Game 3 against the Mavs was a bloodbath. Not really close at any point. I won't post the box score, just the team comparison.
Marcus Smart and Rozier (aka Trey Burke) had their best scoring games yet.
Smart - 15 pts 5 reb 4 ast 1 stl 6-11 FG 3-5 3P in 21 minutes
Rozier (Burke) - 12 pts 6 ast 2 reb 2 st 5-8 FG 2-2 3P in 16 min
Otherwise, was not a great game.
Some things that stand out about the team, which are not surprising since it's basically the same team as we had this past year.
- Scoring in the paint is very difficult for this team. Very little inside presence.
- Defending the paint is very difficult for this team. Also very little inside presence on that end.
- The team is set up well to run a modern, pick and roll heavy offense with lots of moving the ball around the perimeter. Drive and kick is better with Thomas and Rozier both able to play that way.
- Trouble is, there just aren't enough shot makers. Too many guys who can take threes but not really make them very often, very consistently, or with a quick release.
- The starting lineup and the bench lineup are pretty much neck and neck in terms of effectiveness. That's a blessing and a curse, for obvious reasons.