Playoffs 2024 - R2 - G1 - Mavs @ Thunder (Tuesd., 9:30PMEST)

[Dirk]

- Maxi out for the season it looks like . Absolutely devastating, he kind of basically won a game for the Mavs when he got hot and he played good defense (Harden end of floaters yet to be explained as far as what was supposed to happen there collectively).

- OKC at full strength and well rested --- one thing that I noticed is that Giddey was left wide open in the regular season but seems like he was shooting well in r1, so that could be a problem.

The Thunder are favorites with the bookies.

Game schedule
Date Matchup Time (CT) TV
May 7 (Tues.) Game 1: Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 9 (Thurs.) Game 2: Dallas at Oklahoma City 8:30 p.m. ESPN
May 11 (Sat.) Game 3: Oklahoma City at Dallas 2:30 p.m. ABC
May 13 (Mon.) Game 4: Oklahoma City at Dallas 8:30 p.m. TNT
May 15 (Wed.) Game 5: Dallas at Oklahoma City* TBD TBD
May 18 (Sat.) Game 6: Oklahoma City at Dallas* 7:30 p.m. ESPN
May 20 (Mon.) Game 7: Dallas at Oklahoma City* 7:30 p.m. TNT

[blueberrysticky]

Can the mavs go small-ball w/o Maxi?

Is Luka going to be closer to 100%?

My big question is what kind of lineup can the mavs run out if they choose to not have 1 of Gafford or Lively out there? And also is it even a good idea to do that for any stretch of the game with Maxi out?

[ChipotleWest]

Can the mavs go small-ball w/o Maxi?

Is Luka going to be closer to 100%?

My big question is what kind of lineup can the mavs run out if they choose to not have 1 of Gafford or Lively out there? And also is it even a good idea to do that for any stretch of the game with Maxi out?

We don't need to go small ball, our centers will be a mismatch for them. Lively and Gafford need to be in for a combined 48 minutes.

[GermanFan120]

Gafford and Lively to dominate the rebounds in this game!

Mavs will send a statement for a double digits win!

[Mavrelous]

The Maxi news really suck...

[kacey ring]

Hard to draw any conclusions on how this playoff series will go based off the Mavs-Thunder regular season matchups. Thunder went 3-1 against us, but the first game was pre-Gafford/PJ, another was without Luka, and the last game was against our B squad.

I did rewatch most of the February matchup, which was Gaff and PJs first game as Mavs. Maxi started and had 12p/12r. Josh Green was a starter too. Lively missed the game.

My main takeaways from the game were our defensive assignments:

-Our 5 man was always taking Giddey, but kept one foot in the paint. Always looking to clog lanes for SGA drives or keep Chet from having an easy roll to the basket
-DJJ or THJ or PJ would guard Chet.
-Luka was on Jdub
-Kai was on Dort
-Josh Green was on SGA. DJJ guarded him at times too.

Obviously Green is no longer a starter, so I suspect DJJ will be on SGA, but Josh will be leaned upon to guard SGA a lot.

It seems Gafford will be on Giddey, where I originally thought Luka would be. I could still see Luka on Giddey depending on how his knee is doing. Then PJ will be on Chet.

Watch for Dort pressing Luka full court anytime he brings the ball up. Will need to lean on others to initiate the offense to give Luka some breaks.

[dirkules_41]

Can the mavs go small-ball w/o Maxi?

Is Luka going to be closer to 100%?

My big question is what kind of lineup can the mavs run out if they choose to not have 1 of Gafford or Lively out there? And also is it even a good idea to do that for any stretch of the game with Maxi out?

It's a terrible idea. One of the two should always be out there and we gotta play big and capitalise on our advantage at C against OKC.

[MassimoPayne]

Maxi news really suck. I also have a feeling the aac really likes it when he of all people hits a 3.

But don't overreact. If Kidd does not decide to replace his minutes with Powell are we fine.
I expect more PJ at the 4. He can play the same role as Maxi. More djj at the 3. And more exum minutes as a result at 1/2

[tleikheen]

OKC likes to pressure you before the half court and the top of the key. Break them consistently and you'll be lob city with Gaff and DLive. This is going to be more a Exum and Green type of series . More speed ,more athleticism will be evident from the start.
Dort , SGA JDub , & Holmgren are better on the perimeter than the Clippers perimeter players. Expect a harder double team on Luka and Kyrie. Exum doesn't need to star just help w'ballhandling because Luka and Kyrie are the best 2some in the playoffs.

[Andri]

Maxi won't be as needed in this series as IF Mavs advance to the next vs either Wolves or Denver. Long shot still

[ChipotleWest]

Mavs are undefeated this playoffs, when they play at night. So we're going to win this series in 5 games.

[HMFFL]

We're the underdogs in the series.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Archx]

Maxi won't be as needed in this series as IF Mavs advance to the next vs either Wolves or Denver. Long shot still

You still have to rest PJ. Who's replacing him in the lineup? The only options are Kief and Powell now.

[ChipotleWest]

Maxi won't be as needed in this series as IF Mavs advance to the next vs either Wolves or Denver. Long shot still

You still have to rest PJ. Who's replacing him in the lineup? The only options are Kief and Powell now.

O-Max (although he has an ankle) but I know, rookie. So is Lively.

[Archx]

Maxi won't be as needed in this series as IF Mavs advance to the next vs either Wolves or Denver. Long shot still

You still have to rest PJ. Who's replacing him in the lineup? The only options are Kief and Powell now.

O-Max (although he has an ankle) but I know, rookie. So is Lively.

It's too late for Kidd to experiment with OMax anyway. But that's why you don't play washed up veterans during the season instead you develop young guns.

[MassimoPayne]

I think (and hope) the rotation will get smaller. Maxis minutes will be taken over from PJ, DJJ, Exum und Green.

[BeiBeau]

Can the mavs go small-ball w/o Maxi?

Is Luka going to be closer to 100%?

My big question is what kind of lineup can the mavs run out if they choose to not have 1 of Gafford or Lively out there? And also is it even a good idea to do that for any stretch of the game with Maxi out?

The 5 out lineup would be Luka / Kyrie / Exum, Green, or THJ / DJJ / PJ. Which is a downgrade without Maxi.

But we probably won’t see that much. Gafford/Lively are 48 minutes of great rim threat on offense and rim protection on defense and a size mismatch on the boards for a small thunder team. Gafford is not slow footed for a 5 but lively is quick on his feet and will step out to guard Chet.

[Archx]

Can the mavs go small-ball w/o Maxi?

Is Luka going to be closer to 100%?

My big question is what kind of lineup can the mavs run out if they choose to not have 1 of Gafford or Lively out there? And also is it even a good idea to do that for any stretch of the game with Maxi out?

The 5 out lineup would be Luka / Kyrie / Exum, Green, or THJ / DJJ / PJ. Which is a downgrade without Maxi.

But we probably won’t see that much. Gafford/Lively are 48 minutes of great rim threat on offense and rim protection on defense and a size mismatch on the boards for a small thunder team. Gafford is not slow footed for a 5 but lively is quick on his feet and will step out to guard Chet.

I see DJJ gets mentioned a lot. Keep in mind guys, DJJ will be a primary SGA defender, so Kidd won't experiment with him. Which effectively leaves only PJ as a versatile big guy.

Exum has been borderline unplayable and while Green has been very good, he's still undersized, so you can't use him as a PF with PJ at center.

No Maxi means a ton of problems for Mavs and i am very interested to see how Kidd will manage this. Time to prove yourself as a real coach.

[BeiBeau]

Can the mavs go small-ball w/o Maxi?

Is Luka going to be closer to 100%?

My big question is what kind of lineup can the mavs run out if they choose to not have 1 of Gafford or Lively out there? And also is it even a good idea to do that for any stretch of the game with Maxi out?

The 5 out lineup would be Luka / Kyrie / Exum, Green, or THJ / DJJ / PJ. Which is a downgrade without Maxi.

But we probably won’t see that much. Gafford/Lively are 48 minutes of great rim threat on offense and rim protection on defense and a size mismatch on the boards for a small thunder team. Gafford is not slow footed for a 5 but lively is quick on his feet and will step out to guard Chet.

I see DJJ gets mentioned a lot. Keep in mind guys, DJJ will be a primary SGA defender, so Kidd won't experiment with him. Which effectively leaves only PJ as a versatile big guy.

Exum has been borderline unplayable and while Green has been very good, he's still undersized, so you can't use him as a PF with PJ at center.

No Maxi means a ton of problems for Mavs and i am very interested to see how Kidd will manage this. Time to prove yourself as a real coach.

Dallas is going to have to get something more out of Exum, THJ, or Green to win this series.

And Luka is going to have to play to his RS standard.

[arkuo]

Is there anything left in Morris to play bench minutes now that Maxi is out?