Mavs Moneyball - MMB Gameday Stream 3/16: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City ThunderRick Carlisle approved.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50869/mmb-fav.png2014-03-17T07:00:19-05:00http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/rss/stream/52782772014-03-17T07:00:19-05:002014-03-17T07:00:19-05:00The Aftermath: Totally saw that coming
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<p>Didn't you?</p> <h4>The Aftermath</h4>
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<li><span>That was a fantastic win. However, make no mistake -- Oklahoma City is still incredibly tough, and this is a vastly different game with <span>Russell Westbrook</span> playing. A first round match-up against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> is very possible, and while it's certainly a better draw than the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a>, there will be no easy sleep for any Maverick if that's who the opponent is.</span></li>
<li> <span>Do you want an example of why this game changes so drastically with Westbrook playing? Look at this defense.</span><a style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4148661/3-17DurantDouble.png" target="_blank"><img alt="3-17durantdouble_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4148661/3-17DurantDouble_medium.png"></a> </li>
<li> <span>Kevin Durant</span> is the second-best player in the league and one of the best players of his generation. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> have gone with a let-him-get-his-points approach and he's dropped 50, so tonight, whenever he brought the ball up the court, they would double team him with the center (Dirk did it once, but Blair or Wright worked much better).</li>
<li> <span>Derek Fisher</span> is wide open in the corner, but he's two passes away. The ball rotates, but Calderon doesn't have to worry about blazing speed and closes hard to prevent the three, which is about the only thing Fisher can hit these days. That gives time for Blair, who doubled up top on Durant, to recover to Ibaka, his man. And while Ibaka does get a good look at a hook shot, that's not really his game.</li>
<li>The gif <a href="http://twitpic.com/dyjvzj">can be found here</a> if you're interested.</li>
<li>If Westbrook's in that corner instead of Fisher, then the threat of him hitting that three pointer or, more likely, blowing by a closing Calderon are much higher.</li>
<li>And rapid-fire style: Man, I still like Caron Butler. It makes me sad that Wayne didn't crack the regular rotation tonight. What a game from <span>Shawn Marion</span>, who ever since the 2011 playoff series, loves to kill the Thunder. Congrats to <span>Vince Carter</span>, topping 23,000 points for his career. From VanIblis in the game recap comments, Dirk has shot under 42 percent from the field just three times in his last 25 games. He's good.</li>
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<h4>Socially Acceptable</h4>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>You might need to rethink your point guard situation if you're playing one that gets outmatched athletically by <span>Jose Calderon</span>.</p>
— Josh Bowe (@Boweman55) <a href="https://twitter.com/Boweman55/statuses/445360189034598401">March 17, 2014</a>
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<p>Calderon just played good man-on-man defense, but it was against Derek Fisher, so it doesn't count, right?</p>
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cato/statuses/445342716407185408">March 16, 2014</a>
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<p>Fisher learned the game from Bob Cousy, voted for FDR's third term, was a fan of the Beatles before they blew up. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23dfishfacts&src=hash">#dfishfacts</a></p>
— Mavs Moneyball (@mavsmoneyball) <a href="https://twitter.com/mavsmoneyball/statuses/445344177031639040">March 16, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>How will Dallas lose this lead? <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WereAllThinkingItSoDontYellAtMe&src=hash">#WereAllThinkingItSoDontYellAtMe</a></p>
— Kirk Henderson (@KirkSeriousFace) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirkSeriousFace/statuses/445360767114543104">March 17, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Over OKC. WEIRD. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/mdug">@mdug</a>: With the 23-point win, Mavs have their largest margin of victory this season.</p>
— Rebecca Lawson (@beccaaftersix) <a href="https://twitter.com/beccaaftersix/statuses/445369425760231424">March 17, 2014</a>
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<h4>If you like .gif</h4>
<p><b><span>Brandan Wright</span> is ridiculous. That is all.</b></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4148701/3-16wrightoop.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="3-16wrightoop_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4148701/3-16wrightoop_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p><b>I'll give a cookie to anyone who can explain to me how Monta made that pass.</b></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4148709/3-17montapass.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="3-17montapass_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4148709/3-17montapass_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p><b>When you get blocked by Jose Calderon, it might be time to retire.</b></p>
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<p><b>I don't have anything to add. Just Shawn Marion at his finest.</b></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4148725/3-17marionbuckets.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="3-17marionbuckets_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4148725/3-17marionbuckets_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p><b>That's a 37 year old and a 35 year old teaming up for a full-court pass and fast break dunk.</b></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4148733/3-17vincepass.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="3-17vincepass_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4148733/3-17vincepass_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1395040304726"></p>
<h4>Some light reading</h4>
<ul>
<li><span>You read <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/16/5516466/recap-mavericks-dominate-thunder-109-86">our recap</a>, right? Add a comment with your thoughts!</span></li>
<li><span>Do you like buying Mavs gear? Do you want to win a free $50 NBA.com Store gift card? W<a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/16/5515498/predict-the-mavs-celtics-score-for-a-chance-to-win-a-50-nba-store">e've got a relatively simple contest running today</a> that can help you with just that. Seriously, no strings attached -- just make a prediction and we'll let you know if you're the winner.</span></li>
<li> <span>After the game, <a href="http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/03/devin-harris-nearly-over-throws-brandan-wright-on-alley-oop.html/">Wright had this to say</a> about his ridiculous alley oop: "</span>As long as he doesn't throw it over the backboard, I'm in good shape."</li>
<li>What do margaritas, Monta and the Matrix have in common other than the letter 'm'? Well, the two Mavericks bartended at On the Border and made some Montaritas, so of course we were out there seeing what it was all about. <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/14/5509702/shawn-marion-monta-ellis-guest-bartending-dallas-mavericks">Here's the scoop from Rebecca</a>.</li>
<li>Totally unrelated to anything Mavericks or MMB, but <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/3/14/5507530/rasheed-wallace-detroit-pistons-coach-feature-2014">I really enjoyed this feature story by James Herbert</a> about Rasheed Wallace's transition to a coach.</li>
<li>And finally, a little Texas Legends stuff: I was at Friday's game and <a href="http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/15/5511098/nba-d-league-dallas-mavericks-shane-larkin-texas-legends">Shane Larkin had his best game in the D-League</a> with 21 points and 11 assists. I thought he was pretty open and informative in the three-minute conversation I had with him.</li>
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<h4>Haiku and goodbye</h4>
<p><i>One day, he will jump</i></p>
<p><i>And he'll go straight up to space</i></p>
<p><i>Goodbye, Brandan Wright</i></p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/17/5517242/dallas-mavericks-oklahoma-city-thunder-aftermath-109-86Tim Cato2014-03-16T20:26:19-05:002014-03-16T20:26:19-05:00Mavericks dominate Thunder, 109-86
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<figcaption>Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>OKC was without Westbrook but Dallas hammered the Thunder with a decisive road win. The 11-game losing streak to OKC is over.</p> <p><i>This feels like 2011. </i>That's what kept running through my mind during Sunday night's dominant win against the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Thunder</a>. Sure, OKC was without two starters (well, three. But Kendrick Perkins doesn't count) but the Mavs were obliterating the Thunder in every sense.</p>
<p>There was that crisp ball movement, some hustling defense and an ability to withstand huge scoring binges from OKC. It feels like whenever the Mavs have a double digit lead this season, it's a matter of time before it's a close game again. But that wasn't the case tonight.</p>
<p>Even when Durant would grab a rebound and pop a quick three, Dallas stayed composed. They ran their stuff. They put the ball in their point guards' capable hands, worked through Dirk and role players, finished their open shots. It was beautiful basketball against a Thunder team that even without <span>Russell Westbrook</span> is still a matchup nightmare for the Mavs with Durant, <span>Serge Ibaka</span>, <span>Reggie Jackson</span> and the young legs they have off the bench.</p>
<p>Luckily, <span>Scott Brooks</span> has decided that <span>Caron Butler</span> and Derek Fisher are more important than those younger guys. Those two played 46 minutes of no defense, no energy and shot a combined 4-of-15.</p>
<p>But it was close early. Dallas kept hitting shots and challenged Ibaka and Durant and sort of let those other Thunder players get shots to knock down. They were going all out on surrounding Durant and Ibaka and took their chances on OKC's role players. That made a huge difference. Durant was great too! He scored 30 and hit four threes. But no one else on OKC did much.</p>
<p>And everyone on Dallas chipped in. Dirk had a quiet 17 but made 50 percent of his shots and two threes. He also made some good passes. <span>Shawn Marion</span> turned back the clock with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Marion's been an offensive no-show this season, and the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> are a wildly different team when he's making shots, getting in the paint and somehow making three pointers.</p>
<p><span>Vince Carter</span> carried the team in the third quarter and was a big part of pushing the lead into the 20s. He was 4-of-8 from three and a lot of those came within the offense.</p>
<p>It was just a spectacular win. Dallas defended and their bench was dominant. The Mavericks trio of Carter, <span>Devin Harris</span> and <span>Brandan Wright</span> are blowing the doors off other team's bench units. Especially when OKC's bench consisted of the aging Butler and Fisher.</p>
<p>Good win. Let's talk about how happy we are in the comments.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/16/5516466/recap-mavericks-dominate-thunder-109-86Josh Bowe2014-03-16T17:00:02-05:002014-03-16T17:00:02-05:00GAME THREAD: Mavericks at Thunder
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<figcaption>Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Any given Sunday?</p> <p><strong>WHO:</strong> Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder</p>
<p><strong>WHAT:</strong> A look into the Mavericks' possible playoff future.</p>
<p><strong>WHERE:</strong> Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</p>
<p><strong>WHEN:</strong> 6:00 p.m. CDT</p>
<p><strong>HOW:</strong> FSSW</p>
<p><strong>THE STORY:</strong> Listen, the Thunder are really good, okay? But as Tim mentioned in his preview this morning, they've let up a little in recent weeks, going 5-5 in their last 10 games. Let's put it this way: I don't expect the Mavs to win this game. But any given Sunday and all that, I think they have a chance if they show some of that same determination they showed against the Blazers and Pacers. Coming off three days' rest they should be good to go from a fatigue standpoint, so it's the same story as always: keep the shooting hot, get the ball to the big German guy and play a LITTLE defense...and just maybe.</p>
<p>Gooooooooo Mavs!</p>
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https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/16/5515290/game-thread-dallas-mavericks-at-oklahoma-city-thunderRebecca Lawson2014-03-16T11:58:52-05:002014-03-16T11:58:52-05:00Game Day Poll: Pick Your Poison
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<figcaption>Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>It's been a long time since Dallas faced off against the Thunder</p> <p>The NBA schedule can be strange at times. After playing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> for their fifth game of the regular season way back in November, this March 16th game will be the first time the two teams have matched up. It's been a hectic season for the Thunder: as they've garnered one of the best records in the West, they've also dealt with injuries to two of their starters in <span>Russell Westbrook</span> and Thabo Sefolosha. During this time, <span>Kevin Durant</span> has staked his claim as a clear alternative to Lebron James for the MVP race.</p>
<p>With Westbrook back and the addition of <span>Caron Butler</span> to their line up, the Thunder have been inconsistent at best, and now may be one of the best chances since the 2011 Western Conference Finals for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> to beat the Thunder. It would only be the second time, as Dallas has gone 1-15 versus the Thunder, including both pre and post season.</p>
<p>All that being said, which Thunder superstar concerns you more: Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook? Durant is, as mentioned, a MVP candidate. But the force of nature that is Westbrook always terrifies me. <span>Devin Harris</span> may be the only guard on the Maverick roster capable of even annoying Westbrook on defense as we all know Calderon and <span>Monta Ellis</span> are not what you'd call lock down defenders. Let us know by taking the poll and sharing your comments below!</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/16/5514764/game-day-poll-pick-your-poisonKirk Henderson2014-03-16T08:00:12-05:002014-03-16T08:00:12-05:00Four-Pointer: Previewing the Thunder
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<figcaption>Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Tonight, the Mavericks travel the long, arduous trip up to Oklahoma -- okay, it's not even an hour by charter flight. But in a potential first round playoff match-up, this game has major implications.</p> <h4>What has Oklahoma City done lately?</h4>
<p>Although they've won five of their last seven, they're also 5-5 in their last ten. The team is treading water, giving up some valuable wins to let San Antonio take the number one seed, but still beating enough squads to remain a terrifying playoff match-up.</p>
<h4>What are the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder's</a> biggest strength and weakness?</h4>
<p><span>Kevin Durant</span> is a superstar. He's a player that you can rely on when it gets tough. He already has more than 2,000 points on the season, while none of his teammates have broken the 1,000 point plateau. Obviously, that's in large part due to Russell Westbrook's injury problems this season, but in his absence, the team relied on Durant and thrived. That's a strength and a weakness in one, I guess. Durant is the man, but also, he's the man. Like Dirk in 2011, Durant is going to need a couple of his teammates to step up every single night in the playoffs. Are his capable of that?</p>
<h4>What's the biggest matchup to watch?</h4>
<p><span>Caron Butler</span> on Vince Carter. Don't you love reading that? I was a huge fan of Butler in Dallas and it'll be good to see him back on the court playing meaningful minutes. And it's not just nostalgia -- the bench could determine who wins this game, and a lot of it hinges on these two veterans and the tone they set off of it.</p>
<h4>What do the Mavs need to do to be successful against the Thunder?</h4>
<p>A couple of weeks ago, I would be a lot more pessimistic about this game against an elite Western Conference team on the road. But after watching Dallas beat Indiana and Portland with my own eyes, maybe this squad can get something going. The key is defense -- Durant will get his against an aging Marion or Jae "the Beast" Crowder, and that's okay. But it'll be much, much tougher to overcome 25 points from <span>Reggie Jackson</span> or 50 from the bench.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2014/3/16/5514192/four-pointer-previewing-the-oklahoma-city-thunderTim Cato