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

[og15]

Feels like we are saying the same thing. OKC got good shots, just missed. Can't chalk up that low of a percentage all to Dallas' great defense. 25% was self inflicted, by just missing makeable shots, to some degree.

Oh I misunderstood you. I agree the missed open shots have little to do with Dallas defense. But when you said look in the mirror, I took that to mean OKC needs to do something differently. Not sure you want those guys to do anything but step into the same shots again.

Shoot with confidence. I think its become a mental thing.

It could be, also might not be, sometimes you really just miss a lot over multiple games, and your confidence is high on every shot.

Dallas shutting down the paint though have prevented them from having an alternative option outside of SGA with their roster makeup, so they have to keep going outside.

SGA is not an "explosive scorer" in general, his game isn't particularly built for that, so the chances of him going out and taking something like 35 shots and being the one to put the pressure on Dallas all game is low. That's not really how he plays.

[CobraCommander]

SGA looking at a team where he does everything right but needs some real help.

First time ever Luka has a equal on better opponent that he is facing in the playoffs but Luka’s team is actually better.

Good for Dallas on those trades -

Looks like 0kc still too young

Gotta give credit to Dallas' defense though. OKC was 3rd in points per game in the regular season. Dallas is making them very predictable it's either SGA drive to the hoop or shoot a 3. They are clogging up that lane and only SGA is a superstar that can consistently get by it.

Yes but think about it - that’s what Luka ran into previously. He was ready but the Mavs were not.

Now okc has proven they can win the west reg season but they are not able to adapt and beat Dallas. I think last night was the game to win the series.

Sga has been far and away the best player in this series but he can’t overcome the total team performance by Dallas-

We have never been able to say that about the Mavs!

I gotta admit this is a new Mavs team where Luka isn’t the best player on the court and the Mavs can still
Win.

Not a bad situation for the Mavs

[mademan]

Read on Twitter

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

[MoneyTalks41890]

Read on Twitter

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

[mademan]

Read on Twitter

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

lol. Got me

[Bob8]

Read on Twitter

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Maybe some link about those stats. Both look wrong to me.

[ChipotleWest]

Read on Twitter

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Not saying you're wrong but can you provide a link?

[HotRocks34]

Legler said today that Luka is the best player in the series (I assume he means talent-wise and not who has played best in the series, which is SGA).

At 5:45 or so into this video.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Bwo1BEtsD1w?si=Nfk5mC1zN0GT0jMf

[ThunderBolt]

Does it?

They were the best shooting team in the league. Other than Giddey, the guys getting the shots are guys you want getting shots. Sometimes you just miss. Doesn't mean you don't want those exact same shots next game.

The bigger issue is Dallas letting them do very little around the rim. And I'm not sure they have answers to that for this year.

Feels like we are saying the same thing. OKC got good shots, just missed. Can't chalk up that low of a percentage all to Dallas' great defense. 25% was self inflicted, by just missing makeable shots, to some degree.

Oh I misunderstood you. I agree the missed open shots have little to do with Dallas defense. But when you said look in the mirror, I took that to mean OKC needs to do something differently. Not sure you want those guys to do anything but step into the same shots again.

I think the missed shots do have to do with Dallas’ defense. The Dallas offense is so much more fluid. They got better shots consistently. I think back to Jalen Williams and a three point shot he missed. He caught the ball, couldn’t find anywhere to pass and eventually shot a three that he missed. It was open-ish but it was almost like a last second prayer. Compare that to Dallas who moves the ball, the shooter gets a shot that he catches in rhythm and shoots without thinking. Both are open shots but not the same. And it ultimately comes down to Dallas just being the better team for 4 out of 5 games.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Feels like we are saying the same thing. OKC got good shots, just missed. Can't chalk up that low of a percentage all to Dallas' great defense. 25% was self inflicted, by just missing makeable shots, to some degree.

Oh I misunderstood you. I agree the missed open shots have little to do with Dallas defense. But when you said look in the mirror, I took that to mean OKC needs to do something differently. Not sure you want those guys to do anything but step into the same shots again.

I think the missed shots do have to do with Dallas’ defense. The Dallas offense is so much more fluid. They got better shots consistently. I think back to Jalen Williams and a three point shot he missed. He caught the ball, couldn’t find anywhere to pass and eventually shot a three that he missed. It was open-ish but it was almost like a last second prayer. Compare that to Dallas who moves the ball, the shooter gets a shot that he catches in rhythm and shoots without thinking. Both are open shots but not the same. And it ultimately comes down to Dallas just being the better team for 4 out of 5 games.

Yep even the open threes felt totally out of rhythm at times.

[Cubbies2120]

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Not saying you're wrong but can you provide a link?

I'd ask the same about the tweet posted - what's the source of the numbers for the tweet?

[FrightCoward]

Jalen Williams has been completely exposed this series. Lol at thinking he’s better than Paolo.

I think he will be better than Paolo. He’s just shook. Seems incredibly immature and just needs to grow up.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He’s a year and a half older than Paolo and went to college for three years. Banchero looked like a legit star in the Cavs series and nearly won them that series single handedly if not for Franz and Suggs crapping the bed. Williams is a fantastic young player, but he’s legitimately overrated by those that think he has the same potential as Banchero as the #1 on a contender. This is another case where the analytics get it wrong.

[Texas Chuck]

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Not saying you're wrong but can you provide a link?

I'd ask the same about the tweet posted - what's the source of the numbers for the tweet?

Dude, this is dueling narratives. Stop asking for proof of any kind of data.

Luka Stoppa!!!!!
SGA Unstoppable!!!!

If Dallas really tried to guard SGA with Luka full-time it would be a disaster. Forget how well Luka would or wouldn't hold up(poorly imo), you are just wearing out your offensive engine and risking foul trouble.

Mavs fans should just be glad, Luka is competing super hard no matter who he gets matched up with. He's not ducking these challenges. This is really good.

Thunder fans should be glad SGA is a guy the little Mavs have had no answers for. He is getting where he wants and he is making shots at a fantastic rate.

But this isn't about that even. This is just about hurray my guy. And that's okay.

[ChipotleWest]

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Not saying you're wrong but can you provide a link?

I'd ask the same about the tweet posted - what's the source of the numbers for the tweet?

I have no idea, I just posted the twitter link. But it seems to be some secret on where people find these stats no one ever wants to say the site. So I don't know any sites that has these stats.

I concede that what I posted was wrong I don't really care. Just wanted to look at these stats that some people have access to but don't want to share with others.

[Bob8]

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Not saying you're wrong but can you provide a link?

I'd ask the same about the tweet posted - what's the source of the numbers for the tweet?

Funny enough, both numbers are from the same tweet. First original tweet, second in response.

[Baz]

9 more wins until the Mavs are NBA Champions (i'm trying out optimism because pessimism has never worked)

[MoneyTalks41890]

Not saying you're wrong but can you provide a link?

I'd ask the same about the tweet posted - what's the source of the numbers for the tweet?

Dude, this is dueling narratives. Stop asking for proof of any kind of data.

Luka Stoppa!!!!!
SGA Unstoppable!!!!

If Dallas really tried to guard SGA with Luka full-time it would be a disaster. Forget how well Luka would or wouldn't hold up(poorly imo), you are just wearing out your offensive engine and risking foul trouble.

Mavs fans should just be glad, Luka is competing super hard no matter who he gets matched up with. He's not ducking these challenges. This is really good.

Thunder fans should be glad SGA is a guy the little Mavs have had no answers for. He is getting where he wants and he is making shots at a fantastic rate.

But this isn't about that even. This is just about hurray my guy. And that's okay.

Na it’s about correcting a false assertion. Matchup data not that useful but made up stats significantly less useful.

I’ve been busy at work will source. But this is a poor post from you. Corrections aren’t dueling narratives.

[MrGoat]

Luka's too strong for Shai's pushoffs. He doesnt have the length of DJJ, but he doesnt budge when Shai tries that sneaky fend off

These are made up. The real stats for anyone interested:

-46 possessions (as primary defender)

- 56.5% from the field

-75% 3PT

- 3 turnovers (7 assist)

Maybe some link about those stats. Both look wrong to me.

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612742/matchups?dir=A&sort=DEF_PLAYER_NAME

Money's numbers check out. 13/23, 3/4 from deep. Not a huge sample but SGA is actually the player Luka has guarded the most shots against in this series. Although the 3 point number isn't even actually a bad sign for Luka, if Giddey isn't in the game SGA is the guy you're supposed to leave open from deep, if he hits them he hits them. The 10/19 on 2s actually doesn't even look that bad the way Shai's been shooting the mid range in this series.

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612760/matchups?dir=A&sort=DEF_PLAYER_NAME

On the other hand SGA has primarily been defending PJ Washington, 17/33, 10/18 from deep

(Page 5 for both links I believe, the hyperlink doesn't do the sorting)

Though I'm not even sure how much I would read into these numbers because you'd actually need to watch the film of the defensive plays to really see what's going on. This is largely just tracking who the nearest defender is which doesn't tell the whole story

[Texas Chuck]

I’ve been busy at work will source. But this is a poor post from you. Corrections aren’t dueling narratives.

Gotta say I didn't have this post making you mad.....

All my content about SGA was positive and about Luka not being able to guard him. Just started with the fun of both sides having unsourced data.

[Dirk]

I'd ask the same about the tweet posted - what's the source of the numbers for the tweet?

I have no idea, I just posted the twitter link. But it seems to be some secret on where people find these stats no one ever wants to say the site. So I don't know any sites that has these stats.

The same data that shows SGA shooting 56.5% with Luka as the defender... has SGA shooting 33.3% on DJJr which is quite impressive. Paul George was 41%.

One interesting thing to note is that SGA has fewer shots tracked against DJJr than he has against Luka/PJWashington despite DJJr having far more possessions defending him. Maybe implies a few things.

Source: NBA.com/Stats/H2H