a lot worse while being 6 months younger, which is a concern for the future.

[ChipotleWest]

Try reading it again. I count two sentences about SGA in the paragraph.

Who cares the point is he's not 21 like some of you make him out to be and give him a pass and oh he has so much time while Luka gets dogged on.

Your reading comprehension still needs improvement. I clearly meant OKC, not SGA, so playing the victim is weird. As for Luka vs SGA, Doncic is better right now, but his fitness is a lot worse while being 6 months younger, which is a concern for the future.

No you're just taking my response to you too personal I'm talking about the general perception that OKC is so young give them a pass if they lose because they're new at this, SGA is not new at this. He just missed the playoffs every year except this year.

[jkvonny]

OKC are a bit overrated as expected. They are young, deep and move the ball which makes them fun to watch, but don't see anything too special about this team to consider them a real contender. No experience, can't rebound, shooting is streaky. Their leader in SGA is a bit overrated too being mostly a midrange shooter on offense. Him going ISO and missing well contested shots with 10pt lead was a major reason for Mavs' comeback and he also failed in the clutch. Being so young, the time is on their side though.

Mavs will need a healthy Luka for next round. His injuries are a bit of a mystery after playing 40 mins again.

They keep playing Luka. He's gonna burn out by the next series/round (if they pass OKC).
His knees and body is wearing away, been worn out since the last month of the regular season.

I understand that they are trying to win, but man. That poor Luka dude.

[Ray Donovan]

Mavs need to win in 5 to rest Luka

[sunsbg]

No you're just taking my response to you too personal I'm talking about the general perception that OKC is so young give them a pass if they lose because they're new at this, SGA is not new at this. He just missed the playoffs every year except this year.

I'm just pointing out your reading comprehension issue, nothing personal.

[MrGoat]

OKC are a bit overrated as expected. They are young, deep and move the ball which makes them fun to watch, but don't see anything too special about this team to consider them a real contender. No experience, can't rebound, shooting is streaky. Their leader in SGA is a bit overrated too being mostly a midrange shooter on offense. Him going ISO and missing well contested shots with 10pt lead was a major reason for Mavs' comeback and he also failed in the clutch. Being so young, the time is on their side though.

Mavs will need a healthy Luka for next round. His injuries are a bit of a mystery after playing 40 mins again.

They keep playing Luka. He's gonna burn out by the next series/round (if they pass OKC).
His knees and body is wearing away, been worn out since the last month of the regular season.

I understand that they are trying to win, but man. That poor Luka dude.

If he gets a serious injury in one of these upcoming games the Mavs' medical staff needs to be investigated. They let go of their highly respected top medical guy, Casey Smith, who'd been there for two decades this offseason without much explanation.

The Mavs need a regular season Dante Exum performance in the worst way right now to take some pressure and minutes off of Luka.

[AdagioPace]

despite being injured and hobbled, whatever you want to put it, Luka is still clearly fundamental for this series' outcomes as ball-handler and manipulator of defenses. I would like him to rest for a hypothetical WCF but Kidd clearly needs him. The fact that he's slow and methodical helps a bit with the injury. The only (quite big) concerns are: getting worn-out or worsening the injury.

[Mavrelous]

despite being injured and hobbled, whatever you want to put it, Luka is still clearly fundamental for this series' outcomes as ball-handler and manipulator of defenses. I would like him to rest for a hypothetical WCF but Kidd clearly needs him. The fact that he's slow and methodical helps a bit with the injury. The only (quite big) concerns are: getting worn-out or worsening the injury.

He is and he was against the Clippers also, it's a meat grinder defense, and anyone except him is getting torn to pieces, him taking the ball handling, play making while sucking in the best opposing defender and some help on top of it is what's allowing Kyrie MVP form and PJ to shine.

[Bob8]

Try reading it again. I count two sentences about SGA in the paragraph.

Who cares the point is he's not 21 like some of you make him out to be and give him a pass and oh he has so much time while Luka gets dogged on.

Your reading comprehension still needs improvement. I clearly meant OKC, not SGA, so playing the victim is weird. As for Luka vs SGA, Doncic is better right now, but his fitness is a lot worse while being 6 months younger, which is a concern for the future.

What has those 6 month in this story? You can't compare Luka to any other Pg, he's playing Pg with Pf body, which is by definition problematic fitness wise, if you're not LeBron. Moving 235 or 190 is not the same, and having defenders line backer like Dort on you doesn't help either. What do you think happens with Shai, if Dort was playing that physical D on him. Or Dort would be out with 6 fouls in q1 or Shai wouldn't score 10 points.

[sunsbg]

Who cares the point is he's not 21 like some of you make him out to be and give him a pass and oh he has so much time while Luka gets dogged on.

Your reading comprehension still needs improvement. I clearly meant OKC, not SGA, so playing the victim is weird. As for Luka vs SGA, Doncic is better right now, but his fitness is a lot worse while being 6 months younger, which is a concern for the future.

What has those 6 month in this story? You can't compare Luka to any other Pg, he's playing Pg with Pf body, which is by definition problematic fitness wise, if you're not LeBron. Moving 235 or 190 is not the same, and having defenders line backer like Dort on you doesn't help either. What do you think happens with Shai, if Dort was playing that physical D on him. Or Dort would be out with 6 fouls in q1 or Shai wouldn't score 10 points.

Nothing, just used it in reply after he brought up the age difference. Both are still young, but one's body appears to age faster probably because of poor diet in addition to genes. Luka is kinda unique with gaining weight during tournaments after a short break. Being a PG in PF body is another reason to take conditioning even more seriously.

[MFT5]

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

ok yu got your perspective i have mine… agree 2 disagree but yu just narrated my perspective lol

[Bob8]

Your reading comprehension still needs improvement. I clearly meant OKC, not SGA, so playing the victim is weird. As for Luka vs SGA, Doncic is better right now, but his fitness is a lot worse while being 6 months younger, which is a concern for the future.

What has those 6 month in this story? You can't compare Luka to any other Pg, he's playing Pg with Pf body, which is by definition problematic fitness wise, if you're not LeBron. Moving 235 or 190 is not the same, and having defenders line backer like Dort on you doesn't help either. What do you think happens with Shai, if Dort was playing that physical D on him. Or Dort would be out with 6 fouls in q1 or Shai wouldn't score 10 points.

Nothing, just used it in reply after he brought up the age difference. Both are still young, but one's body appears to age faster probably because of poor diet in addition to genes. Luka is kinda unique with gaining weight during tournaments after a short break. Being a PG in PF body is another reason to take conditioning even more seriously.

Luka's body is what it is, his father looked exactly the same, he has more football than basketball body and he plays with the biggest usage in Nba. The only realistic way is for Mavs to find a way to be good in RS without Luka playing playoffs minutes and effort the whole season. In that case he would be a lot fresher than now.
Problem in this season is not bad conditioning, but having too many injuries that just makes impossible for him to move well. You can see how down is his usage in this playoffs comparing to other years. He would for sure missed few weeks, if it was RS.

[MFT5]

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.

he’s clearly talking about the season the thunder had not this current situation… y’all really can’t read jesus lol

[MassimoPayne]

Luka's mindset is also his bodies worst enemy. There's no way he accepts to sit out

[sunsbg]

Luka's body is what it is, his father looked exactly the same, he has more football than basketball body and he plays with the biggest usage in Nba. The only realistic way is for Mavs to find a way to be good in RS without Luka playing playoffs minutes and effort the whole season. In that case he would be a lot fresher than now.
Problem in this season is not bad conditioning, but having too many injuries that just makes impossible for him to move well. You can see how down is his usage in this playoffs comparing to other years. He would for sure missed few weeks, if it was RS.

Very high usage since coming to the league is probably the main reason for his current form. At least I don't know of particular injury attributed to bad luck. Mavs are balanced team now so there is no reason for Luka to have 35+ USG% next season other than chasing scoring records. MVPs are won with 25+ USG too.