Mavericks (7-4) at Celtics (6-4) Game #11 11/18/15

[mr. dee]

People need to remember the Celtics stopped playing aggressive defense because of the refs. It changed the way they played in the second half.

Also, the Celtics always have trouble when Tony Brothers is the ref. I can't stand that guy.

REFS ARE THE DEVIL

Referee sucks! They really, really sucks!

[34truth]

Easy to blame the refs (who sucked), but this was a smart old team beating a young team who got too high off their early game success. Mavs are better than I thought due to Matthews' surprisingly quick recovery from the Achilles injury, but its a long season and while they're not going to end up in the bottom 10 barring a Dirk injury, we'll end up with a mid-first.

I honestly think they suck. Raymond Felton, JJ BAREA, Deron Williams and Devin Harris. And they all play together. Their roster is worse than ours. They are just very well coached, and have a steady presence to rely on Dirk. T

[LarBrd33]

I don't like seeing Smart go 2-18 after his fluke game against Westbrook, but his offensive inability has been well documented.  I still felt like he was active and brought his intangibles. 

Don't like seeing us give up an 18 point lead, but the Mavs aren't a bad team and we still kept it close.   Losses are gonna happen.  We'll still manage to overachieve most nights.

I suspected this thread would be filled with complaints about the refs.  I don't believe in using refs as an excuse.  It usually goes both ways... fans only see the one side... so out of principle, I refuse to blame them.

[86MaxwellSmart]

REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS REFS

We're up 18---Dominating---and the refs would have NONE of it---Fan Duel Refs or something...KEPT Dallas in this Crooked game....WOW----Tommy was correct saying the refs were giving this game to them....BS--!

                              

[86MaxwellSmart]

These guys get way too comfortable with a lead. A loss like this is okay as long as they learn from it.

Oh no....the FACT was----we were STOPPED by all the horrible one-sided calla early in this one---like the refs didn't want people to tune out or something...haven't seen such slimy David Stern type reffing in awhile...TOTALLY changed the dynamic of this---Bradley had 4 fouls in a blink of an eye.

[CelticSooner]

I don't like seeing Smart go 2-18 after his fluke game against Westbrook, but his offensive inability has been well documented.  I still felt like he was active and brought his intangibles. 

Don't like seeing us give up an 18 point lead, but the Mavs aren't a bad team and we still kept it close.   Losses are gonna happen.  We'll still manage to overachieve most nights.

I suspected this thread would be filled with complaints about the refs.  I don't believe in using refs as an excuse.  It usually goes both ways... fans only see the one side... so out of principle, I refuse to blame them.

Refs affected the game. Just because it goes both ways doesn't mean they were good.

[86MaxwellSmart]

I don't like seeing Smart go 2-18 after his fluke game against Westbrook, but his offensive inability has been well documented.  I still felt like he was active and brought his intangibles. 

Don't like seeing us give up an 18 point lead, but the Mavs aren't a bad team and we still kept it close.   Losses are gonna happen.  We'll still manage to overachieve most nights.

I suspected this thread would be filled with complaints about the refs.  I don't believe in using refs as an excuse.  It usually goes both ways... fans only see the one side... so out of principle, I refuse to blame them.

Refs affected the game. Just because it goes both ways doesn't mean they were good.

[CelticSooner]

People need to remember the Celtics stopped playing aggressive defense because of the refs. It changed the way they played in the second half.

Also, the Celtics always have trouble when Tony Brothers is the ref. I can't stand that guy.

This. Both teams started giving up layups because of the inconsistent calls. That favored the Mavs more than the C's.

With all that said the C's still had a chance to win. Team never gives up.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Refs tried their  usual "Make Up Calls" policy---but the Damage had been DONE----Celtics were Stopped DEAD in their tracks right when EVERYTHING was going their way...so, yes the Refs were the cause of this loss tonight----tough for teams to play through the Bunk that happened in the 1st half.

[KeepRondo]

I don't like seeing Smart go 2-18 after his fluke game against Westbrook, but his offensive inability has been well documented.  I still felt like he was active and brought his intangibles. 

Don't like seeing us give up an 18 point lead, but the Mavs aren't a bad team and we still kept it close.   Losses are gonna happen.  We'll still manage to overachieve most nights.

I suspected this thread would be filled with complaints about the refs.  I don't believe in using refs as an excuse.  It usually goes both ways... fans only see the one side... so out of principle, I refuse to blame them.

Smart had an ugly game. At this point I'm not sure who the real Marcus Smart is.

Hopefully he will start shooting better or showing signs of better consistency instead of this one great offensive shooting night between 4 dreadful ones.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Smart doesn't seem remotely close to being where we had hoped offensively. Still a bull in a china shop, doesn't seem to be making gains. He had success against OKC because he both a) drove and finished/got fouled, which he probably won't do again until he's in OKC, and b) hit more 3s than not.

I'm losing faith. At least show signs of improvement ... do the things you need to do to get better (e.g., penetrating; improving footwork, like a euro; posting up; better shot selection).

[PhoSita]

Looking at Smarts shooting splits, he's a decent finisher within three feet. Last year he was adequate from outside. Pretty good when you consider volume.

The problem for smart is that this year he's taking a lot of his shots from 3-10 feet, and he's shooting terribly on those attempts, and his three point shot is not falling so far.

Smart has had some streaks where he looks good from mid range, I. E. 16-20 feet.  He hasn't shown me much to make me think he's turned a corner as far as getting inside. Seems like his rate of attempts just short of the basket is caused by the fact that his drives get cut short due to his lack of explosiveness. He's going to need to become a craftier ball handler or develop a floater if he wants to be more than  a spot up shooter.   With Avery Bradley we've seen how even a very nice shooter with occasional hot streaks can be limited to role player status if he has no inside game.

Smart has gotten to the line a bit more this year, but I don't like for guards to rely entirely on creating contact for their inside game. Those guys typically break down quickly.

[mr. dee]

I'll be patient at least until his rookie contract expires. Rondo and Billups didn't have a breakout season in their first few years.

[cb8883]

Smart doesn't seem remotely close to being where we had hoped offensively. Still a bull in a china shop, doesn't seem to be making gains. He had success against OKC because he both a) drove and finished/got fouled, which he probably won't do again until he's in OKC, and b) hit more 3s than not.

I'm losing faith. At least show signs of improvement ... do the things you need to do to get better (e.g., penetrating; improving footwork, like a euro; posting up; better shot selection).

Yep which is what I've been saying all along. He might have longer staying power than the other Marcus did but I mean right now the games are the same. He doesn't take advantage of his physical gifts and you can't teach a player not to be scared. That's why Randle was the better pick. That kid is fearless and is going to be a younger version of Z-Bo. But Marcus is a lost cause. Trade him if you can. Late first early 2nd cut your losses and move on.

[cb8883]

Refs tried their  usual "Make Up Calls" policy---but the Damage had been DONE----Celtics were Stopped DEAD in their tracks right when EVERYTHING was going their way...so, yes the Refs were the cause of this loss tonight----tough for teams to play through the Bunk that happened in the 1st half.

No they weren't. Poor execution doomed the C's. I hate when people use the refs as an excuse.