Kidd coached a good series against OKC too. Got this team to play enough team defense for their ball screen wizards to take over late.
I genuinely do not understand why this team is awesome at defense. Gafford, Lively, and Washington were nobody’s idea of elite defenders back in March as far as I know.
So far Minnesota just doesn’t have an answer on dribble penetration. If the weak side defender helps it’s an alley oop dunk, if they don’t help it’s an easy layup or dunk. As I mentioned before Dallas has at least 115 paint points, in 2 games.
Pacers make it to the ECF for the first time in a decade AAAAAAAAAND IT’S GONE!
Report: Pacers’ Haliburton unlikely to play Game 3
Which is why Wemby will win multiple DPOYs for the next decade. Provides rim protection, but can switch reasonably well.
Hopefully, he won’t have Ralph Sampson’s knee issues. I just worry about somebody so tall and thin.
Gafford should get comeback POY for doing this after Ant killed him
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You guys realize that these Dallas centers aren’t actually good - if you can jump and catch and play with Luka, you’re gonna score points. Gafford is a replacement level center who looked like a star for 2 months now. He and Lively are guys, their D is way more impressive than offense.
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Don’t think there’s a player I enjoy watching more than Kyrie. Jamal Crawford is the only one I can think of.
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If that were the case Dwight Powell would’ve been doing what Gafford is doing and this no need to make the trade.
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I sad “could jump and catch”
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https://x.com/nba/status/783743596428091392?s=46&t=9MMrM6gOVy1pXVWIuEkHnw
I think this is the only career dunk he has 
Gafford may be an average center but Lively is very good especially for a 20 year old rookie. Watch him on the short roll when Luka gets blitzed. His passing is outstanding. He may not have much of offensive game yet but he’s a an elite rim runner and a very good defensive player.
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This thread is doing a lot to help me process “Dallas’ personnel is somehow elite on D”
https://twitter.com/bowser2bowser/status/1794907815485866388?s=46&t=pI3vfmsWTFNvkSEe6OFpuA
I think a lot of it is also Minnesota just doesn’t know what to do with Gobert if it’s not screen for the ball.
I mean, for now that doesn’t really matter. Lively and Gafford are doing what they’re supposed to do, and Dallas is currently one win from the NBA finals.
Minnesota has been a poor offense all year too
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He had a significant drop-off this year but last season he averaged a dunk a game and 1.3 per the year before.
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Gafford had close to 4 with Dallas and 2 a game in 4 years in DC in equivalent minutes