The Dallas Mavericks will face the Golden State Warriors Friday night in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in San Francisco at the Chase Center. The Warriors lead the series 1-0
There’s a ruthlessness in playoff basketball that I forgot. Part of that is because this is the first time I did the team after the first round. The other aspect is simply because I forget it every year. The basketball keeps coming whether you’re ready or not.
The Mavericks better be ready. After being wiped out Wednesday night, they get another tear in it. Not much revealing news, but I can say that every game the Mavericks have beaten by more than 20 points this season so far, they came back and won the next game. So we have that trend in front of us. The warriors are currently a favorite of six points although!
Now on with everything else.
the pace
The Warriors threw a messy game in Dallas on Wednesday, turning the defense into offense in a way the Mavericks hadn’t experienced in the playoffs. Usually, playoff basketball slows down, but in an effort to wear out Luka Doncic, the Warriors speed things up.
It’s up to Dallas to transition back into transition and just pay attention to what happens after make or miss. The Mavericks looked tired and a little shocked. That can’t be the reason why the Mavericks fail in Game 2. This is a matter of effort in terms of defense.
Hit a couple of threes
josh wrote about this following the Game 1, but it’s worth repeating: The first step to correcting some of the other problems Dallas had Wednesday night starts with hitting open shots. The margin of error against the Warriors has always been slim, but Dallas can’t shoot itself in the foot with open Dallas players clattering away to start the game.
The Warriors are too good on defense when they’re locked up. Dallas should perform in the same way as in the first quarter, only the non-Luka Doncic players have to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
Playing Kevon Looney off the floor
This is going to be a real short series as the Warriors big man contributes as he did on Wednesday. It starts with Doncic shooting over him when he gets the mismatch. Looney is not the fastest man in the world, Luka just has to bring it to him and cut the dancing short. Dwight Powell has to do more than just run around; box out and get the dang ball. Looney’s defense on the rim was very important to the Warriors, so Dallas has to find a way to get him into big trouble or make him unplayable, but punish him with substitutions.
How to watch?
Just like Wednesday it’s 20:00 CST start, again on TNT.
Here’s our most recent Moneyball Minute from Friday morning† If you can’t see the embed below, click here or go to your favorite podcast app and find the Mavs Moneyball podcast.
#Dallas #Mavericks #play #Golden #State #Warriors #Game
Comments
Post a Comment