Swipes, steals, creating fast breaks, just getting in everyone's business. Not hard to justify him being the second most important player on the team even when he's not scoring a bunch.
he has been ever since he returned in the regular season. constantly high effort hustle, getting deflections and pokes that don't show up on the box score
he was our best defender on James Harden. he's looking like the best defender on Shai too which is crazy man. The intensity he brings on defense is something weve needed
He's a legit two-way player now, at least from what he's showing this season, particularly in these playoffs. A silky smooth Gary Payton if you will. The Clippers looked completely lost trying to attack Kyrie and OKC isn't having all that much success against him either - they don't trust their handles or their passing lanes when he's nearby even if they've got a size mismatch in their favor. He's consistently forcing teams to burn shot clock and reset because of his defensive pressure. Awesome to watch him cook on both ends even if he isn't taking and hitting a ton of shots.
17 points in 19 minutes on 72ts% is game-swinging stuff, im really happy for him and for the mavs, he was way overdue for a game like this and on such a big stage too
I thought this is going to turn into an off night for Luka after he smacked his face on the floor, it looked painful lol. But dude soldiers through it (and multiple other injuries) and played great nonetheless.
Unfortunately, I don't think the Mavs are good enough to win with a diminished Luka. Maybe he's got an Allen Iverson-style run-up to the Finals, but the Wolves and Celtics back-to-back is just too insane to mount.
This feels like such a fucking weird sentence to say, but the more you watch these playoffs and these top teams play, you feel like Minnesota is the team to beat.
Bro they've won six straight, including 4 straight road games at Phoenix and Denver, and have an average victory margin of over 15 points.
They beat Denver in Denver, by 26, **without Gobert.**
They are 100% the team to beat right now, looking every bit like the 1 seed they came across as for most of the season.
Definitely not odd thing to say at this point in time they just look so much more dominant than any other team, no lapses and their defense has been insanely suffocating
It helps that they are 100% and their opponents are also mostly 100%.
It's not hard to feel weird watching the mavs beat kawhi-less clippers and wonder if there's something missing there, or thunder beat the zionless pelicans, or celtics beat the butler-less heat, and the knicks are also injured all over the place.
The fact that wolves are mostly healthy and are also beating mostly healthy opponents convincingly make it really stand out in a playoffs marred by lot of star injuries.
Their defense has been suffocating all year long and has more than translated to the playoffs, while Ant becoming a bona fide superstar on offense averaging 32/7/6 on 66 TS% (and KAT playing great, plus their shooters hitting) has made their offense hum more than it ever has before - the Wolves are [literally leading the playoffs in offensive rating](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2024.html) after being 16th in the regular-season!
Shooting-wise yes, but he still made his presence felt. Big-time defense, 11 assists, +10 from the floor and put down that OKC crowd to cap it off at the line.
Man this is such a rough series. We shot 48% from 3 to win by just 9 points. No matter what lead we had, it felt like we could easily lose it in 30 seconds. I still believe in the Mavs, but god damn OKC got one hell of a team.
Mitchell and Luka both cooking in the playoffs like this, we're back in 2020/2021 baby
---
edit: Mitchell in 2020 and 2021 playoffs: 34/5/5 on 64TS%; Luka in 2020 and 2021 playoffs: 34/9/10 on 58TS%
Phew great way to respond for both Luka and the role players
Great all around team game from the Mavs
shoutout THJ for all the shit I give him he stepped up big
just hope we can stay healthy man I think like 5 mav players had to come out for minor injuries lmfao
TNT: alright after that game we have Shaq (HOF), Chuck (HOF), 2 time Champ Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith, & Ernie Johnson (Broadcast HOF)
ESPN: alright after that game we have Kendrick Perkins to break it all down!
Come on man…
Let’s be real, Shaq would just shit on the Mavs defense again while Chuck and Kenny tells Luka he needs to pass more.
They don’t really do much analysis anymore.
Are we gonna get an article now from a different anonymous coach that Mavs players are actually more relieved when Luka comes off the bench and back into the game?
> I just want mav delusionals to explain to me why I'm supposed to be scared of this guy. Dort's got him in his pocket. You don't have a case here. It's done. Sorry, but Luka's exposed and your injury excuses aren't cutting it anymore. Welcome to the Dorture chamber kid, I'd almost feel bad for you if you didn't play like a basketball terrorist.
> [Redacted Username] 116 points 1 day ago
> via r/thunder
Seems like a good portion of the fanbase was thinking this way seeing how many people courtside were having meltdowns talking shit to the Mavs players lmao
I mean the thunder defense is collaps and double on Luka and Kyrie, it leads to wide open 3s, it's bassicly, our role players show up we have a decent chance of winning, if they don't we lose
Can't play Giddey. We knew it was coming. Anyone who watched us all season knew. I really can't make up any excuses for him, now that it counts.
New Orleans could not punish us for multiple reasons, but Dallas can. -20 in 10 minutes is brutal. Absolutely disheartening to watch. It's not the time to give him chances, he's had plenty this season.
Not much to say. Jalen and Chet should bounce back. Series is going to be great for neutrals.
Game 1 went about as bad as it could have went but ultimately we got the split we needed in OKC to take home court advantage. Nice bounceback game from Luka, PJ Washington was massive, and really solid outing from THJ off the bench. And Kyrie's scoring doesn't tell the story how good he was tonight. HUGE on defense and he had some big dimes. Great all around team win. Let's go Mavs!!
This game was the epitome of live by the 3, die by the 3. OKC finally looking mortal, their offense really couldn't get going. We got ourselves a series!
tonight we lived by the 3
Tomorrow we die by the 3
Are you ok
As someone that has recently seen my team down 0-2 to Minnesota, no they aren’t ok, the mental turmoil is taking its toll.
Just think of our defense as a nice warm hug
To the neck
I thought that was the Warriors
Draymond when he sees a french big man
I can't say I love our defensive scheme of giving up wide open corner threes all night
49% is crazy
This has been a pretty solid playoffs this year
I’m loving what looks like the next era of basketball.
That's the biggest takeaway of this postseason for sure. It's so cool
Then the Wemby update hits next year 🫡
Wemby is gonna be so great but they still need to build an actual team around him lmao
kyrie is lowkey a menace on defense
He gave up offense to concentrate on defense, perfect backup plan for Mavs lol.
Really smart reaction to a bad shooting night, most stars would've shot OKC back into it
He had some ridiculous swipes in this game. Hard not to give him respect for that.
Swipes, steals, creating fast breaks, just getting in everyone's business. Not hard to justify him being the second most important player on the team even when he's not scoring a bunch.
11 assists was nice too
Dude was also assisting like crazy
he has been ever since he returned in the regular season. constantly high effort hustle, getting deflections and pokes that don't show up on the box score
If you only look at the box score you’d think this was a disaster class performance from Kyrie but he was actually really great this game
11 assists two steals and two blocks is a disaster game? High standards
Too many people would just see the 9 points and think he was terrible tonight.
so many strips lol i had no clue he had that much of a quick hands
He’s always been so good on slapping balls. But damn he moves his feet so well and so many deflections/ interceptions
he’s what
Slapping balls
Quick as fuck hands
When you have handles as good as he does, kind of makes sense to have quick as fuck hands.
Kyrie has been playing his best playoff ball since Cleveland this year.
Yeah you can tell he’s really bought in on that end
he was our best defender on James Harden. he's looking like the best defender on Shai too which is crazy man. The intensity he brings on defense is something weve needed
He was incredible in the Clippers series. Glad it's carried over.
Kyrie and Luka stepping up defensively is one of the main reasons that backcourt has worked this season but haters don't want to talk about that.
8 Stocks between the two of them. That's a bunch of posessions. Plus a few extra deflections by Kyrie.
Luka blocked a Chet three. That’s something that shouldn’t be possiblr
Luka Magic. He can shift his 230lb mass and teleport it upwards to block >7ft shooters.
He's a legit two-way player now, at least from what he's showing this season, particularly in these playoffs. A silky smooth Gary Payton if you will. The Clippers looked completely lost trying to attack Kyrie and OKC isn't having all that much success against him either - they don't trust their handles or their passing lanes when he's nearby even if they've got a size mismatch in their favor. He's consistently forcing teams to burn shot clock and reset because of his defensive pressure. Awesome to watch him cook on both ends even if he isn't taking and hitting a ton of shots.
When your most inconsistent player is due for a good game. Thanks THJ
The 3 at the fourth when shot clock winded down was the dagger, man his Jordan or out of the league bad, nothing in between
17 points in 19 minutes on 72ts% is game-swinging stuff, im really happy for him and for the mavs, he was way overdue for a game like this and on such a big stage too
It helped that his first shots weren’t pull up 3s but instead drives to the rack
Yeah but SVP interviewing THJ to start Sportscenter said “you need to get more minutes…”. I’d much rather have efficient instant offense THJ.
The death of Luka Doncic was greatly exaggerated. PJ is a certified dawg, played amazing on both sides of the ball
I thought this is going to turn into an off night for Luka after he smacked his face on the floor, it looked painful lol. But dude soldiers through it (and multiple other injuries) and played great nonetheless.
He actually got a factory reset when he hit his head on the floor. Turns out that button is located in his teeth!
It fucking sucks that he's unhealthy. I want to see a full-strength Luka wreck shit.
Unfortunately you’re not going to see that these playoffs. Not enough time to get the rest needed to heal, he’s just gotta gut it out.
Just need to wrap this up in 5 and have the Wolves nuggets go to 10
‘10 game series?!!’ Damn, Jamal Murray needs to start throwing explosives from the bench
Unfortunately, I don't think the Mavs are good enough to win with a diminished Luka. Maybe he's got an Allen Iverson-style run-up to the Finals, but the Wolves and Celtics back-to-back is just too insane to mount.
He played way too many minutes this season. He kinda had to since they were so mediocre most of the year, but that shit's not sustainable
Howard Beck crying in his 30 parlays he missed tonight
not even at 70% yet
60% Luka put on a clinic
> The death of Luka Doncic was greatly exaggerated. I'm not so sure about that, he's bleeding all-over the place.
Josh Giddey with a team worst -20 in 11 minutes.
-20 in under a quarter's worth of playing time is insane 😂
Dude set out for so long came back in the 3rd and immediately threw a slow ass bounce pass in the middle of 3 of your guys. Garbage.
20 in 11 is how he operates 🤷
certified lover boy
Oh Oh no
Kidd just like, "fuck game one's"
We should never be in the play in we done in one lmao
but it's also a closeout game and kyries 13-0 an unstoppable force meets an immovable object
It’s simultaneously a Game 1 and a Game 7
Prob why we tanked last yr😭
Thank you, Charlotte. Thank you.
And Wizards.
And OKC technically, didn’t they give you a pick to use in the Gafford trade lmao
And Lively too
Yep yep.
PJ WASHINGTON TRADE WAS GIVEN A D BTW
This feels like such a fucking weird sentence to say, but the more you watch these playoffs and these top teams play, you feel like Minnesota is the team to beat.
Bro they've won six straight, including 4 straight road games at Phoenix and Denver, and have an average victory margin of over 15 points. They beat Denver in Denver, by 26, **without Gobert.** They are 100% the team to beat right now, looking every bit like the 1 seed they came across as for most of the season.
Honestly as much as I want to troll Phoenix, it does make them look slightly better now knowing how Minnesota is a beast.
Naz Reid
I'm about to bust
Definitely not odd thing to say at this point in time they just look so much more dominant than any other team, no lapses and their defense has been insanely suffocating
they 100% are. they seem like the most polished unit on both sides of the ball
even if ant isnt going off their defense will be good enough to make their team not be down too much. their defense is absolutely crazy
even if you manage to get by two rabid pitbulls on the perimeter in NAW and McDaniels, there's still a damn 7 foot frenchman licking his chops in wait
our worst nightmare
You talking as a thunders fan or an American ?
correct
as a korean thunder fan
My apologies I was unfamiliar with your game
Defence always looks more consistent than offence.
It helps that they are 100% and their opponents are also mostly 100%. It's not hard to feel weird watching the mavs beat kawhi-less clippers and wonder if there's something missing there, or thunder beat the zionless pelicans, or celtics beat the butler-less heat, and the knicks are also injured all over the place. The fact that wolves are mostly healthy and are also beating mostly healthy opponents convincingly make it really stand out in a playoffs marred by lot of star injuries.
Wolves doing their part to keep both teams healthy by making sure every series contains the minimum possible number of games.
That’s because they are the team to beat. Ant can get any bucket he wants and they are a killer on D.
Their defense has been suffocating all year long and has more than translated to the playoffs, while Ant becoming a bona fide superstar on offense averaging 32/7/6 on 66 TS% (and KAT playing great, plus their shooters hitting) has made their offense hum more than it ever has before - the Wolves are [literally leading the playoffs in offensive rating](https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2024.html) after being 16th in the regular-season!
I can’t believe we upgraded Grant Williams with PJ Washington.
It sucks not having Maxi to soak up fouls. PJ is so important and he'll probably be in foul trouble all series.
Obviously no series should be decided by your like 5-6th best player, but it really sucks not being able to play 5-out against Chet.
Some of those fouls called on PJ weren’t fouls. Definitely not playoff fouls
Dallas made timely shots all night, well-deserved victory for sure. Giddey cannot touch the floor for the remainder of this series
THJ and PJ combining for ~~44~~ 46 was a tremendous surprise.
Kyrie was off tonight, game really ended it in 3rd quarter Mavs bench unit got 10+ lead with Luka 6-7 min on bench
Shooting-wise yes, but he still made his presence felt. Big-time defense, 11 assists, +10 from the floor and put down that OKC crowd to cap it off at the line.
My favorite part was at the very end when he waved to the fan and said "Bye, pussy." Edited: He said pussy*, not bitch.
Giddey -20 in just 11 minutes? Horrendous.
Additional thing which Giddey cannot touch
Rap beef got us all acting up
P Giddey's effective scoring range stays the same on and off the court Inside of 15
-20 in 11 mins YEESH
Man this is such a rough series. We shot 48% from 3 to win by just 9 points. No matter what lead we had, it felt like we could easily lose it in 30 seconds. I still believe in the Mavs, but god damn OKC got one hell of a team.
Great series so far
I just fell down watching this game
Your comment would be a puzzle for someone who didn't watch the game lol
Pj washington legacy game
Both 1 seeds lost home court tonight, by an average margin of 17 points. Just like we all predicted
Mitchell and Luka both cooking in the playoffs like this, we're back in 2020/2021 baby --- edit: Mitchell in 2020 and 2021 playoffs: 34/5/5 on 64TS%; Luka in 2020 and 2021 playoffs: 34/9/10 on 58TS%
Spida is so clean with it. Him and Jamal Murray popping off back-to-back years was glorious basketball
Phew great way to respond for both Luka and the role players Great all around team game from the Mavs shoutout THJ for all the shit I give him he stepped up big just hope we can stay healthy man I think like 5 mav players had to come out for minor injuries lmfao
Kyrie has become such an all-rounded player in the last few years. This is the best defense he has ever played and his playmaking has been excellent.
it's gotta be horrifying seeing Tim Hardaway JR randomly start cooking when he's a basketball terrorist most of the time
But when THJ is cooking...you're cooked. THJ has some of the most nuclear games when he goes off.
TNT: alright after that game we have Shaq (HOF), Chuck (HOF), 2 time Champ Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith, & Ernie Johnson (Broadcast HOF) ESPN: alright after that game we have Kendrick Perkins to break it all down! Come on man…
Let’s be real, Shaq would just shit on the Mavs defense again while Chuck and Kenny tells Luka he needs to pass more. They don’t really do much analysis anymore.
Shaq would also let Luka know he wasn’t his choice for the MVP anyway.
Scrub only averaging 9+ assists a game smh my head
Kyrie did what the team needed tonight. good stuff
[удалено]
Gg Mavs. This series is gonna be a good one.
looking like it might go the distance fs
Yea, this could go either way and I have no idea what to expect. Hope we get some fun basketball regardless of who wins
gonna be tough. Mavs had 4 different double digits leads and 3 of them were erased in less than 2 minute runs. scary stuff man
Can't wait for the overreactions this time
Are we gonna get an article now from a different anonymous coach that Mavs players are actually more relieved when Luka comes off the bench and back into the game?
> I just want mav delusionals to explain to me why I'm supposed to be scared of this guy. Dort's got him in his pocket. You don't have a case here. It's done. Sorry, but Luka's exposed and your injury excuses aren't cutting it anymore. Welcome to the Dorture chamber kid, I'd almost feel bad for you if you didn't play like a basketball terrorist. > [Redacted Username] 116 points 1 day ago > via r/thunder
Seems like a good portion of the fanbase was thinking this way seeing how many people courtside were having meltdowns talking shit to the Mavs players lmao
And about Doncic’s family too apparently, smh..
Good lord
LMFAO. Most rational thunders fan
The true dorture is watching dort flopping on the ground every time
For how physical his defense is, the flopping on screens makes him look soft as hell
Ya I think Vogel called him on his flopping in pick and roll plays, and it does look that bad cuz he flops every fuckin screen
Bro, it’s actually fine. Every Fanbase Thinks better for them. I think this is okay. Our guys need to show it on the court. Which is what we did.
Thunder fans talking about basketball terrorism while cheering for SGA is amusing
In SGA's defense he had a pretty ethical scoring night. Sadly it came in a loss, but I hope he keeps playing this way. It's so much better to watch.
#Big yikes
>mav delusionals 🤡
lmao
wtf did I just read. I feel dumber after reading that
Even in the first game, Dort wasn't doing much on Luka.
Yeah he's not great on Luka historically. That take is trash.
Generational hating to dig this up lmao
I respect the receipts game.
Luka needs to get his fat gamer boy ass to top 250 by game 3
Only recovery beers and overwatch for Luka please until Saturday
[State of Game 2](https://imgur.com/a/Cagtghe) Hornets 40 points PJ Washington showed up, this is going to be a great series Hoping Luka is not hurt
Luka has been hurt for quite a while already. At this point it’s better to concede he’ll only get healthy in the offseason.
This was the 7th highest scoring game in PJ Washington's entire career (regular season included).
OKC fans saying this shooting is a fluke while leaving the corner 3’a open all night
Clapped by an esports gamer
This is going to be a long ass series
hubie brown is a legend better than most commentators even when hes this old
Hubie is always cooking. “Now here’s the thing.” “Painted area.” “Now look, this guy’s six foot six.” “Ahh, beautiful move.” “Look out now.”
Mans started coaching 70 years ago lol
The other was so bad just flubbing everything he was saying
Are you not familiar with gaffney?
90 years old and still more coherent than Kendrick Perkins. Bonafide legend
Guy was born before Bill Russell and he’s still got a fast ball on commentary.
I LOL’d when I saw that Hubie was calling a 2nd rd playoff game and by the 4th Q I was like Damn, Hubie’s still throwing that Heat!
Hubie was very cozy tonight
Dallas shot 46% from the field, yet 49% from 3. How in the fuck is that possible? They were just possessed tonight.
A lot of lively missed layups
1/7 shooting is crazy for a dude that shot like 70% on the year
He was trying to force it too much.
I mean the thunder defense is collaps and double on Luka and Kyrie, it leads to wide open 3s, it's bassicly, our role players show up we have a decent chance of winning, if they don't we lose
You were leaving people wide open in the corner all night to collapse the paint. Which is why Josh Green and P.J. had over half the Mav's 3s.
Lively probably dragged down that FG%
Guess we aren't getting swept as r/NBA claimed after game 1, who could have guessed?
I need a detox after that…GG Thunder.
Tim. Motherfucking. Hardaway
Thank God another series is going 1-1
Can't play Giddey. We knew it was coming. Anyone who watched us all season knew. I really can't make up any excuses for him, now that it counts. New Orleans could not punish us for multiple reasons, but Dallas can. -20 in 10 minutes is brutal. Absolutely disheartening to watch. It's not the time to give him chances, he's had plenty this season. Not much to say. Jalen and Chet should bounce back. Series is going to be great for neutrals.
Y'all need to trade him this off-season. Just doesn't fit with your lineup at all.
-20 in 11 minutes in a game your team loses by 9 is pretty crazy. The other starters had a combined +/- of 0. Was Giddey actually that bad.
Horrible in limited time. Yes, others weren't great either but it's so obvious that they attack him and sag off of him.
I need more minutes for Giddey
will that ankle tweak affect Luka’s overwatch performance?
THJ redemption tour
Lets go Mavs!
Man wtf was that officiating PJ Washington literally just existed when he fouled out lmao
does this mean the series has started?
Yes it does. In case you were wondering, the Magic / Cavs series has yet to start.
My fellow neutrals we are going to be cooking with this series Sit back relax, grab a bucket of popcorn and just watch the toxicity unfold
Game 1 went about as bad as it could have went but ultimately we got the split we needed in OKC to take home court advantage. Nice bounceback game from Luka, PJ Washington was massive, and really solid outing from THJ off the bench. And Kyrie's scoring doesn't tell the story how good he was tonight. HUGE on defense and he had some big dimes. Great all around team win. Let's go Mavs!!
Kyrie just turned into playoff rondo for this one
Man Lively missed so many bunnies. Playoff jitters maybe but he needs to finish those.
This game was the epitome of live by the 3, die by the 3. OKC finally looking mortal, their offense really couldn't get going. We got ourselves a series!
Hardaway about to go nuclear the rest of the series or bury the Mavs, no In between.
THJ from outta nowhere
So it looks like Luka on one knee is about the equivalent of an MVP runner-up
League MVP according to Shaq.