How the Clippers held Dallas to 8 points in a quarter!

How did LA lock down Luka Doncic and Dallas's offense in the 1st half of Game 1 of their 2024 NBA playoff series? This watch along reaction film breakdown details Coach Ty Lue's hard-nosed gameplan to take away the Mavs pick-and-roll offense and how they attacked them on offense.
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#ThinkingBasketball

[@milostrivkovic1413]

Tyrone lou is hell of a coach, he and spoelstra somehow get role players to play better then they actually are. After every lou's timeout there's three point play from clipps.

[@shaemillington826]

I don't believe in the" better than they actually are" statement. You should say that they are the best at getting the best out of a player

[@bmanjamin]

@@shaemillington826 so your saying gabe vincent’s run last year in the playoffs had nothing to do with spoelspra so now he’s with darvin ham and sucks maybe darvin ham just makes players worse

[@huxleybennett4732]

@@bmanjamin I don't totally agree with him, but that's not even close to what he's saying. He made his point pretty clear and that's not it

[@seamusmooney1308]

He’s a great coach. His time in Cleveland was unfair to him cause everyone just said the same thing in that lebron is the HC

[@N01clk]

He's on a team centered around Lebron and Ad. There's not room for getting touches, flow and rhythm unless you just fit in the system instantly.. It's very easy to look bad at basketball on a NBA team. But trust me, no one who's ever made one of them has ever been..

[@narrow3601]

An underrated part about Ty Lue's coaching for me is how he was able to reignite Russell Westbrook's fearlessness. Yes everyone praises him for coming off the bench but Brodie legitimately looks like his old self again, he's comfortable in the lineup that he's once again added shooting to his arsenal. Sure the volume's a bit weak and the efficiency is on and off, but he's not afraid anymore. Besides they don't need him to be a lights out shooter, they just need him to be a threat so the volume isn't really an issue, as long as he keeps that confidence to shoot, Clips have got an absolute firecracker coming off the bench.

[@shorewall]

Russ was like an abused dog, taking the blame on the Lebron Lakers. But now he's with a good home, and is doing well. :D

[@Loquacious_Jackson]

Westbrick

[@narrow3601]

@Loquacious_Jackson of course, but better to take your shots than to never have the confidence to even shoot for shit

[@OuiAsk]

That's absolutely correct, it's like somebody knew that they (Lakers) wouldn't win the next year so why not bring russ in so we could use him as a scapegost. 😅 ​@@shorewall

[@KmtS9]

Mann fighting over the screens and staying glued to Luka has got to be one of the sexiest things you can see on a basketball court!

[@SuperSikarlo]

You should use different words

[@frederickokocha3904]

He used the right words

[@BenjaminFranklinFF1706]

@@frederickokocha3904 ^

[@ritamariealan93]

​@@SuperSikarlo let him cook

[@RoboticV]

@@SuperSikarlo You should use different words

[@StefveoX]

Ty Lue coaches circles around Jason Kidd

[@jjcometa9333]

While I agree, blames are somewhat on the players as well. Gaff being played off the floor was surprising.

[@rafeeqwarfield9690]

This time. But I think Kidd is gonna wake up next game

[@michaelahurt]

Yeah but that's not even really fair. LA just has a better roster. Ultimately Dallas has a lot of guys who you'll live with shooting so LA did what any competent team should: Take away the easy stuff at the rim and make them take jumpshots Luka took 20 of 26 shots outside the restricted area. Lively/Gafford were 2/7. And PJ took 7 threes. The Clippers can live with that. We seem to re-learn this every year but having lots of two way wings is really important in the playoffs and LA is just a team full of two way wings. Even attacking Harden/Zubac -- ok and now you have three really good help defenders (usually) to make turn that into a Luka mid-range or step back. That's fine. The bet is Luka isn't going to have four 20/28 games out of seven. He's gonna have more 11/26 games.

[@kefkapalazzo1]

@@rafeeqwarfield9690what does that really mean though lol

[@shaft9000]

Indeed. Lue had sharp timeout play calls and made the most of his squad's rotations despite being out their best player.

[@Qub3rs]

This game was amazing to watch. Seeing the Clips players fully engaged on the defensive side was a thing of beauty.

[@ritamariealan93]

The way you rewind the footage and slow ot down makes it so easy to follow. Very good editing 👌🏾

[@holyarchangelmichael]

The Clippers are a tough first-round matchup for the Mavericks. They're almost uniquely well-suited to slow down Kyrie and Doncic. Tyron Lue is a good coach and the Clippers have been the Mavericks' kryptonite in the playoffs thus far during Doncic's time with the Mavs. The fact that they played so well in Game 1 without Kawhi should be a major source of concern for the Mavs.

[@wipe919]

Dude relax it's 1 game. The mavs won't shoot this bad again

[@glcsander]

The Clippers won at home they did their job, im saving my joy until i see Harden play like he did this game in Dallas im happy for now but until Clippers take one game away from the Mavs then i start to believe the last thing u want is to drag this series to 7 and them having to deal with the young bulls in OKC in the next round.

[@pagman2356]

​@@wipe919surely.

[@devynlich00]

​@@glcsanderthe only reason the Clippers even won was because the Mavericks didn't have a good shooting night that won't happen twice

[@denzel8827]

@@devynlich00lol casual take there’s so many reasons they lost stop coping

[@WHITEPERSUAS1ON]

Harden passing Dirk in all time playoff points with him in attendance is an underrated funny moment

[@dolo6474]

They did this without Kawhi Imagine when he comes back

[@hardywoodaway9912]

imagine when they in cancun

[@PuchuKt]

How to sum up clippers fandom for the last 5 years:

[@OmnipotentSpud]

That's the problem. I can't imagine healthy playoff Kawhi anymore.

[@dolo6474]

@@PuchuKt I’m a heat fan not a clippers fan but the clips dominated without their best player

[@orangetweleve]

even Kawhi himself can’t imagine

[@bender4183]

This has been the best watch along so far, extremely educational Love the video, exited for more like it throughout the playoffs

[@orangetweleve]

Alternative title: How the Mavs got their wings Clipped

[@Jonathan-A.C.]

Either that or “got their horns Clipped”, depending on the animal

[@tonydavis6487]

Weird. Going back to Dallas and it's tied up. Not so much. Wild how the Clippers have a decent game, Dallas has the worst game they have played all year and Clippers are going to win a championship after a game 🤣

[@Jonathan-A.C.]

@@tonydavis6487 Well I suppose we’ll truly see after the series is over

[@allanadan832]

This analysis is better than most of the NBA sports analysts take whose review is just to slander the players for being bad and for losing against the team they hate.

[@Callingusa2000]

*better than ALL of the NBA sport analyists. Ben and his team is the best thing out there right now

[@DK-kz9hr]

Mavs had very little ball movement in the 1st half. Their offense was very stagnant. It’s as if their game plan was Luka and Kyrie taking turns going 1 on 1

[@randomf2pplayah768]

Luka was trying to shoot by himself, find an open man, 2man action, and a single lob. Had some okay looks but didn't really fall.

[@ChuckwaldMartin]

@@randomf2pplayah768 its boring to watch Luka heliocentric dribbling the air out of the ball routine, I imagine its not that fun to play with as well

[@astashasta1]

@@ChuckwaldMartinYa like james harden doesn't do the exact same thing in this game its called a heliocentric offense. Just say you dont like luka

[@ChuckwaldMartin]

@@astashasta1 I hated Harden in Houston, heliocentric flopper, its not nearly as bad now as it was then though. So no its not that I just don't like Luka lil bro

[@astashasta1]

@@ChuckwaldMartin Nah harden hasn't changed at all just has different options thats how it works same for luka. And all I've ever heard from 90% of lukas teammates is that he makes the game so much easier for them. You're just makin shit up

[@Archemik99]

This is legit first time ever I'm excited about the clippers and I've been a NBA fan for over 20 years

[@elijahcruz9027]

The Clippers just have way too much versatile players on and off the bench to handle and yet the Mavericks are still pulling their weight, it's gonna be a dogfight.

[@Enthusiast230]

Pulling their weight is a stretch, with or without kawhi's presence. If the mavs are gonna allow zubac to remain the second coming of tim ducan averaging 20/15 with harden bombing them with threes ever so often it's not gonna be easy for them. Besides, the mavs lack experience. If you watched the game you would know how pronounced that is. Whenever the mavs mustered up some form of momentum T.Lue made the adjustments that helped derail mavs momentum. Jason Kidd has yet to do that.

[@Scyon13]

Jason Kidd isn't a good coach imo

[@elmehdinafia1237]

No the problem with the Mavs is that they're waaaay too predictable and a one dimensional team. Which means it's easy to scheme against them.

[@zsomborszigeti6797]

@@elmehdinafia1237 Which is once again because Jason Kidd is just not a good NBA coach.

[@y2shuproblem]

​@@Scyon13his coaching against the Suns in 2022 says otherwise.

[@lawbinson]

On a smaller screen, the Thinking Basketball logo in the bottom right corner looks like a fried egg inside your head.

[@waff6ix]

💯🤣🤣

[@etang5]

great video! Thanks for putting this together! I wasn't able to catch the game but when I saw the box scores I was most intrigued by what the clippers did to hold luka/kyrie down in such an offense heavy environment. thanks again!!

[@jjleeeee]

that's why high usage centric offences don't do too well in the playoffs. when everything slows down and defences dial in.. you need a varied offence.

[@noahamankwaah9802]

@@zoobiezaa Huh? The Mavericks never beat the Clippers in the playoffs in the Luka era, my guy.

[@pagman2356]

​@@zoobiezaa i love spreading misinformation online

[@weathersponge5000]

It's only Game 1 and we out here talking like the Mavs already failed. This offense is the same won that led the Mavs to the WCF in 2022. Stop overreacting after just 1 game.

[@kennn30]

​@weathersponge5000 The offense didn't lead them, it was the Suns putting on the biggest chokejob in game 7 history that led them 😂

[@zoobiezaa]

@@noahamankwaah9802 I meant make it farther than but it right, still went to the ecf and beat them now tho

[@voodoo728]

"the ball needs to go to Hardaway" .... yeah buddy that was the right play but can't blame PJ and Dante not passing to him after he missed a point blank layup

[@TheMonjok24]

The ball should never be in Dante's hands. Lol

[@toshirohitsugaya857]

​@@TheMonjok24Worst take I read in a long time. Off night, nothing more

[@chiggsytube]

@@toshirohitsugaya857 Off night because of the defense. Still, you right, only game 1. This idea that Hardaway is not the consensus third option is ... interesting.

[@Dukeyyyyyyy]

@@chiggsytubeTim hardaway is the 8th best player on the mavs in 2024. Luka Kai PJ lively gafford exum are clearly better, and DJJ, Kleber and green are clearly better fits.

[@toshirohitsugaya857]

@@chiggsytube Nah, not only because of the defense. Easy lay and dunks were too much missed. Defense was great tho, no easy 3s. But seriously, it was painful to watch the first half. Second half was WAY better, even if they made the most difficult shot possible. Like I saw a stat they had only like 5 or 6 open shot the whole game

[@JokicisbetterthanEmbiid]

Really been enjoying the watchalongs 🏀💪

[@milosmevzelj5205]

Moree videos with game breakdowns like this one please. Thanx for this one and greetings from Slovenia.

[@jcmcgee1573]

PJ attacking the clogged paint instead of swinging it to luka so he could swing it to the wide open kyrie is why the mavs will lose this series. The coaching has been so bad, they won regular season games off kyrie and luka being game managers on the court. You could've replaced gafford with ANY decent lob threat and PJ with any other 3-d player. There's no innate chemistry because your game managers dont know how the role players play. Not a critisim of kyrie and luka, but of the coaching. I mean look at the spacing at 7:08 - kyrie top of the key with all FOUR players along the baseline, what is he supposed to do? Lively doesnt know if he wants a screen, kyrie doesnt call for it, why is no one at either of the wings? They recover the ball and washingtons immediate thought is "oh shit get it back to kyrie" with two on him in the corner with 5 left on the clock...... when you've got a wide open hardaway who's FINALLY at the wing! it's nuts!

[@waff6ix]

YEA THIS WAS RELLY BAD SPACING😳💔💔

[@nomorepartiezz]

i mean as good as they’ve looked we gotta remember this team has been together for only 2 and a half months. they probably dont have the chemistry ironed out to the degree youre talking about in a playoff series where its also most of these guys’ first time being here

[@Jonathan-A.C.]

@@nomorepartiezz Very true. They, much like the Bucks in my opinion, are getting set for next year’s Playoffs. Everything will click then

[@nomorepartiezz]

@@Jonathan-A.C. the issue would be the summer and offseason dealing with the slander and shit talking about how Luka is fat and has no excuses and is a losing player

[@Jonathan-A.C.]

@@nomorepartiezz Maybe, but he’s in better shape generally frfr. Plus Kyrie is there for keep things steady, and if anything, it’s probably not as bad if Luka doesn’t win the MVP. It just gives them the idea of a higher ceiling

[@BigBoyDanny123]

Love these watch alongs, so informative and makes watching the games live more enjoyable

[@frankdaniel5216]

Please do more of these watch alongs. They’re amazing!!!

[@victimofracism1237]

Very insightful commentary. I love the way you break it down without disparaging any players or coaches. Just basketball!

[@mileslive3169]

it pains me as a Mavs fan to say we can easily and realistically will be out coached in this series, luka and ky will have to put on capes

[@cronosdimitri4584]

Kidd did not tell Luka to take those bad shots, you know that, right?

[@mileslive3169]

you have to understand tho that 1. luka went cold for a reason, the clips did a great job making his quality of shots pretty low and 2. when that P&R goes cold Kidd has to do a better job of dynamic play calling, adapting and running plays through our other strengths not just option 1 and 2

[@itshurtt395]

​@@cronosdimitri4584kidd aint a good coach

[@alexanderjackson8389]

This is why I would rather have Tatum than Luka... And curry over MVP versions of harden and Westbrook. Curry and Tatum can win without shooting well because their teammates are in rhythm and they can play off-ball. Plus Tatum has good enough Defense.

[@mileslive3169]

@@alexanderjackson8389 idk if i’d go that far, Tatum doesn’t give you the same offensive package luka has with his passing. I do wish luka could play more off ball but a solution to both is great coaching hiding his weaknesses and one that plays good rotational defense and gets a better quality of shot on O

[@swiper-fox1283]

Nice job uploading quickly ben

[@dannyavila910]

great analysis, mann played amazing d

[@holdencooper5558]

Loving the content Ben!

[@ohmyvalo135]

Thank you for this. Please make more of these nba games breakdown for this playoffs

[@dejohnny21]

Thank you for this solid analysis!!! Espn and most of the other mainstream media is giving us no depth and subjective lazy take on this series. I want opinions based on the film!!! Great work!

[@lamp9478]

i loved watching this game, it stayed entertaining and it also felt like the lead for some reason wasnt enough of a safety net. It was a greaat game im glad i woke up aat 5:30 in the morning to watch it.

[@goticogordo]

jason kidd getting outclassed like crazy, legit insanity, well, mavs players also ahving a terrible night dont help

[@K1L06]

i love luka he's one of my favorite players, but he is very emotional and doesn't play hard when things are going bad, not just that, but he's such a big defensive liability, he will play better in this series, and I hope the team makes the defensive adjustments to help Luka and get past the clippers

[@alexanderlyons4807]

Former NBA role players make up some of the best coaches across the board and it really goes to show there is a lot more to the game than just being talented. When you don't have the luxury of being the star you have no choice but to learn those skills because if you can't maximize your role and play within the system then you're off the team somewhere else.

[@Jerrden]

Thanks for this. I was perplexed watching this as a Mavs fan. I do think we are at a considerable disadvantage at head coach which gets magnified in the playoffs.

[@siciliani16]

I think Mann did such a good job at making Luka pass the ball and not let Luka get his own looks by just getting up on him

[@chugcanthoop]

I wish they would’ve forced PJ to shoot short floaters 😭 he’s the one guy that rarely misses them. Running DJJ off the 3pt line is a fantastic idea for any defense tho as long as there’s big help, if it’s a guard as the low man DJJ will just rise up and slam it but clips played a lot of those possessions so well, outside of PJ mavs roll players missed almost every single shot they took the entire game and that mixed with Luka and Kyries poor first half showing just wasn’t gonna cut it. But if I was a clippers fan I would hope they don’t bank on the Mavs having another quarter with just 8 points tho, legit worst quarter for Mavs in almost 40 years

[@shaft9000]

Youngins, WATCH T-MANN His play is a textbook of _How To Defend a Scorer Man-to-Mann_ in the era of switch-heavy D. He's given similar hell to Curry, Fox, JB, Booker, Halliburton, and many more. He was key to splitting the season series 2-2 vs DEN guarding Jamal Murray.

[@shaft9000]

p.s. Notice that hand-checking is *not* illegal. Watch Mann's hand on Luka. Like almost every aspect of the game that is potentially contentious, in the rulebook it's written such that the ref's "discretion" (i.e. fudged at will, memo'ed from league office etc) decides.

[@junct]

luka is such a non-threat without the ball. he really needs to work on his off ball game

[@tzeleznik6548]

Agreed..highest liability on defence,slow foot movement,bad reflexes,bad positioning,low effort,,weak conditioning..cracks under pressure..keep on goin at him..clippers in 4.

[@chucktheduck8135]

Agreed but honestly in a couple years I feel like he will have that down

[@chucktheduck8135]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@tzeleznik6548cracks under pressure is incorrect he is incredible under pressure normally. He has been neutral on defense recently not bad. And clippers in four 😂 did you watch the mavs after trade deadline, there an incredible team. worst game they have had in the Luka era.

[@tzeleznik6548]

It is ,what it is...Ball don't lie,,people do💪👍

[@chucktheduck8135]

@@tzeleznik6548 ball lies all the time lol

[@BenchOnaQUEST]

Fantastic analysis!! 🏀

[@verward]

I'm so fucking confused by the comments here and in the media in general. Why are people expecting the Mavs to beat the clippers? Sure Kawhi is out, but they had strength in numbers all year. They are their best with him, but honestly I expect them to beat the Mavs without him and with him it shouldn't even be a series.

[@amit212543]

Love this vid

[@Tom-eq7eh]

What's so key for Lu this series is Harden/George/Kawhi all having fantastic upper body strength and hands so when Zu steps up to the pick roll or goes for a double, the forwards can be trusted to rotate in to the paint and disrupt the layup before it's even out of the shooters hands.

[@theOnyFUFU]

13:40 That's the first time I've seen Westbrook actually be disciplined and locked-in on Defense! Even in his MVP season, his instincts were always to gamble for steals and he often got lost on D. Ty Lue really is a magician!

[@StefveoX]

also don't disregard the fact that a big part of Lue's gameplan is obviously making sure his players don't bite on Luka pump fakes. I don't think Luka got anybody to leave the ground over the whole game.

[@WalkinWhiskey]

He did like twice

[@devilpistons1269]

luka successfully pump fakes zubac at abt 9:48 in this video

[@impressiveism]

look at Kawhi Leonard on the bench when Westbrook scores at 14:41 russ wants to celebrate and flex which is part of him and kawhi who strictly wants to win, never flexes or nothing, as efficient as can be, poor mans knees wont hold up, the man just wants to hoop... when i started writing this comment i was excited, now im feeling for kawhi... still funny af when thinking i know a bit of his personality and playing style, when he waves russ on, hes probably excited, just doesnt show really

[@impressiveism]

just watched it aggain after sending, shits fucking funny

[@5oloswag]

Zubac time and time again on the block essentially in an iso situation due to the spacing was, I don’t even have a word for it, it was brilliant in its simplicity and like duh. For a moment and for stretches it was like he’s the best player in the league, or rather him on that team against that sort of modern defense and modern lineup (typical lineup) was virtually unstoppable. The notion of spacing and shooting facilitating a traditional big man low post offense is like Belichick running the ball 45 times that one game. It’s like they reinvented (discovered) the big man and the low post.

[@chiggsytube]

Post game is NBA version of the run.

[@t4d0W]

Matchups are a thing and are magnified come playoff time. In the long run Mavs fans may not think Zubac getting double double nights is a big deal. However if he's flat out getting better production because he's bigger than Gafford/Lively/anyone else the Mavs throws at the front court, that is just free real estate. Mavs offense wise have to account to scoring more than what Zubac can generate off mismatches.

[@acctsys]

Great defense especially by Mann

[@fiji_g0d]

i been saying this all year, clips in 6 🔥

[@hikki6478]

Thank you for making a clippers breakdown

[@jnmc2498]

Mavs players not being able to score helped a lot. In third quarter they scored in less than 3 minutes more than entire second quarter.

[@robbertjurrien7550]

Thanks!!

[@AyeYoYoYooo]

Something is telling me Dallas will have some real solid counters to Zubac drop coverage with Luka going right.

[@Clear256]

This is a great channel

[@nofightsnecessary]

4:34 Unrelated, but it's hilarious seeing a normal sized water bottle in Kawhi Leonard's hand

[@tsoflakes8727]

I’ve watched clips all season since it’s my it was probably a top 5 performance

[@nikolai_art]

So now we will get your Video on how Luka stonewalled PG, Kawhi, Harden in game 2 right?

[@kleinngoga8285]

Still waiting bro!

[@nikolai_art]

@@kleinngoga8285 don’t hold your breath. These last two games were absolutely devastating for Mr „thinking basketball“ as Luka and the gang absolutely destroyed the Clippers on the defensive end. And thus completely annihilated all of this guys arguments and prejudices.

[@Matkatamiba]

Insane insane quarter by Mann

[@i37no4z]

Luka gotta understand this is not your regular season games anymore. Teams will take defense seriously. He can not play the ball hogging stats padding game if he want a slight chance of advancing forward.

[@JurijPopotnig]

You surely know it better than him. 😂

[@WalkinWhiskey]

Hes won up to the WCF before he knows

[@lanlingwang8489]

@@WalkinWhiskey And he lost 2 yrs in a row against LAC before reaching WCF same year LAC didnt reach playoffs.

[@DAV3RAG3]

@@WalkinWhiskeyJalen carried him but hey that’s what our eye’s saw.

[@i37no4z]

@@WalkinWhiskey Please, that's like how many years ago? And back then he had Brunson, Porzingis both are all-star caliber players. How did he do since then?

[@sharitarits9187]

Front office loves terance mann❤

[@arshadjaveed7877]

Everybody is slandering the clippers...I hope they prove them wrong

[@doorkman13]

Watching the Mavs makes you appreciate how important well rounded role players are in the playoffs.

[@shaft9000]

Kidd seemed confused, while Lue had many angles covered...These Mavs look like F O O D

[@TolbertOseiOwusu]

Great clipper win great thinking basketball breakdown

[@ArthPedro]

Rooting for the Clippers, is just sad knowing that Luka won't go this cold again in this Series, at least I can't see it again

[@matthewuzamaki3510]

😊remmeber kawhi didn’t play. Clippers just have too many defenders to throw at Luka

[@t4d0W]

Luka being cold isn't the problem. The Clippers will take Luka scorching and ready to drop 40+ in game 2 as long as Mann/Coffey stays sticking with him in screen actions. They will also take the rest of his cast trying to shoot jumpers that won't go in because they are making it hard on them too. All while Harden/PG can keep score and Zubac can eat because he's bullying whoever the Mavs have at the paint against him.

[@user-vq6by3lo2p]

Keys to this game were Russ and Zu. Zu set the tone in the first quarter, and is really going to be an issue for the Mavs who don't have that big, tall, strong interior presence. Zubac putting the pressure on the interior causing collapses and getting easy buckets starts getting other guys open and allowed Harden and Russ to get in their flow. The reason Russ was so big was just the pressure he putting on the ball, Kyrie and Luka still did their thing but not letting Luka walk into any shots without moving the ball from it's natural position in his shot kept him out of a rhythm a majority of the game.

[@sfreshnadillo]

¡Gracias!

[@user-nw4ln6gr5v]

Thats crazy how Harden's (the Shot Blocking Machine) paint presence scared Kyrie from passing to his big man for the easy dunk.

[@JaredHathaway]

with the amount of shots the Mavs front ironed it had me actually thinking the basketball hoop was messed up XD

[@LennieNelson55]

I feel like a big part of the Clippers success here and going forward is getting Russ and James to do things they never wanted to do as MVP's. Both guys have had a difficult time adjusting to not being the guy anymore, and is speaks to Ty Lue as a coach that he's got them playing active off ball defense and buying into the team.

[@allenross3050]

funny enough harden still often times draws the opposing teams best defender

[@tonydavis6487]

Where's all of those Clippers fans that were talking?! Gonna sweep Dallas, about how they have this elite level defense. Crickets when it happens the next game. Just like Luka told Booker a few years ago. "Everyone talks when they are up"

[@IHadToMakeThisAccount]

Ben was one of the few online personalities who actually chosen the Clippers this series (albiet hesitantly😂)

[@amari5850]

Bro if Kawhi can be Toronto Kawhi for even A SINGULAR series this team will get REAL far

[@Tom-eq7eh]

I know that Zu and Harden are the obvious picks for flowers, but I have never seen a gaurd defend Doncic better than Terrance Mann did this game. Absolutely all over him.

[@injusticeanywherethreatens4810]

I STILL dont understand how the Mavs drew *33 FLIPPING FREE THROWS* but then the Clips drew like 13... At An Away Game Too!

[@hoop-td1uq]

One team was attacking paint

[@jodiazcpu]

Too much dribbling, that is the problem with the Mavs. Passing and cutting is a better way to attack any defense.

[@users2381]

5:20 can't agree with you honestly This 3p pull from hezi is pretty standard for Kyrie: he had clear view on this one and overall i think this wide ISO for Kyrie is so + math for the team. Love from Europe!

[@BruhWhyDidTheyChangeThis]

Zubac was the game changer, they had no answer

[@eyemunchained8968]

Adjustments will be made some of the road teams will bounce back

[@kingoffedoras9932]

If Mann can keep playing THAT level of defense, with a returning Kawhi in game 2 or 3? This team just get's even more dangerous.

[@t4d0W]

As much as Coach Lue's tactical prowess is evident in the playoffs, the Clips roster does match up well vs the Mavs in the playoffs. They got enough competent big bodies to throw at Luka and Kyrie and can switch/help when needed and are bigger overall even in the front court. Luka can't easily match up hunt even if he goes after Zubac. And as long as the supporting cast of the Mavs choose to try cash in via jumpers that won't fall, the Clips are willing to take that bet especially if the game is a slog. I can't even imagine a 'good' scoring night for the Mavs in this series to run away with a game even if the Clips are lukewarm in scoring.

[@xxdemestrosxx]

to me this breakdown also shows a little bit of how the refs helped the clippers - who played great and deserved the win on their own - pull this off. the kick out foul, also the handcheck at 2:03 vs 6:31 and 6:44. especially with a player like harden, who builds up confidence by calls as the game and the calls go, this is a key factor.

[@imaginationplayground]

You touched on it but would like to know what exactly changed in the second half because was night and day. Did the clippers just give less effort or was it all about not attacking Zu

[@thegame7557]

They just started managing the game. Let's see the second game if adjustments will work

[@Claire-ing]

Can you add game sound back? I liked it best when you first started doing these with sound but the game sounds in the watchalongs keep going down and down to being almost nonexistent. Not sure if you're not allowed to or if it's a preference but to me the no game sound is not ideal.

[@psychotropnilachtan8869]

Kinda hillarious that Clippers gonna beat Mavs in 1st round again. They are determined to ruin Lukas legacy :D His reputation gonna take a huge hit after they get swept.

[@petershen7949]

Love this! I wonder how the clippers are deciding which coverage they use? When does Zubac drop? What happens when the Mavs set double screens, so clippers wings can't hawk luka? I love playoffs basketball

[@JK12518]

So what is the mavs counter? Or are they an only one action deep team?

[@rubentuting525]

Luka as soon as he pass the ball always wants to get it back. What a crocodile. GO play off ball!!!!

[@jons1278]

This game is a poster child for the importance of Offensive Versatility. People fussing about teams having multiple playmakers/strong options need to watch games like this.

[@JoeL-xk6bo]

How do Houston and Brooklyn fans feel seeing Harden play defense?

[@henryzhao4622]

I love how everyone can break it down after the fact but no one can predict it. If you can’t predict the likelihood, then you don’t know shit

[@ImRanchWilder]

4:33 is that a 16oz bottle kawaii is holding or a mini one?? 😂

[@henryzhao4622]

All of a sudden out of the woodworks people are able to explain how the clips are good against the Mavs? Where were y’all earlier

[@Lalambz]

seems like mavs need a post player when luka sits on the bench. to create ball movment and screening for the other players

[@ThePartarar]

2:04 Luka will never win anything playing defense like this

[@tzeleznik6548]

Agreed

[@ejdeniran2476]

I think you should add background music to make this more engaging 🎉

[@wafflesofjustice]

4:30 can we talk about Kawhi’s hand around that bottle?

[@nickfowler547]

Ty Lue is a great coach

[@Jerm408502]

When Luka is not getting calls, I forgot how utterly infuriating to watch. He'd rather whine to the refs than get back on D.