2024 NBA Playoffs - West 1st Round: #4 Los Angeles Clippers vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-2)

[Archx]

Kawhi and Luka with knee issues? Well....

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[MrGoat]

Kawhi and Luka with knee issues? Well....

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That was from when Russ tripped him in the first quarter and landed on his bad knee and went back to the locker room. Russ could have been tossed several times in that game, it's no wonder it got so chippy late

[djsunyc]

Kahwi deserves all the bad karma in the world for how he left Spurs. I'm happy to watch any of his failures.

in hindsight, it wouldve been best for his career if in he stayed in toronto for another few years. he couldve load managed to at least 1 more ring and improved his legacy.

[Yuri36]

Kawhi and Luka with knee issues? Well....

Read on Twitter

That was from when Russ tripped him in the first quarter and landed on his bad knee and went back to the locker room. Russ could have been tossed several times in that game, it's no wonder it got so chippy late

Well, his horrible fitness at the moment certainly didn't help as well.

[Dirk]

Westbrook ball.

Spoiler:

Harden ball.

Spoiler:

Kyrie ball.

Landlord ball.

Spoiler:

[rk2023]

and people wonder why pg13 and westbrook never got outta the first round in okc lol

the basketball iq between these 2 is borderline comical

Harden fan talking about comical BBIQs is really funny

[og15]

How strong is Luka??

Because the guy was bullying Kawhi tonight on the block.

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How anyone is unaware of how strong of a base Luka has would be beyond me. There's a reason he's able to be on balance with so many different shots and angles, he's a difficult guy to push off his position unless he wants to be (eg: get a call).

He was posting up Ayton vs the Suns a few years ago, it's like if a guy like Kyle Lowry was 6'7.


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Series wise, Clippers Ortg the last 5 games of the season without Kawhi and with Harden and George properly playing (so not the 5 minutes games) was 112.6, well below their season average (118.8), and that was against a variety of opponents in terms of defensive level.

So far this series, it's at 108.8 Ortg, 120.3, 104.6 and 102.2 . Last night's game was also a lot about turnovers, and a lot of unforced ones too.

Kahwi sort of playing though is not helping because they don't really know what to do with him. The other guys are taking a backseat sometimes, trying to go through him, and he's just not got it. Obviously his skills don't disappear, but his usage of possessions is not efficient. If he's not at like 75%+ is doesn't seem like there's much value to playing him.

[og15]

It’s weird to think that Kawhi and PG have been with the Clippers almost as long as CP3 and Blake were. They had Lob City for 6 seasons, this is the 5th season with Kawhi and PG. This whole run with them has felt weird since Kawhi has missed so much time.

degenerative knee issues dont get better with age. not trying to be mean, its just a fact. he needs to be on a team where he can take 35 games off, while the team still wins most of those games, and then wish on a star that he can be healthy in the post season. if all those conditions arent met, we're gonna keep getting the same results

Well, yes, but remember just last year, we were still having people who, every time he was injured or was being held back from back to backs or anything like that, they were acting like it was fake injury or he didn't want to play, etc.

It's been obvious that Kawhi is not the average player when it comes to health, his body is obviously not resilient. I guess it took 4 straight seasons/playoffs with a significant injury for some people to realize it was real.

I even remember some people saying, "if he plays more it will make him more resilient". Yea, good luck with that. It is what is though, professional sports are tough on the body, not every person's body can take it, that's just life.

[jpengland]

I'm still picking Dallas even if Luka has one leg.

[ChipotleWest]

I'm still picking Dallas even if Luka has one leg.

Kawhi has one leg, Paul George has two legs doesn't matter because he's Playoff P. The Clippers will have to rely on James Harden to win this series for them, and Zubac.

[Mak]

Do clippers blow it up if they lose this series?

They dont have control of their draft until 2030 and moving into the new arena next year. They have a tough offseason coming up, they will have overpay James and PG in order to keep them. Then, in 2-3 years this could look really bad for many years going forward.

[sunsbg]

I'm still picking Dallas even if Luka has one leg.

Kawhi has one leg, Paul George has two legs doesn't matter because he's Playoff P. The Clippers will have to rely on James Harden to win this series for them, and Zubac.

All this reminds me Suns Mavs series in '22 when CP3 got injured or just became old. Team'd have done better if he didn't play after Gm2. Kawhi messed up the Clippers after they looked good in Gm1. Booker and PG being low IQ, choker type players is another similarity.

[maverick_41]

It's such a rare occasion, when my Mavs have some real rim protection and big bodies to get the freaking rebound. Gafford/Lively 2024, Tyson in 2011 and Dampier/Diop combo circa 2006-2008.

Otherwise it's just doesn't work!

[ChipotleWest]

It's such a rare occasion, when my Mavs have some real rim protection and big bodies to get the freaking rebound. Gafford/Lively 2024, Tyson in 2011 and Dampier/Diop combo circa 2006-2008.

Otherwise it's just doesn't work!

Dampier/Diop combo circa 2006-2008 Finals
Tyson in 2011 Championship
Gafford/Lively 2024 ????

Don't forget Brendan Haywood on the Championship team.

[ChipotleWest]

Tim MacMahon: Mavs officially list Luka Doncic (right knee soreness) as questionable for Game 4, but all indications are that he will play. Tim Hardaway Jr. (right ankle sprain) is doubtful.
– via Twitter espn_macmahon

[advent11]

Tim MacMahon: Mavs officially list Luka Doncic (right knee soreness) as questionable for Game 4, but all indications are that he will play. Tim Hardaway Jr. (right ankle sprain) is doubtful.
– via Twitter espn_macmahon

Mavs could use a normal Tim Hardaway Jr. in this series. Just atrocious from 3.

[ChipotleWest]

Tim MacMahon: Mavs officially list Luka Doncic (right knee soreness) as questionable for Game 4, but all indications are that he will play. Tim Hardaway Jr. (right ankle sprain) is doubtful.
– via Twitter espn_macmahon

Mavs could use a normal Tim Hardaway Jr. in this series. Just atrocious from 3.

Been doing it all season, last year he was 38% from 3 this year 35%. And really he's mostly supposed to be a 3 point specialist. I hope he's replaced next season.

[AdagioPace]

so probably neither Kawhi nor Luka in game 4. Harden/Kyrie chucking showdown incoming (with special dark horse participation from Pandemic P)

[LaLover11]

so probably neither Kawhi nor Luka in game 4. Harden/Kyrie chucking showdown incoming

If that's the case Clippers win

[Swish1906]

so probably neither Kawhi nor Luka in game 4. Harden/Kyrie chucking showdown incoming (with special dark horse participation from Pandemic P)

Luka questionable but is expected to play