Philadelphia 76ers vs Dallas Mavericks - 3/3/2024
Game Breakdown
76ers - 120 - 116 W
Lowry, Maxey, Hield, Harris, Bamba
Make a great adjustment with the Maxey trap
Make sure that Batum is in the middle of the floor catching and making the decisions which allows Reed to move/cut off the ball and play finish instead of having to be the decision maker
NOT SURE exactly how BATUM knew but at the start of the biggest possession (up 5 with less than 2 minutes and Mavs really making a run at it) in the game he has Oubre and Harris switch corners
Possession ends with Oubre driving downhill with left hand and Harris hitting what could be the dagger C&S Corner 3PM
HARRIS taking the Doncic matchup
BATUM taking it when he comes in
Takes the Kyrie matchup when Luka goes out
Having this type of versatility is so special
Makes some off the ball defensive plays as well
Broadcast is even talking about the up and down season Harris has had in terms of scoring the ball
He has some real iso ability in that mid range but you can see where this could go in and out of having any sort of efficiency
Gets it going mid to late 2nd quarter in this one
He HAS to be that legit 3rd option for this team to have a real chance in the playoffs (along with Embiid healthy of course)
Hits back to back corner 3PAs as I type this
Has been absolutely AWESOME
ABSOLUTELY HUGE OREB WITH 3:00 TO GO AND ALL MOMENTUM WITH MAVS
Up 7 and Batum gets floater on ensuing possession to go up 9
These are the types of plays you need from him along with the scoring in the playoffs
He was awesome in this game
Scored the ball throughout the game but made HUGE shots late in the game where they probably don’t win if he misses
HIELD is so good moving off the ball to get to the right spot and get jump stop attempts
He is getting great looks now….imagine the looks he gets when Embiid is back
MAXEY is so fast but has some change of speed/pace to go along with it
Love some of the scoop and finesse finishing he has at the rim
The same hand, same foot floater is so nice
So good with the floater
They absolutely can not stay in front of him through this 1st quarter
And then he goes to a ridiculous 3PM stepback where he covers so much ground
Using Spiderman “with great power comes great responsibility” quote to describe his role without Embiid is just pure gold
I like that he said that Nurse gives him freedom but as part of that freedom he has to still get other guys involved
I think he needs to get better with being on target with his passes
Really good example to start the third where he penetrates the defense and Harris cuts at the right time but he throws it at his ankles
Another mid 3rd where he throws it right into a deflection
These are the right reads but bad execution with the actual passes
Takes an awful hit to the back of his head (off DJJ knee/lower leg), hope he is okay
Returns to start the 4th quarter
REED jumper is something to behold
He makes them decently this season on LOW volume but man that form is rough
Doing a really nice job of just “finishing plays” and he can do it in a few different playtypes
Really like the way he moves off the ball
LOWRY not doing anything that just blows you away but seems to just make impactful “little plays”
Example, iso defense vs Luka and is aware enough to pull his hands away when Luka goes to shoot to make sure he doesn’t get to the FT line (missed shot)
2 possessions later he knocks down a wide open C&S 3PA as shot clock expired off Harris getting doubled in the post
2 possessions later he hits Bamba for a lob finish in the PnR
Digs and strips Kyrie on a drive helping off ball
OUBRE gets back to back buckets after Maxey goes out
Needed with the lineup they have left on the court
11 points from the time Maxey got hurt until a minute into the 4th quarter
Make it 14 with 9:00 to go in the 4th
Now 16, this guy is getting buckets
Hits the clutch FT to ice the game as well after Kyrie hits a couple ridiculous 3PMs
*Embiid in game report (via ABC) is that he will be re evaluated this week with the team hoping he will be back in full “soon”*
Mavs
Luka, Kyrie, Green, Washington, Lively II
Their defense has the Sixers playing so far away from the paint early in the game
Have them 5 feet outside the 3P line for large stretches of possessions
I really like when they keep the advantage out of Luka getting trapped BUT then find a way to rotate the ball back to him and then he is actually getting to attack an unsettled and scrambling defense
Did not really have much flow on the offensive end
LUKA immediately shows off his eye manipulation on the first possession
PnR with Lively II and looks off the tag man by staring at his teammate on the weakside wing before the perfect lob to Lively II
Pretty impressive considering the Lob gravity that Lively II has
The jab step/step back 3PA is essentially unguardable
Scored or Assisted on almost 60 PPG which would be the most in NBA history
Some crazy in game stats about what he has done scoring wise before 25 years old (10K) and then adding in 3K assists and rebounds puts him company with only LBJ
Actually makes a couple significant hustle plays in the 1st half
BUT still frustrating to watch him in defensive transition sometimes
Feel like Sixers did make him work in the 2nd and 3rd quarters
Sixers do a good job of keeping length on him
Gets it going again in the 4th…stat line is still going to be insane (minus the turnovers)
REALLY gets it going here in the 4th
3rd consecutive 30+ point triple double, unreal things
4th player to do so (MJ, Oscar, Russ)
WASHINGTON getting good C&S 3P looks but just not making them
He has some BAD, BAD misses…a couple airballs
Struggled on ball at times as well, they were tough matchups but gave up complete blow bys
Tough closeout in the corner on Harris but gives up another blow by on a HUGE defensive possession that ends with Harris floater
DJJ not getting guarded, even in strong side corner, when Luka has the ball
First possession ends in Luka charge
Second possession Luka kicks and he knocks down the wide open C&S corner 3P
Third possession Luka kicks and he makes another
Efficient game knocking down the shots that have been presented to him
Has some impactful defensive plays as well
GREEN is a role player that I just really believe in for them
Over 40% last year and this year from 3P and I think he can at least attack a closeout
THJ has been huge for them off the bench all year with his scoring but is averaging less than 10 PPG over his last 11 GP
Still getting his shots up, have talked multiple times about the “green light” he has but he is not making shots in this one
LIVELY II has made 16 straight FGAs
Know your role, excel in your role and no reason to step outside of your role (during the season, unless your team needs to)
Then air balls a left hand hook that he should have passed out
Foul trouble even in the limited minutes he plays
KYRIE is just so fun with that creative handle and ability to finish with both hands
Left hand on full display early in the second where he never puts his right hand on the ball and finishes a left hand scoop floater
HT show discusses it but it did seem like he wasn’t involved in the offense nearly as much as you would like for how talented he is
Getting some more usage in the 2nd half and has just a ridiculous finish at the rim
Might be the best “small guy” finisher at the rim in the game (one of, at least)