I know this might sound weird, but the Bags have the most awesome spacing on offense I've ever seen. The defense is really good, too, and they barely eeked out Game 1. I hope the Pacers - suddenly my favorite team still playing - can make their lives miserable. Carlisle said the loss was on him: shouldda called TO on that play where they called the in-bounds pass that went out of bounds off Siakam. He's right.
That loss should bother everyone on their team, staff, management, ball boys, and even the people in concessions. TRBL
When Tyrese lost the ball just over the 8 second line while being guarded by Jrue, with 27 secs left in regulation: dismal. Halliburton has to keep his head on straight even though he's being guarded by one of the greats. That was egregious. IND beat themselves in Game 1.
Damn! DAY-ummm! Good Game 1 of the WCF. If Ant was truly gassed tryna guard Kyrie: someone needs to step in. McDaniels on Luka, Ant on Kyrie: and hope for the best? I get the strategy of chasing them off the arc, but 22 year old Ant is in good shape...and still gassed with 5 mins left in the game? All-in-all: got the feeling these really are the two best teams in the West. The Mavs's GM Nico Harrison made some 2022-23 Pelinka-like moves at the deadline and DAL is really good now. Luka is so smart, uses his body so well, that even when his shot is off he's still looking almost unguardable. And Kyrie is a damned magician. Very physical game and I hope no one got injured badly enough they have to miss a game. Lots of bruises from this one. Good game. Tough call (reviewed) on KAT's put-back slam that was ruled still in the Imaginary Cylinder.
i've been saying for a while that after those deadline moves, the mavs were legit contenders. still think minny pulls this series out, but everyone was talking like it was a foregone conclusion/short series leading into it, previewing boston/minny. uh...luka plays for the other team, folks.
I'm having Dallas. Much more composed, experienced and consistent. Ant is also in his first ride, takes time to be ready for these moments
Pacers were up 2 at the end of the 1st Q in BOS: okay! They didn't score a point until almost halfway through the 2nd: Bags went on a 20-0 run, and that was it. Then Halliburton strained a hammy. This might be it for the series. Whatta drag.
it's boston's year. i accepted it when butler went down. whoever comes out of the west will be banged up and playing a rested and fully healthy team that ran through the league this year. it's theirs.
I refuse to accept it until they win 4 against DAL or MIN. But trust me: All year I've seen your points about the Bags and yea: all year they've looked like they're ready for #18.
my other consistent point is that i don't see them as a dynasty in the making. zinger's going to keep getting hurt, holiday and horford are already on borrowed time, white is due for a payday after next year (as is tatum, whose salary will go up, like, 40% i think). and they don't have a lot of ways to improve the roster going forward, imo. they got lucky health-wise this year and have a very well-built team that plays well together. i hope this lights a fire under the busses, though.
Another helluva Game in the WCF. Not boring at all. DAL's defense has really impressed me. Ant cannot get to the rim and they barely let him get into the paint. Naz has a funky form at the arc, but he hit 7 of 9? If it's 8 of 9 they go back to DAL 1-1, but it rattled in and out. Luka and Kyrie: for a long time it didn't work when they were playing together, but they figured it out, and they are deadly. Luka putting Rudy on skates for the game winner will be a memorable shot. Classic. Can MIN get two in DAL? I don't think so. I see them getting one and going back to MIN with DAL up 3-1. Anyway, this is some compelling play from both teams. DAL seems cooler, more composed.
Gafford and Lively with so many easy dunks/oops it's ridiculous. Luka and Kyrie are setting them up great, where's the best defender in the history of the game, Rudy?
