2020 Men's Olympic Tournament

[Killer Bob]

richardson was not given minutes becos he could not space d floor and they need hardaway's shooting over his defense (which was actually negative as mavs' defense were better with him off d floor) and they cannot afford to play both tim and josh becos that would mean less minutes for DFS and even maxi.

khawi was not d main defender on KP in d first 2 games but shifted to hardaway starting game 3.

kp's offense was problematic, he was not able to take advantage of smaller defenders. but he also had less touches, especially d last 5 games because he was made a corner spot-up shooter becos analytics suggested he's most efficient in that role.

indeed, KP's defense was also a problem but he did improve a bit in d last 2 or 3 games.

but other than KP's regression, mavs lose series becos of (a) tactical errors from d head coach, especially in terms of managing luka's minutes, (b) lack of secondary creator, and (c) lack of elite wing defender. The last 2 were supposed to be something that richardson will address but it was a failure. hence, he was traded d moment he opted in his contract.

I can mostly agree with this. But didn't you start this conversation how Clippers' D destroyed Richardson and KP? Richardson, who didn't even start and was total non factor with 13 minutes per game and KP, who was standing in the corner half of the series?

Mavs roster is disastrous, because management failed totally in last 2 years, they had numerous failures, cherry on the cake Seth/Josh trade.

[neo]

I can mostly agree with this. But didn't you start this conversation how Clippers' D destroyed Richardson and KP? Richardson, who didn't even start and was total non factor with 13 minutes per game and KP, who was standing in the corner half of the series?

Mavs roster is disastrous, because management failed totally in last 2 years, they had numerous failures, cherry on the cake Seth/Josh trade.

i did not say they were destroyed. what i was trying to say was that clippers' defense was designed to limit non-luka players. that is why luka had one or two 40-point games where they still lose. d very defense they played led to KP playing less minutes and getting less touches and limited plays designed for him (and generally ineffective) and JR getting less minutes relative to regular season minutes and decreasing as the series went on culminating to lowest minutes in game 7 (generally a non-factor except for some FTs). and the two are just examples. DFS, maxi, and jalen brunson were all less effective or efficient in offense in d series. clippers had too many long and athletic switchable defenders and their game plan to cover luka one-on-one most of d time means less opportunities for d role/support players to have easier path to getting points.

mavs failed in general after 2011. and carlise stayed too long for comfort. d seth/josh trade was theoretically good so that's ok. at least they tried to do something different, they just need to move on from that failure (and they did).

[Killer Bob]

i did not say they were destroyed. what i was trying to say was that clippers' defense was designed to limit non-luka players. that is why luka had one or two 40-point games where they still lose. d very defense they played led to KP playing less minutes and getting less touches and limited plays designed for him (and generally ineffective) and JR getting less minutes relative to regular season minutes and decreasing as the series went on culminating to lowest minutes in game 7 (generally a non-factor except for some FTs). and the two are just examples. DFS, maxi, and jalen brunson were all less effective or efficient in offense in d series. clippers had too many long and athletic switchable defenders and their game plan to cover luka one-on-one most of d time means less opportunities for d role/support players to have easier path to getting points.

mavs failed in general after 2011. and carlise stayed too long for comfort. d seth/josh trade was theoretically good so that's ok. at least they tried to do something different, they just need to move on from that failure (and they did).

Trade Seth/Richardson could have been good only, if they have gotten Miami's Josh, he was similarly bad in Philly. Giving away great shooter, when you have Luka, who basically has to be surrounded with shooters, is very dangerous. It's true that Mavs need D, but not with that prize.

Mavs players weren't ineffective because Clippers D focused on them, but because they're simply not good enough against serious and good D in playoffs. Jalen is too small for Clippers defenders, DFS and Kleber are incredibly limited players, who couldn't never started in conteders. Then you have Boban, who normally can play just against special matchups, but he was suddenly starting and playing a lot of minutes. Powell, who has gotten incredibly generous contract for his role in the team, WCS...Luka on the other hand likes to play big matches and was more or less unstoppable, no matter what Clippers did. Something is averaging 35.7 points, but doing that efficiently and knowing that more than 90% of his points were unassisted is just incredible.

About KP. He's 2.21. How 20 cm shorter players can make him ineffective? Because he's in reality very limited player too. No post move, cannot create for himself, no handle...His only weapon is shooting over defenders, but he's not Dirk, so his % is too low for that. His main appeal was being rim protector, who can stretch the floor. Losing his mobility to be rim protector makes him massively overpaid player.

[neo]

Trade Seth/Richardson could have been good only, if they have gotten Miami's Josh, he was similarly bad in Philly. Giving away great shooter, when you have Luka, who basically has to be surrounded with shooters, is very dangerous. It's true that Mavs need D, but not with that prize.

Mavs players weren't ineffective because Clippers D focused on them, but because they're simply not good enough against serious and good D in playoffs. Jalen is too small for Clippers defenders, DFS and Kleber are incredibly limited players, who couldn't never started in conteders. Then you have Boban, who normally can play just against special matchups, but he was suddenly starting and playing a lot of minutes. Powell, who has gotten incredibly generous contract for his role in the team, WCS...Luka on the other hand likes to play big matches and was more or less unstoppable, no matter what Clippers did. Something is averaging 35.7 points, but doing that efficiently and knowing that more than 90% of his points were unassisted is just incredible.

perhaps, on d likes of DFS, JB and maxi. but certainly not with THJ and KP.

well, it is rumored that a namesake of yours was d real brain behind boban's starting.

in d end, luka cannot do it alone, it was like lebron in his first stint with d cavs.

but luka is so elite, he does not need a big 2 or big 3. he just need better support around him. and perhaps, a better system.

[neo]

so its argentina vs australia or france.

anyone here thinks that scola and company can recreate d magic of 2019 WC and upset a no.1 team in the QF?

[Killer Bob]

Argentina put to sleep delusions how Japan is better. Funny enough they might get worse opponent than one of Spain/Slovenia.

[neo]

Argentina put to sleep delusions how Japan is better. Funny enough, they might get worse opponent than one of Spain/Slovenia.

it is certain that they will not meet spain or slovenia because groupmates in preliminary round will not play against each other in QF.

so it's france or australia.

[Killer Bob]

perhaps, on d likes of DFS, JB and maxi. but certainly not with THJ and KP.

well, it is rumored that a namesake of yours was d real brain behind boban's starting.

in d end, luka cannot do it alone, it was like lebron in his first stint with d cavs.

but luka is so elite, he does not need a big 2 or big 3. he just need better support around him. and perhaps, a better system.

In this series he could. 2:0 and 17 points up RC did the biggest blunder in this series.

If KP was playing like in last year's bubble, Mavs would have won 4:0.

If KP was just able to provide decent rim protection, Mavs would have won also.

If Bob the gambler didn't risk everything with Boban, they might have won also.

[Killer Bob]

it is certain that they will not meet spain or slovenia because groupmates in preliminary round will not play against each other in QF.

so it's france or australia.

I know, but Spain/Slovenia have 50% to get USA, who are still far the worst opponent for anyone.

[neo]

I know, but Spain/Slovenia have 50% to get USA, who are still far the worst opponent for anyone.

yes, so i am hoping that luka and slovenia beat spain later.

if luka outplays rubio, they'll win as long as their frontcourt mixes it well vs spain's bigs.

[neo]

In this series he could. 2:0 and 17 points up RC did the biggest blunder in this series.

If KP was playing like in last year's bubble, Mavs would have won 4:0.

If KP was just able to provide decent rim protection, Mavs would have won also.

If Bob the gambler didn't risk everything with Boban, they might have won also.

yeah, RC fucxxd up in that first quarter of game 3. clippers would still have won games, but no way they could rise from 0-3.

[Killer Bob]

yes, so i am hoping that luka and slovenia beat spain later.

if luka outplays rubio, they'll win as long as their frontcourt mixes it well vs spain's bigs.

It's really simple in this game. Spain has to stop Luka no matter what and they know that. Spain bigs are not better than Lithuania bigs, they won't be a factor, if Luka has a good day. If not, it's more or less game over for Slovenia. It won't be the end of the world, but win in this match brings at least on paper much easier opponent.

[neo]

It's really simple in this game. Spain has to stop Luka no matter what and they know that. Spain bigs are not better than Lithuania bigs, they won't be a factor, if Luka has a good day. If not, it's more or less game over for Slovenia. It won't be the end of the world, but win in this match brings at least on paper much easier opponent.

it's not that spain's bigs are better (but more experienced though) it's that they have more depth in d frontcourt (although both gasols are way past their prime).

if toby stays out of foul trouble, spain's depth at d 5 posiiton will not matter.

[Killer Bob]

it's not that spain's bigs are better. it's that they have more depth in d frontcourt (although both gasols are way past their prime).

if toby stays out of foul trouble, spain's depth at d 5 posiiton will not matter.

The only big I'm afraid of is Garuba, because he's the only one, who can defend Luka, when he will be switched to. Gasol brothers are perfect for Slovenia to attack them. I expect Garuba playing much more today than in previous games.

It will be D against O.

[Straight forward]

That third foul for Luka was fishy.