|
Post by levine on Dec 14, 2023 15:06:29 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 14, 2023 18:28:45 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 14, 2023 20:05:17 GMT -6
Luka slimming down and become a legit high volume 3 point shooter feels unfair.
Just a nightmare to defend.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 14, 2023 21:32:04 GMT -6
He gets overlooked because of Chet and Wemby, but Lively is a terrific rookie.
He’s exactly what Dallas needed in both ends of the court.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Dec 14, 2023 22:07:30 GMT -6
I came into the game 6 minutes late and we were down like 16-2? I thought WTF!
Boys played some defense as the game progressed. Ant is really rusty but he was a PLUS 20 shooting 3 of 19. How about that?
Kat puts up 21 and 17 shooting 60%.
Reid with 27-6 and 3. Huge night off the bench.
The most amazing stat is our bench puts up 54 flippin points. That's ridiculous. I thought our bench was vastly improved going in this year. This is the team I thought we had last year.
This team gives everybody trouble. Could this be the year? I'm keeping my big mouth shut so I don't jinx us.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Dec 14, 2023 22:12:16 GMT -6
Luka slimming down and become a legit high volume 3 point shooter feels unfair. Just a nightmare to defend. Luka is such an interesting player because he's not very quick. He's somewhat slow actually but his fundamentals are so strong.
One guy can't make you a winner though. Michael Jordan proved that. Dallas needs more help.
I'm a big Luka fan I hope they don't waste him.
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Dec 14, 2023 22:19:30 GMT -6
Finch said in the post game presser that Kat is sacrificing his game for the team. Wit that said Kat has been tremendously efficient. Finch said it took Kat about 6 games for it to all sink in. He's just fine with the role as long as we win. Personally, I'd like to see him shoot more 3s but he's doing what the team is telling him to do.
Come on Finch get him 3 more 3s a game.
|
|
|
Post by jojo on Dec 15, 2023 6:25:40 GMT -6
Finch said in the post game presser that Kat is sacrificing his game for the team. Wit that said Kat has been tremendously efficient. Finch said it took Kat about 6 games for it to all sink in. He's just fine with the role as long as we win. Personally, I'd like to see him shoot more 3s but he's doing what the team is telling him to do. Come on Finch get him 3 more 3s a game. It’s not really sacrificing because he’s figuring out how to fit his offense in without forcing things. I know people are saying he needs to shoot more but I love how he’s fitting in now, and I think he’s saving another gear that will kick in as the season progresses.
|
|
|
Post by kingsxman on Dec 15, 2023 9:20:42 GMT -6
Luka is a pretty amazing offensive player. This was the best I've seen him play. I'm sure he's been better but this is the best game I personally have seen him play. The way he finds the open guy on his drives is just amazing. He does the awful "jump pass" but he makes it work most of the time. I kind of was in awe watching him play.
That said, great win for us. KAT played very well (more 3's!) but he really did just what the team needed. Ant did s**t without doing s**t offensively. He has found ways to impact the game when he's not scoring which is a HUGE growth in his game. NAW and NAZ. What can you say about them? There is a long time to go yet, but I still am very impressed with NAW and his ability to defend and hit the 3. I loved the lineup last night of NAW, Jaden, Kyle, Reid and Towns. Having NAW and McD on the court at the same time is great. More please.
Finding ways to win. Its what we do now.
|
|
jr
Junior Member
Posts: 297
|
Post by jr on Dec 15, 2023 11:25:25 GMT -6
Finch said in the post game presser that Kat is sacrificing his game for the team. Wit that said Kat has been tremendously efficient. Finch said it took Kat about 6 games for it to all sink in. He's just fine with the role as long as we win. Personally, I'd like to see him shoot more 3s but he's doing what the team is telling him to do. Come on Finch get him 3 more 3s a game. I don't really see how his "game" is being sacrificed. 21 points and 17 rbs. Could he score more points if that's all he tried to do? Maybe, but his stat lines sucked plenty in the past when he and D'Lo mucked it up together trying to be the man. Maybe this is one of Finch's sacrifices to continue to praise Kat for his selflessness so that Kat won't revert to his immature self. I would really be interested in the conversation that turned Kat. I mean it was literally from one game to the next that he went from whining and driving into crowds to this new Kat version. Somebody who mattered to him said something to him. Whatever, now he's impacting games like he always wanted to. Some sacrifice...
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 15, 2023 11:38:21 GMT -6
Maybe this is one of Finch's sacrifices to continue to praise Kat for his selflessness so that Kat won't revert to his immature self. That's my guess. He's stroking KAT's ego. And its a very smart thing to do.
|
|
|
Post by XRaySpecs on Dec 15, 2023 12:31:01 GMT -6
Good poise from the Wolves to endure the storm at the beginning and then just play their game to catch up and eventually put them down.
The D is just demoralizing. Luka is awesome, but he slowed in the 2nd half. It's got to be frustrating to have Jaden on you and then the Wolves can just throw different types of good defenders on you any other time they want like NAW and Kyle. Luka is probably too big and strong for NAW, but Kyle can also guard him.
|
|
|
Post by XRaySpecs on Dec 15, 2023 12:37:22 GMT -6
Come on Finch get him 3 more 3s a game. Not saying it's apples to apples, but Naz got up 11 without a single play being run for him. They surely get different attention from the defense, but Naz is always moving, relocating to open spots. KAT just isn't that type of player. I know Finch has said that he doesn't want to stick KAT in the corner, but I actually think we should do it when Ant is out there. Naz splashing all those 3s really opened things up offensively and KAT would draw even more attention if he were spacing in the corner. Ant is looking for guys more now and I think KAT would get a lot of good looks including drive opportunities off close outs playing out of the corner more. Naz does it and gets up plenty of shots.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2023 14:13:22 GMT -6
If Naz shoots like that we're playing with house money.
Don't get the Kat in the corner thing, yeah you can do it some trips, but he's still most valuable in the upper trap letting it fly. Leave the corners for Naz, McD, NAW, and Troy Brown Jr.
|
|
|
Post by kingsxman on Dec 15, 2023 14:55:16 GMT -6
Come on Finch get him 3 more 3s a game. Not saying it's apples to apples, but Naz got up 11 without a single play being run for him. They surely get different attention from the defense, but Naz is always moving, relocating to open spots. KAT just isn't that type of player. I know Finch has said that he doesn't want to stick KAT in the corner, but I actually think we should do it when Ant is out there. Naz splashing all those 3s really opened things up offensively and KAT would draw even more attention if he were spacing in the corner. Ant is looking for guys more now and I think KAT would get a lot of good looks including drive opportunities off close outs playing out of the corner more. Naz does it and gets up plenty of shots. I think its more that Finch would love to stick Kat in the corner a bit more but I'm reading between the lines and thinking that Finch is just saying that to appease Karl because he KNOWS he doesnt want to just shoot 3s. Finch has said many times he'd like KAT to shoot more 3's. That would be one way to do it. Naz shoots more 3's because he makes quick decisions. Naz knows what he's doing to do with the ball as its swinging to him and before it reaches him. I dont think Kat (or Ant) are at that point yet.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 15, 2023 16:31:44 GMT -6
Last night was a perfect example of why Naz is so important on this team.
He's a quality back-up big if either KAT or Rudy miss games, but he's also a legit 6th man that puts a ton of pressure on defenses.
I think we actually missed him more than Jaden against Denver last postseason.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2023 17:25:23 GMT -6
IMO when someone has a game of points, people tend to think without those points we lose that game, effectively subtracting the individual players points, as if others would not have scored in his place.
The Naz or McD question is interesting, but I think we could put Miller in for Naz and we lose nothing, maybe gain some rebounding. Naz is a fun player, but ovation fans gave him in that Miami game was crazy. Also Kat had a better game last night, but because it's always a surprise when Naz pops, it becomes his game. Mav's ain't exactly lock down d, but always fun to see bench guys go off.
That said it's hard to argue with results, and if we keep rolling I expect a smaller move if we're looking for someone behind Conley this season.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 15, 2023 17:57:09 GMT -6
Naz kept us in the game in the first half.
And its not the only time its happened.
He puts so much pressure on defenses because you have to respect his shot and his drive. He gives you the same thing that a 6th man Guard would, but with the massive advantage of being a big.
And yes, KAT should have a better game than Naz. He's going to be making almost 40M more than Reid next year.
|
|
|
Post by levine on Dec 15, 2023 18:08:54 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Nick K on Dec 16, 2023 10:45:53 GMT -6
Finch said in the post game presser that Kat is sacrificing his game for the team. Wit that said Kat has been tremendously efficient. Finch said it took Kat about 6 games for it to all sink in. He's just fine with the role as long as we win. Personally, I'd like to see him shoot more 3s but he's doing what the team is telling him to do. Come on Finch get him 3 more 3s a game. I don't really see how his "game" is being sacrificed. 21 points and 17 rbs. Could he score more points if that's all he tried to do? Maybe, but his stat lines sucked plenty in the past when he and D'Lo mucked it up together trying to be the man. Maybe this is one of Finch's sacrifices to continue to praise Kat for his selflessness so that Kat won't revert to his immature self. I would really be interested in the conversation that turned Kat. I mean it was literally from one game to the next that he went from whining and driving into crowds to this new Kat version. Somebody who mattered to him said something to him. Whatever, now he's impacting games like he always wanted to. Some sacrifice... Hey man, I'm just reporting what Finch said. I do however think he could do even more offensively, certainly by shooting more. In short he could be more "Ant" like and try to take over games but then the ball gets sticky and the flow stops.
Kat's been super efficient offensively and playing his best defense ever. So I'm very happy with how things are going. There should be no doubt by anyone that Kat is a true team player. I think that's what Finch was saying.
Could Kat's immature self be called competitive fire? Look at Tim Duncan, nobody and I mean nobody argued more calls than he. Regardless, it's great to see Kat control himself more. I'm sure his teammates got on him about that too.
|
|
|
Post by kingsxman on Dec 16, 2023 11:58:01 GMT -6
I don't really see how his "game" is being sacrificed. 21 points and 17 rbs. Could he score more points if that's all he tried to do? Maybe, but his stat lines sucked plenty in the past when he and D'Lo mucked it up together trying to be the man. Maybe this is one of Finch's sacrifices to continue to praise Kat for his selflessness so that Kat won't revert to his immature self. I would really be interested in the conversation that turned Kat. I mean it was literally from one game to the next that he went from whining and driving into crowds to this new Kat version. Somebody who mattered to him said something to him. Whatever, now he's impacting games like he always wanted to. Some sacrifice... Hey man, I'm just reporting what Finch said. I do however think he could do even more offensively, certainly by shooting more. In short he could be more "Ant" like and try to take over games but then the ball gets sticky and the flow stops.
Kat's been super efficient offensively and playing his best defense ever. So I'm very happy with how things are going. There should be no doubt by anyone that Kat is a true team player. I think that's what Finch was saying.
Could Kat's immature self be called competitive fire? Look at Tim Duncan, nobody and I mean nobody argued more calls than he. Regardless, it's great to see Kat control himself more. I'm sure his teammates got on him about that too. I truly do think that Kat is a team player for the most part. He is always the one that work the hardest to do things like get Rudy involved, etc. I will say though that I have a bit of doubt that his unwillingness to not shoot more 3's (not open enough, doesnt want to be in the corner, etc) is maybe because he doesnt want his % to drop.
|
|