Western Conference Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder

well we still have to remember that they were up 15 with 5 minutes to go.

im pretty sure scott brooks had thabo out there for defensive purposes because when you're up by 15 with 5 minutes to go, the last thing you're worried about is offense.

dirk just went into god mode and durant disappeared in the clutch again

 

Durant is better than Lebron lol

 

Dirk shot 35% in Game 1, 41% in Game 2, 48% in Game 3, 41% in Game 4, 44% in Game 5 and 65% in Game 6. He's a 52% shooter this year and 48% for his career. They held him below his % in 4 of those games. He did get to the line a lot though. And please save the "are you high" type comments for other posters.

We shall see in the Finals. I don't expect to see him going off like he did against LA (who has bigs that don't want to leave the paint) and OKC (Collison doesn't have length or hops....Ibaka does but his man D doesn't seem as good as Haslem or Bron's). And Haslem/LeBron are better defensively than every player you mentioned. Nick Collison....really??

 

LOL...How so? LeBron might not be a better shooter than Durant but Lebron is an overall better player than Durant because he make others around him better. Durant will eventually get there though.

 

no he had thabo out there cuz harden was fouled out, sure thabo brings defense but they were pretty much screwed on the offensive end without harden

 

You can't convince them, but they will see if Miami makes it to the Finals. They aren't paying attention to how OKC is losing these games. They don't notice that OKC is putting up points, but can't get critical stops and are making all kinda 'youth" mistakes. They are so impressed with Dirk dropping 40 on Collison that they haven't realized this will be the first matchup for Miami where no one on the other team can match up with LeBron/Wade. They don't see how OKC can get to the paint. They don't realize that scoring on Dallas should be a breeze compared to having to fight for every point against Boston and Chicago. They don't realize both LeBron and Wade are the best players on the court. They don't notice that Harden can get a shot whenever he wants and has made more than half of them 3 times this series...more than 60% twice. They don't see the looks Ibaka is getting this series (shooting 51%), and don't realize Bosh will get those same looks and he is a better offensive weapon. They don't realize that the Mavs are a magic matchup opponent for Miami....a team that doesn't have a scoring C or PG (which let's Anthony and Bibby stay on the court) and no defensive speed on the perimiter.

 

Dirk is playing out of his mind right now Icehouse...I get that we are overhyping Dirk because of his recent play...But thats what the playoffs is about...Wade proved that 5 years ago...Its about matchups...The same way you're saying how are the Mavs gonna stop the Big 3 is the same as saying how is the Heats bench gonna offset the Mavs bench....The Heat thus far havent played a team that runs with shooters like the Mavs...Sixers run but cant shoot....Boston shoots well but cant run........Bulls again run but cant shoot.......Mavs do both WELL.... I still say Heat in 6/7 in the Finals , but it wont be a cakewalk...I even see the Mavs taking game 1

 

they wouldnt have been screwed if durant could have hit a shot

 

Seriously, did you watch the last two games in this series? I honestly don't think someone that watched them would come away saying that.

Collison has been playing some of the best D I've ever seen applied to Dirk (and getting away with serious contact thanks to hometown officiating). As said, Dirk was playing out of his mind and Jesus would have been burned trying to guard him.

 

That comeback started with Barea...That lil dude is fearless...He kept them in the game (although 15 down) with the high arced layups ....Barea deserves just as much credit for that comeback as Haywood knocking the hell outta Durant...(That too contributed to the comeback)...Nowitzki gets the credit (deservingly so), but it was like a domino effect after that Haywood foul

 

Durant got a small dose of the Kobe treatment (getting doubled hard without the ball 25 ft from the basket) and he failed miserably

 

i agree it was a great team effort. dirk is gong to get the props (which he should). but j kidds defense during that stretch is being highly overlooked as well

 

What a collapse...OKC should've won the game and its a damn shame...I expect Dallas to wrap it up one of the next two games...

I still don't get why Kidd can practically shut-down Durant...Durant needs to demand the ball...great shooter, but once harden went out, the energy left...

f'n mavs

 

So you have "two legit scorers" and don't even situationally substitute? You don't run designed plays with a couple of options to free one of them up? You don't run plays that expect double-teams, allowing you to capitalize? Instead, you make your "two legit scorers" as easy as pie to defend by almost removing the other 3 from the play? There was hardly a noticeable attempt to put them in scoring position as 2nd or 3rd options? With Dallas so committed to preventing a decent FGA by KD, why not use him as a decoy? This is what smart coaches do.

It's the same-old, same-old from Scott Brooks. Now because it's the playoffs, everyone and their brother has seen it several times now.

 

Dirk is playing out of his mind. LeBron and Wade can do the same, especially facing a team that has no one to hold them. How does Dallas stop those guys?

Dallas does have shooters but Miami is arguably the fastest defensive team in the league, as far as how quick they recover on shooters.

 

Miami's bench is gonna have to come alive in order for them to rest the Big 3 adequately... No Miami lead is safe...Dallas repeatedly has shown that they're bench can either keep em in games or make up ground ...If Miami gets a big lead and chooses to rest Wade or James, is Spoes confident enough in the bench against Dallas's bench to keep or build on the lead....

I think thats gonna be the x-factor in that series...Miami's lead vs Dallas's comeback ability...Odd I know but you get what Im saying

 

Yes I've been watching and what I see is Collison doing everything he can to deny Dirk the ball because he seems to score on him every time he gets it. I see a dude who can't keep Dirk from driving past him and isn't long enough or athletic enough to challenge his shot (granted Dirk can shoot over everyone). The best defense I saw against Dirk was from the long athletes in Portland. Did you watch that series?

Over the past two games, what have you seen from Dallas that makes you think they can stop LeBron, Wade and even Bosh from scoring (based on the looks Ibaka has been getting)?

LeBron is a bigger matchup advantage than Dirk. The same goes for Wade.

 

Marion and Corey Brewer aint exactly K-Mart, defensively....If any team is prepared to slow down the Big 3, its Dallas!!!... The advantage Dallas has over other teams is, they will force Wade and Lebron to play defense 48 minutes......Okay enough Dallas talk, Im gettin nauseous!!

 

Rest? James, Wade and Bosh are playing around 40 minutes a night. Unless someone is in foul trouble one of them will be on the floor at all times. The only bench players to play will probably be Haslem, Chalmers and Miller/Jones (sharing time). Bibby and Anthony can get extended minutes because they don't have to hold anyone.

 

Because he's an elite defender. He's got quick hands, knows how to play physical and put a body on an opponent without fouling. As good as Durant is he still has a lot of room to improve in terms of experience, getting stronger and playing more physical. His time will come.