This is where my son is at. He thinks that so long as the series doesn’t go 7, the Mavs will get plenty of rest, so he’d rather keep the rust equal.I think I want the Mavs to win tomorrow so that the rust factor is equal.
At the end of the day, I refuse to believe a team running out Luka and Kyrie isn't going to have defensive problems, regardless of the last month.If Wolves pull off the comeback from 3-0, they will be too scary at that point, with too much momentum, will probably have figured out a lot of things and C's will be rusty. Worst case scenario IMHO.
I'd like to see Mavs worn down in 6 or 7.
Kyrie has been legitimately good at defense during the playoffs. Not like, good for Kyrie - good good.At the end of the day, I refuse to believe a team running out Luka and Kyrie isn't going to have defensive problems, regardless of the last month.
And then a bench clearing brawl leading to 4 game suspensions for the major players.Game 7 going into 4 OT oughta do it
I agree with this, with the caveat that it could also be a very unsatisfying outcome it would provide.I want Dallas, because the two most satisfying outcomes a Finals could possibly provide are (in order): (1) Celtics raising another banner (2) dominant two-way players proving more impactful once and for all than POINTZ-oriented stars. A Dallas-Boston series could potentially deliver both.
I’m not sure what Luka’s knee issue is but he feels like a guy who could certainly benefit from the rest.I want Dallas to wrap it up tonight. They'll have just as much rest - or rust - as Boston, but they don't have someone who needs the rest like Porzingis. Worst case in my view is if Dallas has to play a couple more games and then gets a number of days off. They'd still be in rhythm and in game shape, but with enough rest to be ready to rock & roll for the finals. If they're going to win I want them either to have a bloodbath that goes 7, or they just wrap it up tonight and have a long layoff too.
Luka and Lively are both hurt to varying degreesI want Dallas to wrap it up tonight. They'll have just as much rest - or rust - as Boston, but they don't have someone who needs the rest like Porzingis. Worst case in my view is if Dallas has to play a couple more games and then gets a number of days off. They'd still be in rhythm and in game shape, but with enough rest to be ready to rock & roll for the finals. If they're going to win I want them either to have a bloodbath that goes 7, or they just wrap it up tonight and have a long layoff too.
At least three of Towns’ fouls were questionable. The two charges were very borderline.. I don’t think the defender was set on either. There was another that I thought was a very weak call as well.. especially given the amount of contact Ant was taking on a number of drives.Denver certainly wasn’t rusty playing on nine days rest last season, winning the first half against the Heat, 59-42, on the way to a comfortable victory. Boston wasn’t rusty after six days rest against the Cavs, going for 40 first quarter points in an easy win, and weren’t rusty on five days rest in the game one win against the Pacers. Their defensive struggles to me were not about being rusty, since they continued throughout most of the series.
The Celtics have experience dealing with long layoffs between series. I’m hoping the WCF goes at least six games, and if Minny can cut down on the stupidity, that could easily happen. The more games the Mavs have to play, the more mileage on the oft injured Kyrie, and the already gimpy Doncic, who looks like he’s being held together with duct tape.
Regarding the Minnesota stupidity, KAT was fortunate to catch fire from three late in game four. If they got swept, his boneheaded play would have become part of Wolves lore. How many stupid fouls can one player take in an elimination game? KAT answered that question. Six. Also, why does Anthony Edwards think dribbling sideways against a locked in Dallas defense is a good idea? If Minnesota lost, he would have had a lot to answer for, with his crunch time play: turnover in traffic in the lane, missed layup, missed mid-range jumper, fouling a three point shooter up six with 13 seconds left. AE’s clutch 22 foot jumper up three with 39 seconds helped save him and his teammates from another confounding loss, and even that was a dumb shot, right inside the three point line. But it went in, and now he has an opportunity to show out at home in game five.
Towns fucks himself with one or two dumb ones a game though, which makes these other 50/50 calls much more impactful. His reach in 50 feet from the basket and his over the back on a rebound he had no chance of getting in the 3rd quarter were the really bad ones last night. On the upside, he should be well rested for Thursday!At least three of Towns’ fouls were questionable. The two charges were very borderline.. I don’t think the defender was set on either. There was another that I thought was a very weak call as well.. especially given the amount of contact Ant was taking on a number of drives.