SUBJECT: Mavs (11-6)
TRACKING… GM. 1 • 11/26 V. LAC
L, 114-99
Game 1 of our tracking… period kicked off with Dallas’s toughest opponent to date: a Kawhi Leonard/Paul George-led Clipper team looking to make a statement. From the outset, Dallas seemed a step behind - LAC’s ability to switch and throw multiple defenders at Luka Doncic disrupted his offensive rhythm, giving the supporting cast more opportunities to make plays.
Throughout the game, however, there wasn’t enough consistent shot-making or offensive creation to put pressure on LAC’s defenders. To make matters worse, Paul George (17! 1st-quarter pts, finished with 26), Kawhi (28 pts) & Lou Williams (21, 6 & 6) got off with little resistance.
Now, LAC’s big 3 is expected to play well but with Doncic struggling from the field (4/14) & with ball security (7 TOs), Dallas was simply overmatched.
The lone bright spots (off Coach Carlisle’s bench) were Seth Curry (13 pts in 18 min.) & JJ Barea (12 pts in 16 minutes). Barea, in particular, had a nice 3rd-quarter stint - 1st sub in the second half, scored 10 pts. It’s interesting to note how Coach Carlisle will handle his guard rotation in Phoenix on Friday - Delon Wright, Tim Hardaway Jr., Barea, Curry & Jalen Brunson all stake a claim for minutes.
Something else worth nothing is the shot selection & effectiveness of Kristaps Porzingis, who’s clearly still working his way back to form. In an offense that’s catered towards Luka (rightfully) operating with a barrage of PnRs, Porzingis is mainly delegated to spot shooting duties (4/13 overall, 3/8 from deep).
Until he’s more comfortable operating down low, it's a challenge for Dallas to take pressure off Doncic in the halfcourt.
QUICK NOTES
Starting 5: Luka-THJ-DFS-Porzingis-Powell
Doncic-Wright-THJ-KP-BOBAN (1Q lineup)
T. Hardaway Jr: 8 pts (3/8 shooting) in 29 min.
D. Powell: 3 rebounds in 24 min.
D. Wright: 4 & 4 boards in 17 min. (off bench)
DAL: 20 TOs; avg. 13 on the season (3rd fewest in NBA)
DAL: outrebounded 56-46
DAL: 16 dimes v. 20 TOs
DAL: 11/38 from deep
BARO NOTES
No natural matchup to defend Paul George, especially w/ DFS checking Kawhi
Struggled mightily setting up offense w/o Luka on the floor
Not many clean looks afforded by Clips; Mavs settling for jumpers
LAC’s bigs (Harrell, Zubac & Green) gave DAL’s frontline trouble on the glass & interior - Coach Carlisle must decide upon (& stick with) a solid 3-big rotation