Mavericks (0-1) at Celtics (1-0) NBA Finals Game #2 6/9/24

[Kernewek]

https://x.com/hero_ofthe_day/status/1800127190383927719?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Luka Doncic is holding the Celtics to 17-40 (42%FG) in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Matchups:

- Tatum (3-8)
- Holiday (4-7)
- Porzingis (3-7)
- Brown (5-7)
- White (0-4)
- Pritchard (0-3)
- Hauser (1-3)
- Horford (1-1)

The Mavs are 15-25 (60%FG) with Tatum defending (Luka Doncic 6-8)

Some of the content coming from Mavs fans trying to defend Luka - particularly his defense - is nasty work. No rational fan could watch these first two games and come away with an opinion other than Luka?s - and to a lesser extent Kyrie?s - defense is a major contributing factor to Dallas being down 2-0. We virtually have a free lane to the basket every trip down, so, yeah, when your teammates have to step up and cover for you their man gets credited for the basket, even though it was your defensive fault.

Trying to make the numbers work even though the series looks to be fairly over is a classic talking point, though.

And, to his credit, Kyrie at least has some idea of what is supposed to be happening on that half of the ball, was sent this visual example courtesy via this thread from last night/this morning: https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/1dd3btb/kyrie_shoves_luka_to_help_on_tatum_luka_fails_to/

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

line has moved half a point

Celtics +2 @ -110 odds always for spreads

if this thing goes up 1 more point i am taking us and the points.

heck at this rate i might just take us moneyline which is

celtics +110
mavs -130

[CelticsWhat35]

https://x.com/hero_ofthe_day/status/1800127190383927719?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Luka Doncic is holding the Celtics to 17-40 (42%FG) in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Matchups:

- Tatum (3-8)
- Holiday (4-7)
- Porzingis (3-7)
- Brown (5-7)
- White (0-4)
- Pritchard (0-3)
- Hauser (1-3)
- Horford (1-1)

The Mavs are 15-25 (60%FG) with Tatum defending (Luka Doncic 6-8)

Some of the content coming from Mavs fans trying to defend Luka - particularly his defense - is nasty work. No rational fan could watch these first two games and come away with an opinion other than Luka?s - and to a lesser extent Kyrie?s - defense is a major contributing factor to Dallas being down 2-0. We virtually have a free lane to the basket every trip down, so, yeah, when your teammates have to step up and cover for you their man gets credited for the basket, even though it was your defensive fault.

Trying to make the numbers work even though the series looks to be fairly over is a classic talking point, though.

And, to his credit, Kyrie at least has some idea of what is supposed to be happening on that half of the ball, was sent this visual example courtesy via this thread from last night/this morning: https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/1dd3btb/kyrie_shoves_luka_to_help_on_tatum_luka_fails_to/

Yes Kyrie pushes Luka towards Tatum but then he made the mistake of collapsing when Gafford was already coming to help, leaving Jrue wide open.  Both of them are horrible defenders.  I have no idea where these % figures are coming from.  I guess when a player blows by Luka, it?s no longer his guy and all of these %?s are probably mainly based on the 3?s the Celtics continue to miss.  Anyone trying to defend Luka?s defense isn?t watching the games

[Celtics2021]

https://x.com/hero_ofthe_day/status/1800127190383927719?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Luka Doncic is holding the Celtics to 17-40 (42%FG) in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Matchups:

- Tatum (3-8)
- Holiday (4-7)
- Porzingis (3-7)
- Brown (5-7)
- White (0-4)
- Pritchard (0-3)
- Hauser (1-3)
- Horford (1-1)

The Mavs are 15-25 (60%FG) with Tatum defending (Luka Doncic 6-8)

Some of the content coming from Mavs fans trying to defend Luka - particularly his defense - is nasty work. No rational fan could watch these first two games and come away with an opinion other than Luka?s - and to a lesser extent Kyrie?s - defense is a major contributing factor to Dallas being down 2-0. We virtually have a free lane to the basket every trip down, so, yeah, when your teammates have to step up and cover for you their man gets credited for the basket, even though it was your defensive fault.

Trying to make the numbers work even though the series looks to be fairly over is a classic talking point, though.

And, to his credit, Kyrie at least has some idea of what is supposed to be happening on that half of the ball, was sent this visual example courtesy via this thread from last night/this morning: https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/1dd3btb/kyrie_shoves_luka_to_help_on_tatum_luka_fails_to/

Yes Kyrie pushes Luka towards Tatum but then he made the mistake of collapsing when Gafford was already coming to help, leaving Jrue wide open.  Both of them are horrible defenders.  I have no idea where these % figures are coming from.  I guess when a player blows by Luka, it?s no longer his guy and all of these %?s are probably mainly based on the 3?s the Celtics continue to miss.  Anyone trying to defend Luka?s defense isn?t watching the games

Yes, that is where the crazy numbers come from.  Luka gets beat so badly, he is no longer the closest defender when the shot goes up.  I?m also going to bet that the large majority of those shots where Luka was the closest defender are 3-pointers. The eFG% against him as the closest defender is likely substantially higher.

[Kernewek]

https://x.com/hero_ofthe_day/status/1800127190383927719?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Luka Doncic is holding the Celtics to 17-40 (42%FG) in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Matchups:

- Tatum (3-8)
- Holiday (4-7)
- Porzingis (3-7)
- Brown (5-7)
- White (0-4)
- Pritchard (0-3)
- Hauser (1-3)
- Horford (1-1)

The Mavs are 15-25 (60%FG) with Tatum defending (Luka Doncic 6-8)

Some of the content coming from Mavs fans trying to defend Luka - particularly his defense - is nasty work. No rational fan could watch these first two games and come away with an opinion other than Luka?s - and to a lesser extent Kyrie?s - defense is a major contributing factor to Dallas being down 2-0. We virtually have a free lane to the basket every trip down, so, yeah, when your teammates have to step up and cover for you their man gets credited for the basket, even though it was your defensive fault.

Trying to make the numbers work even though the series looks to be fairly over is a classic talking point, though.

And, to his credit, Kyrie at least has some idea of what is supposed to be happening on that half of the ball, was sent this visual example courtesy via this thread from last night/this morning: https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/1dd3btb/kyrie_shoves_luka_to_help_on_tatum_luka_fails_to/

Yes Kyrie pushes Luka towards Tatum but then he made the mistake of collapsing when Gafford was already coming to help, leaving Jrue wide open.  Both of them are horrible defenders.  I have no idea where these % figures are coming from.  I guess when a player blows by Luka, it?s no longer his guy and all of these %?s are probably mainly based on the 3?s the Celtics continue to miss.  Anyone trying to defend Luka?s defense isn?t watching the games

Yes, that is where the crazy numbers come from.  Luka gets beat so badly, he is no longer the closest defender when the shot goes up.  I?m also going to bet that the large majority of those shots where Luka was the closest defender are 3-pointers. The eFG% against him as the closest defender is likely substantially higher.

This is my suspicion, as well. And, to their credit, they're both essentially the only offence that Dallas can rely on, so I can't blame them not being locked in for 48 minutes on D.

[Who]

Luka is one of their most active team defenders. He is oftentimes their last line of defense cutting off drives, stopping layups and forcing the pass out.

Now this was driving me nuts in Gm 2 and even in Gm 1 because it is not like Luka is a shot-blocker. Boston were giving him far too much respect as a defender on all those kickouts instead of just attacking him and finishing over him.

But the point is, Luka does do a lot of good work defensively off-ball. He provides a lot of help teammates. True he requires a lot of help himself but he also provides a lot of help D for his teammates. 

[celticinorlando]

The mavs have issues guarding Boston when it is Luka, Kyrie and a big on the floor.

Luka and Kyrie can't keep guys in front of them and Dallas' bigs have to come out to honor the 3 point shot.

Boston got great looks at the rim and from 3 in game 2 and did not hit them.

[SparzWizard]

line has moved half a point

Celtics +2 @ -110 odds always for spreads

if this thing goes up 1 more point i am taking us and the points.

heck at this rate i might just take us moneyline which is

celtics +110
mavs -130

Hm Boston 2-point underdog now. Even for a 5-seed Mavs, they're favored by that much in Dallas lol.

[Phantom255x]

Luka offers zero resistance when an opposing guy drives. It's why someone can just roll to the rim uncontested OR if they are contested, someone is open and the "go-to" plan for Boston seems to be Holiday in the dunker spot, or someone for a corner 3. They just attack that.

Idk what Dallas can really do to adjust. I mean, Game 2 was Boston missing a ton of shots. Is that gonna happen a lot this series? I doubt it.

[SparzWizard]

Those 12 and 20 points from KP were huge. Now without him, we need Jayson to score 30 each game moving forward. We need guys to score.

[celticinorlando]

Those 12 and 20 points from KP were huge. Now without him, we need Jayson to score 30 each game moving forward. We need guys to score.

We need Sam Hauser to score something also.

[liam]

Those 12 and 20 points from KP were huge. Now without him, we need Jayson to score 30 each game moving forward. We need guys to score.

We need Sam Hauser to score something also.

Svi is sitting over on the bench and he can shoot...

[cman88]

Be nice to get one of those 3pt blow out games where we shoot 50%

[liam]

Be nice to get one of those 3pt blow out games where we shoot 50%

I would love that!

[cman88]

Boston needs to just win 2 out of the next 5 games. Mavs need to win 4/5 so there is that.

I feel it would be a disaster even with a hobbled KP for us to lose 4/5.