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The Cavs play back-to-back games against the Dallas Mavericks starting tonight in Dallas and finishing Sunday in Cleveland. I'm only doing one thread for both games. I'm getting lazy as the season winds down with the injury-riddled Cavs facing one playoff team after another with nothing to play for except pride and getting a look at some possible contributors for next year.
The Mavs (38-28) are in 5th place in the West, one game ahead of the Lakers and Portland. They need these two wins. The Mavs are on fire lately, having won 8 of 10. Their last two games were wins over Miami and Brooklyn. On paper the Cavs have no chance. Garland is still out, at least for tonight.
For the Mavericks starting center Kristaps Porzingis is listed as "doubtful" by ESPN. He missed the Nets game two nights ago but the Mavs won anyway. Porzingis is averaging 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds and is their second leading scorer, but obviously they're still a very good team without him.
Luka Doncic leads the way with 28.5 ppg, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. He's a modern day Magic Johnson at point guard except he's a better shooter. At 6'7", 230 pounds he just bulls his way to wherever he wants to go and makes the shot or finds the open man. He just turned 22 so he definitely will be in the HoF if he doesn't get hurt.
Tim Hardaway Jr averages 16.4 ppg and 39% on 3's. Three other players average 10.0 to 12.6 ppg, benefitting from Doncic's passing.
The Mavericks are 17th in scoring and 26th in points in the paint. They shoot the 3-ball more frequently than all but four teams but are only 18th in 3-point percentage. They protect the ball extremely well, ranking 3rd in turnovers per possession. They're 25th in assists per possession, which tells me they just set screens to force switches to create favorable matchups, then go one-on-one. You don't turn the ball over if you don't pass the ball. They're 25th in offensive rebound percentage so if you can make them miss the first shot you have a good chance at a stop.
Defensively the Cavs should try and pressure the 3-point shot as much as possible and hope they have a cold shooting night. The Mavs prefer to shoot from deep and since they only make 36.2% the Cavs should encourage them to take those shots, then everybody get on the defensive glass. Limit them to one shot from deep per possession and hope they have an off night and only hit 30%.
The Mavericks are a solid defensive team, ranking 9th in points per game. They defend the paint very well, ranking 6th, although if the 7'0" Porzingis is out that may affect their ability to protect the rim. They foul more than average, ranking 23rd in opponents' free throws per play. And they play conservatively on defense, ranking near the bottom on forcing turnovers. They don't gamble and they limit easy buckets. They're only 23rd in block percentage so I don't know why they're so good in the paint but the numbers don't lie.
Two nights ago in the win over Brooklyn Kyrie Irving scored 45 points. It took him 31 shots, but he scored 45. That tells me the Mavericks might have trouble with quick guards who can beat their man off the dribble and also knock down 3's and mid-range floaters. Collin Sexton could have a big game tonight. I'm sure he watched that game and noted what Kyrie was able to do.
The Cavs have no business beating the Mavericks at this point even if Porzingis misses both games. But coming off two days rest the Cavs took the Suns to overtime three days ago and the Suns are better than the Mavs. The Cavs only had one day off but if they come out with the same intensity and focus tonight they could make this game interesting, especially if Porzingis is out.
The Mavs (38-28) are in 5th place in the West, one game ahead of the Lakers and Portland. They need these two wins. The Mavs are on fire lately, having won 8 of 10. Their last two games were wins over Miami and Brooklyn. On paper the Cavs have no chance. Garland is still out, at least for tonight.
For the Mavericks starting center Kristaps Porzingis is listed as "doubtful" by ESPN. He missed the Nets game two nights ago but the Mavs won anyway. Porzingis is averaging 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds and is their second leading scorer, but obviously they're still a very good team without him.
Luka Doncic leads the way with 28.5 ppg, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. He's a modern day Magic Johnson at point guard except he's a better shooter. At 6'7", 230 pounds he just bulls his way to wherever he wants to go and makes the shot or finds the open man. He just turned 22 so he definitely will be in the HoF if he doesn't get hurt.
Tim Hardaway Jr averages 16.4 ppg and 39% on 3's. Three other players average 10.0 to 12.6 ppg, benefitting from Doncic's passing.
The Mavericks are 17th in scoring and 26th in points in the paint. They shoot the 3-ball more frequently than all but four teams but are only 18th in 3-point percentage. They protect the ball extremely well, ranking 3rd in turnovers per possession. They're 25th in assists per possession, which tells me they just set screens to force switches to create favorable matchups, then go one-on-one. You don't turn the ball over if you don't pass the ball. They're 25th in offensive rebound percentage so if you can make them miss the first shot you have a good chance at a stop.
Defensively the Cavs should try and pressure the 3-point shot as much as possible and hope they have a cold shooting night. The Mavs prefer to shoot from deep and since they only make 36.2% the Cavs should encourage them to take those shots, then everybody get on the defensive glass. Limit them to one shot from deep per possession and hope they have an off night and only hit 30%.
The Mavericks are a solid defensive team, ranking 9th in points per game. They defend the paint very well, ranking 6th, although if the 7'0" Porzingis is out that may affect their ability to protect the rim. They foul more than average, ranking 23rd in opponents' free throws per play. And they play conservatively on defense, ranking near the bottom on forcing turnovers. They don't gamble and they limit easy buckets. They're only 23rd in block percentage so I don't know why they're so good in the paint but the numbers don't lie.
Two nights ago in the win over Brooklyn Kyrie Irving scored 45 points. It took him 31 shots, but he scored 45. That tells me the Mavericks might have trouble with quick guards who can beat their man off the dribble and also knock down 3's and mid-range floaters. Collin Sexton could have a big game tonight. I'm sure he watched that game and noted what Kyrie was able to do.
The Cavs have no business beating the Mavericks at this point even if Porzingis misses both games. But coming off two days rest the Cavs took the Suns to overtime three days ago and the Suns are better than the Mavs. The Cavs only had one day off but if they come out with the same intensity and focus tonight they could make this game interesting, especially if Porzingis is out.
