Luka Doncic and the Mavs Look Straight-Up Better Than the Thunder | Group Chat | Ringer NBA

Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre talk the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, why Luka looked especially impressive in this game, how OKC can get back into the series and avoid going home in Round 2, and how some of the unheralded role players on the Mavericks are stepping up big.
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[@MrMathsimon]

You guys complaining about this game still? Dafuq where’s this energy with SGA and Lu Dort Floppers?

[@mightymadman]

Yeah Luka sometimes exaggerates contact. Shai and Dort straight up flop shamelessly

[@wtrmrkph]

It seems people are complaining more about Luka than Luka complaining in the game. Lol. Even in a game where Luka was pretty chill, they still can't help but complain about Luka.

[@David-iv6je]

Sorry man, but Luka i like a European soccer player.

[@oblivionpro69]

Lu Dort’s the biggest flopper out there but this dudes talking about Luka “accentuating” a couple times to try to get a call? Clown

[@Joeshiesty286]

Shai flops and pushes off all season long… NBA critics: Luka complains to the refs for not calling a foul on a flying knee from Lu Dort.. (yes it happened) NBA critics: “wHy iS hE aLwAys bItcHiNg”

[@SchulzEricT]

It's INSANE that Luka is limping and bloody the entire series, comes out in game 6 not visibly limping, and he's great... because he's not bitching? Like, c'mon guys. I get that he bitches "too much", but he's also going up against OKC, and man... I did not know their game. Now I do, and I *hate* watching it. Holy fuck, SGA's whistle is unparalleled (with Embiid out of the playoffs), and all Lu Dort does is foul and flop, dude has no idea how to play basketball.

[@danieltravis5082]

SGA's flop was way worse than anything the mavs did in that game. How the fuck are NBA media ALWAYS on the wrong side with this shit lol

[@LL-iy7bg]

Young team OKC? Luka is younger than SGA, Livelly is a rookie, PJ Washington is 25 etc....

[@Smido83]

All true, they are still younger. Wallace 20, J-Dub 21, Giddey 21, Chet 22, J-Will 23 ... they all play their first PO's this year. On Dallas only Washington and Lively had no PO experience before this season.

[@David-iv6je]

OKC still young almost across the board. Plus, no experience is high pressure playoff series. Hell, Mavs have freakin Kyrie, who hit a Finals-winnning shot.

[@JurijPopotnig]

Luka bitching, OKC younger, OKC inexperienced…you need excuses when you have no reasonable argument for them when it comes to playing. Get over it. Players, media and fans are dumb and honorable like kids.

[@Smido83]

@@JurijPopotnig What the hell is your point? Your comment makes no sense at all...

[@tkinsey3]

I think the Mavs are absolutely better. The biggest thing has been Luka being hurt, etc. I think this is a 5 game series if Luka is healthy/serious. Now, can they compete with a healthy Nuggets team? That's the question

[@Smido83]

No idea why guys like this are "experts". "... 45 is better! And we all know SGA is completely capable of that!" SGA hasnt even scored 45 ONCE this reg season... and SGA has never even scored 35 in the playoffs! THATS THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE DALLAS DEFENSE! We let SGA get his 30-33, but we keep the entire rest of the Thunder in check. SGA can not go for 45 just like that... He takes his 15 middies, a view 3's and hunts some fouls to get to his 30 poits. Dallas can live and more important PLAN with that. SGA doesnt just go off for 45-50. Thats just not his game!

[@Lukaichampion2024]

SGA can’t guard Luka too so stop the cap both of them are not good defenders

[@circaen]

Dort has fallen 3-4 times per game. It's wild.

[@Nix-qq5je]

A hobbled Luka is handling the # 1 team in the West with the player who is supposedly "robbed" of the MVP in SGA, and the Coach of the Year as well. How quickly people forget that Luka did something similar in 2022. Luka is clearly going to be the next face of the league, and the people who are hating on him for no reason other than the color of his skin are going to be even more miserable than they already are for many years to come lol

[@Lena-ks5ni]

Is really so hard for once saying something positive about Luka's game, behaviour or just his image...?

[@justingabel8031]

The Mavs are a fantastic team, 3 years ago when they made the western finals that team had to hit 20 3’s a game to stand a chance to win…This team though can play in the mud and go 8-37 from 3 and still win, they rebound, play defense, they can play big they can play small…they are hands down better than the Thunder

[@AdamHammond-]

Agree with everything except they are only an average rebounding team. As a Mavs fan it feels like they are top-5 rebounders but that's just because Mavs have been so pathetic at rebounding for so long.

[@Smido83]

2 years ago, but yes. The team in 2022 was relying on 3's over opponents 2's, cause we had no good big and our wing rotation consisted of 2 guys (DFS/Bullock) who had to play 39 minutes on average. This team is deeper, bigger, more physical and can beat you in many ways.

[@Smido83]

@@AdamHammond- Right now we are the 6th best rebounding team in the PO... just saying.

[@AdamHammond-]

@@Smido83 that's not even top third and have played half their games against the Thunder who ranked 28th in REB% this season. Mavs were 14th in the last 15 games of the season, 23rd since the All-Star break. They are no longer an abysmal rebounding team but they still aren't great. Average to above average

[@Smido83]

@@AdamHammond- We also won the rebound battle against the Clippers. It was close (50.4% vs 49.6%), but we still won. So what more can you ask for?

[@brianhaas1154]

Wosney said Knicks in 5 😂😂😂.

[@pawnography5788]

So the Ringers darlings OKC are getting shown up as the 1 seed and these guys are not taking it well

[@jordantaylor3570]

If you go small , Gafford and lively have had their way all year against small ball

[@adriandavis8992]

Yes if they go small it will be a disaster for OKC… Lob city

[@vandalissimus]

Luka was great even before this game and the reason they are winning. He will continue to bitch to the refs and embrace your favourite players on his way to the chip. Deal with it.

[@evieprado]

😊

[@jordantaylor3570]

Luka better than shai , he actually makes teammates better , okc has more talent, yet jones jr was a minimum guy, Gafford as soon as traded made 32 straight field goals. This why Denver and Dallas in finals , they walk to 10 assist and to quote draymond “is spoon feeding guys” shai and ant aren’t on that level that’s why their role players aren’t playing better

[@adriandavis8992]

But they don’t have more talent. It’s obvious. His Dallas had this squad the whole season they’d be competing for the number 1 seed