"Stopper" is overblown, but he really did make Harden's life hell for most of that series. Dort didn't play in Game 1 and Game 5 was the blowout where he played like 20 minutes because he shot an absurd amount of 3's and missed almost all of them. If you take out those games Harden averaged 28 on 56% TS and that probably is somewhat inflated by what Harden did when Dort wasn't in the games. That's still solid, but sub-standard for Harden. It's even more remarkable considering Dort was almost always guarding him one on one and most teams would send doubles at James pretty often.
They made a couple lucky bank shots to nullify Milwaukee's run... But as you see, the potential for disaster was there...
I dont care what anyone says. I will always support Westbrook over Rondo. I dont hate many players really. But Rondo is someone I despise.
Dallas can’t even tank in order to pair a guy like Cade with Luka. Knicks own their 2021 pick, 100% unprotected. They’re screwed.
Mentioned this in post #60 about how they didn't set good screens + no lob threat had a negative impact in the Hou/OKC series:
Does he ever address the fact that those things or atleast one of them is a problem of his own making.
He didnt have a lob threat because we traded capela because he insisted on gettign Westbrook. We then traded Capela to open up the lane so that Westbrook could drive.
fwiw: he didn't address the OKC series in that interview. The question was to give an example of how familiarity of each other is "strengthening", and Harden responded with the example of "even just listening". He told the guards how Dort defends them and they executed the response.
The Lakers won the championship last year and refused to go into this year without improving. Mavericks thought they would be fine with at best horizontal moves after losing Curry and Mathews. Even to maintain, you have to improve and the Mavericks didn't so now they're suffering.
Luka Doncic Following 19-Point Loss To Jazz: 'It's Looking Like We Don't Care' Luka Doncic called out the Dallas Mavericks' effort following their 120-101 loss to the Utah Jazz. The Mavs had now lost seven out of their last nine games, with five losses coming in double digits. "I never felt like this ... I would say right now it's looking like we don't care, honestly, if we win games or not. We just [need] more energy, more effort, dive for every ball, box out, everything," said Doncic following the game. Josh Richardson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell, and Maxi Kleber have all missed time this season due to COVID-19 protocols. Rick Carlisle added that the team needs to stick together during their slump. "It's just a tough stretch and we've got to play through it. Right now, it's about sticking together and fighting our way through this thing."
For sure, though Dort did a good job that series fighting through screens too. But 100% agreed that with different personnel/execution/strategy Dort's D on Harden could have been neutralized much better. Though you definitely have to give the man credit for frustrating the hell out of Harden in that series with straight up one on one defense in a way few players would have been able to do so.
Anyone tracking Team Only Meetings this year? Seems like there is a pending one with the Mavs. IDIOT @Os Trigonum
