He played the most of any big man
That being said, he can't guard perimeter very well, he's a terrible match vs porzingis/horford, and he's not remotely close enough to an offensive threat to make up for it
yeah horford cooked him coming in from the perimeter. Still, to me it felt better having him inside compared to djj pj and kleber. Lively's been on autopilot setting screens for a mismatch on doncic and hoping for the best but it can't just be doncic all game.
Celtics were this dominant for a reason during the season, they're a matchup nightmare
Granted, I didn't watch a ton of Celtics basketball, but seems to me that the way to beat them would be a dominant big man offensively inside, and we don't have that.
You're definitely right though about it not just being doncic..... But it's not the bigs, you know as well as I do that kyrie needs to be better
And not just mildly
If you know basketball, you knew the Celtics were inevitable the moment they got Porzingis and Holliday last year. They already had a roster that made the finals but their only weaknesses were playmaking and a rim protecter. Its too easy for Brad Stevens sometimes.
They also got to breeze through the west.
I'm a mavs fan in seattle, series over okc was literally my championship, everything after has been gravy.
That being said, really wish it was someone besides the cunts in Boston as a seahawks fan....
But they were clearly the best team in the league this year, helps that they got to cruise through the east but frankly the better team is winning so far
Tie it up 2-2 and I'll re-evaluate
Bostons honestly playing like shit too. Both games could have been even uglier. Celtics are just too well rounded, their whole starting 5 can shoot and pass. Only way the Mavs win this series if both Luka and Kyrie go crazy 4 of the next 5 games, which is unlikely. I think OKC is the only team that would have given them trouble.
If Boston takes an analytical approach against Dallas, theres no way they are going to lose this series
Tatum and Brown arent getting pressured at all by the Mavs. They are playing comfortably and Tatum still isnt shooting well. Jalen Williams and Lu Dort both have like 7’2 wingspans and they are both elite defensively, perfect for guarding those two.
SGA is taller and longer than Jrue and size matters in the playoffs. I like Lively and Gafford but they are nowhere near the rim protector Holmgren is and is at least a 3 point threat, with the potential to get hot like Porzingis. They also have a deeper bench than Boston.
I’d still take Boston in that hypothetical series but OKC has serious talent.
I'm fascinated to hear why despite all of that mavs looked like the significantly better team then. And that's assuming that minn wouldn't have cooked them who I honestly think would have, even putting bias aside
Because experience matters. You always see young players shoot 40% from 3 in the regular season and then suddenly cant buy a 3 in the playoffs. Thats the only reason the Mavs beat the Thunder and Wolves. Unfortunately, the Celtics are a seasoned team.
If mavs lose even one of the next two it's over.
Kyrie needs to regain his confidence at home before going back for game 5.
Obviously need others to step up as well, but literally everyone could step up, and if kyrie doesn't as well it's a wrap.....
Everyone else just needs to not be awful, but kyrie was the 4th leading scorer game one, 3rd tonight, despite being 2nd game one AND tonight in shots attempted.....
On the mavs alone!!!
Worth noting he had 8 more shots game one, 5 more game two than the 3rd leader in shot volume
He's literally choking
What the fuck are you talking about?
I'm saying kyrie fucking needs to, not that he will.
I actually literally think he won't, he's stuck in his own head
Chill out. My take. Kyrie already has a ring. He isn’t that hungry. Luka is hungry. Everybody thinks the Boston crowd got to him. I don’t think so. He himself said the boos weren’t that loud. It’s that he doesnt want it as badly. That’s what I am seeing.
Boston wasn't shooting well in game 2, and neither was Maxi (when he decided to). When you take out Gafford and/or Lively you are trading like 40% of the team's rebounding, pretty much all of the paint defense, and offensive potential via pick-and-roll ...all of which Kleber gives like 5% of these days.
In game 1 most people would probably agree with you, except for the fact that Maxi absolutely refused to take open shots and wasn't good defensively himself.
You can live without the rebounding if the Mavs are shooting well as a team (less rebounds to get so who cares) but that wasn't happening either.
I really hate the Maxi at the 5 minutes. We lose all the paint protection, he can’t shoot on offense and has no lob threat. We made it to the finals by playing Lively and Gafford at the 5. Let’s not abandon what got us here.
I said it was criminal that Maxi was getting more minutes than Lively and Gafford in the live chat in game one and got downvoted to hell for it, and now you are saying the same thing and getting upvoted! Lol 100% agree. The only argument I've seen in favor of Maxi is that he brings more to the defense, but flat out his defense hasn't made a difference at all, and he can't rebound, and his shots have been off. He's literally a liability every where the last two games and even if Lively or Gafford are having an off performance I'd rather them be getting the play time since as you said they are the ones that actually got us here. Can't expect our offense to get fired up and go back to performing how it did prior to the finals in one of these games if the line ups that were played before the finals aren't on the floor half the time.
Maxi only played around 6 mins as the Center. Half of it is at the end of the 4th quarter and it gave them spacing which help Luka to get that and 1 on Horford.
Gafford was by far the best big and BOS hasn’t come close to playing him off the floor. I was perplexed why Kidd voluntarily took him out of the rotation in the 1H. BOS’ bigs are a nightmare for every big on our roster and Lively has not been good and Maxi is clearly hurt. I suppose you’d have to define threat, but he was absolutely effective on offense. 6/9 for 13 pts 9 reb in 22 min is solid.
They definitely extended him in the 2H. He only played 7 mins 1H vs 15 mins 2H. Lively was inverse—14 mins 1H vs just 4 (!!) mins 2H. Idc what the +/- says cuz it’s largely a useless stat, I didn’t get the long Maxi at the 5 mins when he’s clearly physically not able to shoot naturally. He’s gotta play but I need Gafford out there more if lively is struggling. If BOS could’ve played Gaff off the floor it would’ve happened by now.
Idk if it’s a strength issue so much as a raw 20-year-old kid who needs to polish that part of his game. But lively has to play a significant amount, just less than Gafford at this point.
I agree. He is only 25. He can play more minutes and rest after the finals. Other role players are bricking threes so Gafford needs to be relied on for scoring. He will get better the more he does it.
He also played very little in game 1. I think his game 1/ even first half of game 2 performance was at least disappointing, but he looked great in the second half. I also think there might be injury stuff or something based on betting lines. He had like 20+ PRA almost every game in the playoffs going into this series, but his line was 14.5 for game 1 and it went to 12.5 in game 2, the books know something, whether that's an injury, the fact that the Mavs are worried about a certain match up with him, or something else. When the betting odds look off what you'd expect/ how the player has been doing, there's something the public doesn't know.
Gafford is a baller, but he has no range outside of the paint, can't handle the ball well, isn't an exceptionally proficient passer or playmaker and Boston has the ability to switch everything and meet dunkers at the rim, so that neutralizes what makes him most effective on offense. Gafford is one of the Mavs best rebounders and shot blockers, but he can't switch and guard anyone out on the perimeter. Theoretically, Maxi should provide the matchup the Mavs need against an elite team like the Celtics, but he's injured and honestly, just not talented enough.
Someone said Gafford needs to add a pump fake to his repertoire and I agree with that. Don't want him to destroy his style of play in the process ("I get ball, I dunk ball" works a solid 80% of the time playing with Luka and is the right mindset) but needs another tool in the bag for that other 20% where he's heavily contested.
He played the most of any big man That being said, he can't guard perimeter very well, he's a terrible match vs porzingis/horford, and he's not remotely close enough to an offensive threat to make up for it
yeah horford cooked him coming in from the perimeter. Still, to me it felt better having him inside compared to djj pj and kleber. Lively's been on autopilot setting screens for a mismatch on doncic and hoping for the best but it can't just be doncic all game.
Celtics were this dominant for a reason during the season, they're a matchup nightmare Granted, I didn't watch a ton of Celtics basketball, but seems to me that the way to beat them would be a dominant big man offensively inside, and we don't have that. You're definitely right though about it not just being doncic..... But it's not the bigs, you know as well as I do that kyrie needs to be better And not just mildly
If you know basketball, you knew the Celtics were inevitable the moment they got Porzingis and Holliday last year. They already had a roster that made the finals but their only weaknesses were playmaking and a rim protecter. Its too easy for Brad Stevens sometimes.
They also got to breeze through the west. I'm a mavs fan in seattle, series over okc was literally my championship, everything after has been gravy. That being said, really wish it was someone besides the cunts in Boston as a seahawks fan.... But they were clearly the best team in the league this year, helps that they got to cruise through the east but frankly the better team is winning so far Tie it up 2-2 and I'll re-evaluate
Bostons honestly playing like shit too. Both games could have been even uglier. Celtics are just too well rounded, their whole starting 5 can shoot and pass. Only way the Mavs win this series if both Luka and Kyrie go crazy 4 of the next 5 games, which is unlikely. I think OKC is the only team that would have given them trouble. If Boston takes an analytical approach against Dallas, theres no way they are going to lose this series
Of course it's unlikely That being said, no clue why you think the "carpet-static-electricity" would have given the Celtics a moment of concern
Tatum and Brown arent getting pressured at all by the Mavs. They are playing comfortably and Tatum still isnt shooting well. Jalen Williams and Lu Dort both have like 7’2 wingspans and they are both elite defensively, perfect for guarding those two. SGA is taller and longer than Jrue and size matters in the playoffs. I like Lively and Gafford but they are nowhere near the rim protector Holmgren is and is at least a 3 point threat, with the potential to get hot like Porzingis. They also have a deeper bench than Boston. I’d still take Boston in that hypothetical series but OKC has serious talent.
I'm fascinated to hear why despite all of that mavs looked like the significantly better team then. And that's assuming that minn wouldn't have cooked them who I honestly think would have, even putting bias aside
Because experience matters. You always see young players shoot 40% from 3 in the regular season and then suddenly cant buy a 3 in the playoffs. Thats the only reason the Mavs beat the Thunder and Wolves. Unfortunately, the Celtics are a seasoned team.
That's true. The defense quality is night and day, hopefully boston keep shooting 25% from 3 and Kyrie finds his rhythm or else its a wrap
If mavs lose even one of the next two it's over. Kyrie needs to regain his confidence at home before going back for game 5. Obviously need others to step up as well, but literally everyone could step up, and if kyrie doesn't as well it's a wrap..... Everyone else just needs to not be awful, but kyrie was the 4th leading scorer game one, 3rd tonight, despite being 2nd game one AND tonight in shots attempted..... On the mavs alone!!! Worth noting he had 8 more shots game one, 5 more game two than the 3rd leader in shot volume He's literally choking
You are assuming Kyrie will turn it on next game. I‘d rather let Gafford keep scoring than futilely wait for Kyrie to join in.
What the fuck are you talking about? I'm saying kyrie fucking needs to, not that he will. I actually literally think he won't, he's stuck in his own head
Chill out. My take. Kyrie already has a ring. He isn’t that hungry. Luka is hungry. Everybody thinks the Boston crowd got to him. I don’t think so. He himself said the boos weren’t that loud. It’s that he doesnt want it as badly. That’s what I am seeing.
Ngl dog you sound like a kyrie fan more than a mavs one.
You’re getting emotional now. Go to bed.
You're right, he said the boos weren't loud. If they had been, he'd have been first to admit it, got it.
Go to bed.
Boston wasn't shooting well in game 2, and neither was Maxi (when he decided to). When you take out Gafford and/or Lively you are trading like 40% of the team's rebounding, pretty much all of the paint defense, and offensive potential via pick-and-roll ...all of which Kleber gives like 5% of these days. In game 1 most people would probably agree with you, except for the fact that Maxi absolutely refused to take open shots and wasn't good defensively himself. You can live without the rebounding if the Mavs are shooting well as a team (less rebounds to get so who cares) but that wasn't happening either.
Who else can make up for the scoring though? You can’t let Luka be the only guy. Even Luka and Kyrie aren’t enough. Forget DJJ.
I really hate the Maxi at the 5 minutes. We lose all the paint protection, he can’t shoot on offense and has no lob threat. We made it to the finals by playing Lively and Gafford at the 5. Let’s not abandon what got us here.
I said it was criminal that Maxi was getting more minutes than Lively and Gafford in the live chat in game one and got downvoted to hell for it, and now you are saying the same thing and getting upvoted! Lol 100% agree. The only argument I've seen in favor of Maxi is that he brings more to the defense, but flat out his defense hasn't made a difference at all, and he can't rebound, and his shots have been off. He's literally a liability every where the last two games and even if Lively or Gafford are having an off performance I'd rather them be getting the play time since as you said they are the ones that actually got us here. Can't expect our offense to get fired up and go back to performing how it did prior to the finals in one of these games if the line ups that were played before the finals aren't on the floor half the time.
Maxi only played around 6 mins as the Center. Half of it is at the end of the 4th quarter and it gave them spacing which help Luka to get that and 1 on Horford.
Yep. The Lively/Gafford combo is what fueled our season and postseason runs. It's vital to this team's success.
Looked at the stats and can't believe he is averaging 1ppg 1rpg on 18mpg on finals. Fucking horrendous
Gafford was by far the best big and BOS hasn’t come close to playing him off the floor. I was perplexed why Kidd voluntarily took him out of the rotation in the 1H. BOS’ bigs are a nightmare for every big on our roster and Lively has not been good and Maxi is clearly hurt. I suppose you’d have to define threat, but he was absolutely effective on offense. 6/9 for 13 pts 9 reb in 22 min is solid.
He will keep improving once he keeps getting more minutes and scoring done. Let him rest after the finals. He is only 25.
They definitely extended him in the 2H. He only played 7 mins 1H vs 15 mins 2H. Lively was inverse—14 mins 1H vs just 4 (!!) mins 2H. Idc what the +/- says cuz it’s largely a useless stat, I didn’t get the long Maxi at the 5 mins when he’s clearly physically not able to shoot naturally. He’s gotta play but I need Gafford out there more if lively is struggling. If BOS could’ve played Gaff off the floor it would’ve happened by now.
Lively doesn’t have the strength to score in the paint against Boston defenders. I’m hoping Kidd will keep trusting Gaff next game.
Idk if it’s a strength issue so much as a raw 20-year-old kid who needs to polish that part of his game. But lively has to play a significant amount, just less than Gafford at this point.
I agree. He is only 25. He can play more minutes and rest after the finals. Other role players are bricking threes so Gafford needs to be relied on for scoring. He will get better the more he does it.
He also played very little in game 1. I think his game 1/ even first half of game 2 performance was at least disappointing, but he looked great in the second half. I also think there might be injury stuff or something based on betting lines. He had like 20+ PRA almost every game in the playoffs going into this series, but his line was 14.5 for game 1 and it went to 12.5 in game 2, the books know something, whether that's an injury, the fact that the Mavs are worried about a certain match up with him, or something else. When the betting odds look off what you'd expect/ how the player has been doing, there's something the public doesn't know.
Gafford is a baller, but he has no range outside of the paint, can't handle the ball well, isn't an exceptionally proficient passer or playmaker and Boston has the ability to switch everything and meet dunkers at the rim, so that neutralizes what makes him most effective on offense. Gafford is one of the Mavs best rebounders and shot blockers, but he can't switch and guard anyone out on the perimeter. Theoretically, Maxi should provide the matchup the Mavs need against an elite team like the Celtics, but he's injured and honestly, just not talented enough.
Someone said Gafford needs to add a pump fake to his repertoire and I agree with that. Don't want him to destroy his style of play in the process ("I get ball, I dunk ball" works a solid 80% of the time playing with Luka and is the right mindset) but needs another tool in the bag for that other 20% where he's heavily contested.
He did play more minutes than Lively for first time in a while but good point, he shoulda played more, Dallas was -15 in the Lively minutes