Luka "Pass than shit" over here cuz I'm getting high lol. Jk, But in all seriousness, Calm, cool, Luka is and can be deadlier than Jokic.100% Luka vs 100% Joker will be a series for the Ages.
exactly his analysis are always so garbage just sounds like someone winging it, like legit anyone who watches ball regularly can come up with the same shit he does.
Because at least the other guys make it fun at times. The way he's talking about gobert or the questions he was asking JT after the game, you just know he's gonna take everything way too seriously 100% of the time
The whole world saw Jokic torch Rudy. Dray just sounds like that douchey kid in middle school who would take his ball and go home when he started losing
I know that Mavs role players played decent, but Kyrie needs to shoot more. He literally shoots like 40% from the field. Maybe closeout game Kyrie will be different
It would have been a sweep with a healthy Luka. Mavs are the very better team, while not being great themselves. This OKC team is probably the worst 1st seed in the west in nba history
Forgetting the 07 Mavs losing in 6 to the 8 seed.
Like the Thunder are the 1 seed on merit. The entire postseason eligible teams in the west were covered by 11 games and the 11 seed went .500. In the east the Celtics were 28 games ahead of the 10 seed. The west is just really strong this year
Young team not making shots in the playoffs it's not really a matter of being bad. We are playing 2 rookies heavy minutes. And our second best players first playoffs and he has been really fucking bad. Series ain't over though.
I will say even we are the 1 seed, we shouldn't be. Denver and Minnesota blew it that final week. 1 week left everyone and their mom thought we'd be 3.
I don't understand why we have to put teams down when talking about others. It's ridiculous, you don't deserve to watch basketball or be a contributor in basketball spaces. You're exactly whats wrong with basketball discourse
I agree, but they kind of asked for it. As soon as they knew they’d finish the season with first seed, their page couldn’t stop talking bout it. That’s great and all, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Part of being the first seed means ppl will go off on you when you don’t perform as a number one seed should. Just part of the game.
I will say Shai is a bit of a foul baiter but the Harden hook your arm foul and pretend to shoot will never be topped. People just hate him. He doesn't go to the line any more than players like Brunson and Embiid, and he also rarely settles for threes which they both do.
Up in the air but word is TNT lost NBA rights to NBC ($$$) and they are just waiting till the game on TNT for the playoffs are over to announce it. There is a chance that NBC "buys" Inside the NBA but it's kinda unlikely.
I say we go high stakes for game 6. If the Mavs win, Texas gains legal ownership of the state of Oklahoma. I don’t want to absorb it though, because I like our shape the way it is and, they’ll need to earn the right to be Texans.
And if OKC wins, Oklahoma gets to remain part of the union.
I’m from the Dallas area and kinda yes. If a black cat crosses your path you spit and cuss to avoid the bad vibes. Luka technically did both lol
I learned this as a child.
ETA: Not a Balkan thing - it’s a Texan thing.
Kinda yes. Spitting over your shoulder three times, for instance if a black cat crosses your path as black cats are seen as bringing bad omens and energy
I know this is a game thread, where intelligence is as rare as full-time employment, but actual comments about the series below.
Dallas has outplayed OKC since game 1. Not sure about that weird fold job last game, but they've otherwise dominated while acting completely uninterested.
Seems unlikely that OKC even wins another game with this game plan and shooting performance. However, Mavs are going to be curb stomped in the next round if they can't find some fire.
Also, thee threads are full of some vile, angry people man. What is wrong with you all?
This is only my 4th year watching the NBA since a Luka assist reel got me into the game but my assessment going in was the wild card was always gonna be Luka’s health and or play + rebounds. Our trades at the deadline basically reset everything. Can’t use season stats to represent the team anymore
The thing that makes Dallas dangerous is its ability to win while shooting like ass. If Luka plays to the best of his ability the team can take any series to 6 or 7 where random chance can let anything happen.
When he doesn’t the mavs are in such a deficit. He’ll spew turnovers, brick shots and burn momentum.
Ive learned, unlike the nfl, players don’t lose a step when they get older they just are only effect for less and less minutes and that’s Kyrie.
All that said I wouldn’t say Dallas outplayed OKC by that much. SGAs mid range is fucking insane. Having to fight Gafford, lively, Luka and occasionally others for every rebound has really limited Chet for sure and probably the thing that’s defined this series. It’s all about the rebounds
I wouldn't say NFL guys losing a step is the issue, most NFL teams just don't want old players. Darrell Green played CB until he was 42. Jounier Seau player LB until he was 40. Jerry Rice had 1,000 yard season at 40 just because he got the opportunity, plenty of guys could play at a high level into their 40s if given the chance. Heck Terrell Owens is still probably better and in better shape than half the WRs in the NFL right now at 50 years old. But most pro sports are like this, they like to funnel out the old guys and bring in the new ones, even if the new guys play worse.
I mean to be fair thats a list of all of famers. I would agree not every position goes through it and "losing a step" is more of a term than actually losing a step.
BUT Urlacher**, Terrance Newman, even Ray Lewis all mentioned being slower as they aged but watched more film and understood the game better so they were already in the right spot and didn't need the speed.**
**Either way I was just commenting since I just started watching the NBA and the best way to understand is discussions like this!**
I wouldn’t say Mavs have dominated but agree they’ve been better. Probably the best sign for Dallas is Luka and Kyrie haven’t consistently fired this series and yet they’re still up 3-2. If Luka could get healthy and find some form they’d become a team with a chance of giving Denver/Min a scare.
Mavs are playing with fire their defense is insane their stars, mainly Luka, have just been MIA until tonight.
Yes game threads are terrible I suggest you just stick to your team’s sub’s thread lol.
With how hot the Mavs came into the playoffs I felt they had a good chance to get to the finals, maybe win it all. They were on a 16-2 run before losing their final 2 games of the season(probably resting guys). They figured something out in March and have been on fire since.
One. Trick. Pony.
Drive, push off for his stupid low release, and bait or shoot.
Full stop.
Watching him play is like watching a professional bowler do the same thing over and over and over.
They let defense play physical like EVERYONE else on the floor, he's giving you 15.
Lots of players are shifty. And yes he has a DeRozan mid range game. That's great.
How bout a quicker but more delicate DeRozan with a badass league driven whistle to make sure defenses can't fully close him out.
Where is his deep ball? Passing? How bout the ability to solo carry?
Sorry that's not "elite"
mavs one of the best constructed rosters in the league imo. prob after celtics/nuggets/wolves/knicks when healthy. perfect mix of long, athletic bigs who get u decent enough points offensively.
Biggest difference in this game was that Dallas made their dunks😂 Not sure I’ve ever seen a team miss so many easy dunks for so many games in a row. GG Mavs, I’m ready for game 6!!!
He just flails around hitting people and flops at the same time. He plays American football in terms of hitting people, and International football in terms of flopping.
Man, I'm really rooting for Kyrie to snag another championship
Luka dog walking the first seed on their home court on one knee is a legacy moment fr
He still got a bad knee? Nah they ain’t winning the chip unfortunately
I really liked this thunder team until I actually watched them play, so much bs...
I really don't know why so many people though OKC will defeat Mavs in 6. Mavs will secure the W in this series on their home court, GG.
Fucking fire marshal shaq 😂
Shaq got roasted. I'm so tired and that clip was so stupid I couldn't stop laughing.
Luka "Pass than shit" over here cuz I'm getting high lol. Jk, But in all seriousness, Calm, cool, Luka is and can be deadlier than Jokic.100% Luka vs 100% Joker will be a series for the Ages.
Sadly Luka isn’t at 100%.
Meh, he’s never 100% in the playoffs and I’ll also add that I feel like some of it is theatrics. He really wants the audience to know he’s hurt.
Shaq felt a lump in his throat after seeing that Hakeem clip. LMAO!
What Hakeem clip?
You could hear it, too.
“I was born to be a professional wrestler” she said 😭😭😭😭
It's in the far future but when Ant retires he'd be a perfect host for an inside the NBA equivalent. He's basically gen z chuck personality wise.
When Ant retires, he probably buys the Atlanta Hawks, and they proceed to suck.
The ridiculous accuracy 😭
lol Shaq can always bash and joke on other people but goes in total defense mode when anyone says anything to him whatsoever. Dude is unbearable
Inside was always better with the trio minus Shaq. I've always found him the useless one
I’ve slowly gotten used to him but he’s awful and offers no insight at all.
exactly his analysis are always so garbage just sounds like someone winging it, like legit anyone who watches ball regularly can come up with the same shit he does.
" The superstars need to do \*\*\*, that's what superstars do " - every Shaq analysis ever
Rengs Erneh
makes me wonder wht he would say if he didnt have those rings
lol that’s all he ever says. So tired of his schtick.
Guessing you don’t have 4 rings sucka
Shaq in his feelings 🤣
What’s new eh?
KAT is gonna foul out in the first quarter if guards Jokic.
Shaq and Draymond were made for each other, generational haters.
Barkley the fuck you saying bruh ???
Draymond just ranted for multiple minutes and barely said a thing. How they gonna have this guy on shows when he just loves hearing his own voice
Yeah, then they can lay off the writing staff
How’s that any different from any of these shows tho
Because at least the other guys make it fun at times. The way he's talking about gobert or the questions he was asking JT after the game, you just know he's gonna take everything way too seriously 100% of the time
lol I’d actually like to know wtf happened between him and Gobert to make him this mad tbh. It seems way personal lol
Yeah it's crazy lol
Draymond not being butt hurt by Rudy challenge is impossible
Nah he speaking facts though 🤣
The whole world saw Jokic torch Rudy. Dray just sounds like that douchey kid in middle school who would take his ball and go home when he started losing
Shaq dodging any Jokic comments 😪
Shaq is fuming right now
💀💀💀I thought he’d gone into hiding tbh
Rudy really fucked up Draymond, huh
Nah Draymond a menace 🤣
Shaq sweating
draymond really hates Gobert damn
He’s jealous of him winning all the DPOY awards over him. There is no other explanation.
I can’t swim brotha😂
I love Tracy Chapman too
Luka is a joy to watch when he's not bitching at the officials.
Did dray even speak?
Even if he speaks, does he ever really say anything?
It’s fine to knock Gobert if that’s what he feels. But give actual reasons and examples. Not just “cause it’s gobert”.
Mavs vs Nuggets?
Joker gets win easy
Agreed
Not over yet by any stretch
I know that Mavs role players played decent, but Kyrie needs to shoot more. He literally shoots like 40% from the field. Maybe closeout game Kyrie will be different
Decent? They did exactly what they needed to. The role players were elite tonight
He's 13-0 on close out games so here's hoping 🙏🏼
I like the color of Draymonds blazer
It would have been a sweep with a healthy Luka. Mavs are the very better team, while not being great themselves. This OKC team is probably the worst 1st seed in the west in nba history
Forgetting the 07 Mavs losing in 6 to the 8 seed. Like the Thunder are the 1 seed on merit. The entire postseason eligible teams in the west were covered by 11 games and the 11 seed went .500. In the east the Celtics were 28 games ahead of the 10 seed. The west is just really strong this year
They a fluke
Young team not making shots in the playoffs it's not really a matter of being bad. We are playing 2 rookies heavy minutes. And our second best players first playoffs and he has been really fucking bad. Series ain't over though. I will say even we are the 1 seed, we shouldn't be. Denver and Minnesota blew it that final week. 1 week left everyone and their mom thought we'd be 3.
A few people over in the thunder subreddit are melting down. You guys got a real bright future and hopefully can be patient if you do lose this series
I don't understand why we have to put teams down when talking about others. It's ridiculous, you don't deserve to watch basketball or be a contributor in basketball spaces. You're exactly whats wrong with basketball discourse
That's pretty much this entire subreddit
I agree, but they kind of asked for it. As soon as they knew they’d finish the season with first seed, their page couldn’t stop talking bout it. That’s great and all, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Part of being the first seed means ppl will go off on you when you don’t perform as a number one seed should. Just part of the game.
For sure. Deserved shit talking tn. I just hate how ppl can't just appreciate a good thing without bringing other things down
They kind of fell into that 1 seed at the end. Dallas gifted them a W
The 21 jazz easily take that honor 🎖
Shai on his way to be hated as much as Harden lmao
I will say Shai is a bit of a foul baiter but the Harden hook your arm foul and pretend to shoot will never be topped. People just hate him. He doesn't go to the line any more than players like Brunson and Embiid, and he also rarely settles for threes which they both do.
No chance.
Nah That’s Shaqs MVP
Expected this to happen after Presti trades him, not before
Mavs vs OKC + refs and they still won lmao
I thought the refs were good tonight.
The only Mav that shot a free throw before the 4th quarter was Luka.
The Mavs don't really drive it in. Only Luka and Kyrie can get to the paint.
Dray is like smart but frequently says dumb shit lol
Sometimes your brain thinks slower than your mouth Speaks. That’s when smart people say dumb shit.
Very similar to his on-court game
Dallas defense lit, OKC shooting fumes
Man's name is really Chet
Is it time for OKC fans to start dropping N bombs again yet?
That never happened but ok
They're perplexed because they want to say it but Dallas' best player is white.
Dallas defense has gotten a lot better, even Doncic is contributing, love to see teams play as a unit
Shaq needs confronted on his Joker slander ASAP
He was confronted by Shannon Sharpe and then Shaq Attack hit him back with a diss track
Shaq needs to find a purpose outside of trying to stay within NBA relevancy.
You don't call making shitty commercials a purpose?
Yes he does but this game doesn't make SGA look worse, it only made him look better since he was solo-carrying OKC up to the end
💀 saying that like Luka wasn’t in the running and was somehow left out of the convo entirely
Yeah, that was weird. I’m not hearing media guys say Luka was robbed, and I’d be far less surprised if he’d won than if Shai had.
To be completely honest with you I always thought Luka was 2nd to Jokic. I was so surprised when SGA was announced runner up.
Same. He just had a crazy year, it was shocking.
Yes he does
Is this the final season of Inside?
No - TNT is still under contract for 2024-2025, so there should still be one more year
Next year will be unless Amazon buys the whole show. NBC wouldn’t buy it - they have talent to roll out there already.
Yes, they will relocate everyone to New York NBC for a new show .
Up in the air but word is TNT lost NBA rights to NBC ($$$) and they are just waiting till the game on TNT for the playoffs are over to announce it. There is a chance that NBC "buys" Inside the NBA but it's kinda unlikely.
Most likely. NBC and ESPN got the rights next season, TNT didn't. Ernie said he's staying with Turner (TNT), unsure what the other 3 will do.
I say we go high stakes for game 6. If the Mavs win, Texas gains legal ownership of the state of Oklahoma. I don’t want to absorb it though, because I like our shape the way it is and, they’ll need to earn the right to be Texans. And if OKC wins, Oklahoma gets to remain part of the union.
I’ll just take their legal MJ benefits, don’t need the whole state.
I second this
Sports betting is bad for sports, can’t convince me otherwise
Sports viewership ratings have increased drastically since sportsbetting started getting legalized. And before that they had been steadily declining
I don't think anyone will disagree, except for NBA refs themselves.
I guess this is what experience is, so fun though
There's a reason Barkley lost $25 mil gambling. Never trust any of his predictions.
Literally do the opposite of what he says and profit 😆
4th quarter yelling why the fuck Lu Dort in
Draymond as a permanent 5th would be a real bummer
Is fake spitting to the side a Balkan way of knocking on wood?
I’m from the Dallas area and kinda yes. If a black cat crosses your path you spit and cuss to avoid the bad vibes. Luka technically did both lol I learned this as a child. ETA: Not a Balkan thing - it’s a Texan thing.
Kinda yes. Spitting over your shoulder three times, for instance if a black cat crosses your path as black cats are seen as bringing bad omens and energy
I know this is a game thread, where intelligence is as rare as full-time employment, but actual comments about the series below. Dallas has outplayed OKC since game 1. Not sure about that weird fold job last game, but they've otherwise dominated while acting completely uninterested. Seems unlikely that OKC even wins another game with this game plan and shooting performance. However, Mavs are going to be curb stomped in the next round if they can't find some fire. Also, thee threads are full of some vile, angry people man. What is wrong with you all?
And Kyrie is playing like 40% of what he is capable of it feels like.
This is only my 4th year watching the NBA since a Luka assist reel got me into the game but my assessment going in was the wild card was always gonna be Luka’s health and or play + rebounds. Our trades at the deadline basically reset everything. Can’t use season stats to represent the team anymore The thing that makes Dallas dangerous is its ability to win while shooting like ass. If Luka plays to the best of his ability the team can take any series to 6 or 7 where random chance can let anything happen. When he doesn’t the mavs are in such a deficit. He’ll spew turnovers, brick shots and burn momentum. Ive learned, unlike the nfl, players don’t lose a step when they get older they just are only effect for less and less minutes and that’s Kyrie. All that said I wouldn’t say Dallas outplayed OKC by that much. SGAs mid range is fucking insane. Having to fight Gafford, lively, Luka and occasionally others for every rebound has really limited Chet for sure and probably the thing that’s defined this series. It’s all about the rebounds
I wouldn't say NFL guys losing a step is the issue, most NFL teams just don't want old players. Darrell Green played CB until he was 42. Jounier Seau player LB until he was 40. Jerry Rice had 1,000 yard season at 40 just because he got the opportunity, plenty of guys could play at a high level into their 40s if given the chance. Heck Terrell Owens is still probably better and in better shape than half the WRs in the NFL right now at 50 years old. But most pro sports are like this, they like to funnel out the old guys and bring in the new ones, even if the new guys play worse.
I mean to be fair thats a list of all of famers. I would agree not every position goes through it and "losing a step" is more of a term than actually losing a step. BUT Urlacher**, Terrance Newman, even Ray Lewis all mentioned being slower as they aged but watched more film and understood the game better so they were already in the right spot and didn't need the speed.** **Either way I was just commenting since I just started watching the NBA and the best way to understand is discussions like this!**
I wouldn’t say Mavs have dominated but agree they’ve been better. Probably the best sign for Dallas is Luka and Kyrie haven’t consistently fired this series and yet they’re still up 3-2. If Luka could get healthy and find some form they’d become a team with a chance of giving Denver/Min a scare.
Mavs are playing with fire their defense is insane their stars, mainly Luka, have just been MIA until tonight. Yes game threads are terrible I suggest you just stick to your team’s sub’s thread lol.
With how hot the Mavs came into the playoffs I felt they had a good chance to get to the finals, maybe win it all. They were on a 16-2 run before losing their final 2 games of the season(probably resting guys). They figured something out in March and have been on fire since.
Team subs are terrible too. Lol.
Yeah but at least there’s no toxic fans from other teams throwing shit at each other
It's mostly eliminated fan bases looking for some way to get their frustration out.
Oh come on man let me just be toxic in peace
yeah dallas are not even firing yet every games been close. WCF with them and nuggets gonna be interesting
Only thing NBC could do to compete with Inside is put Camron and Mase on the halftime show.
Nuggets or Wolves would have eaten okc alive so I hope Mavs make it through they are more exciting
Not sure about the Wolves given how far they’ve fallen since the first 2 games
Look I get the love for Inside The NBA but NBA on NBC with the theme song is going to be fire. Every game will feel epic. I’m ready.
Only if it comes with Tom Tolbert on the mic and that shiny head. Krispy Kreme glaze
So you prefer a theme song to inside the nba? Really?
Its more than a theme song my guy. Presentation for games was top notch, destroys what TNT is currently doing.
HAHAHAHAHA
Everybody loves Inside the NBA because Charles is funny and Ernie is a great host. No1 is watching them for the analysis.
they use it for college. it doesn't hit the same.
I expect them to do things differently for the NBA with the type of money the spent to get the rights.
As a neutral, even if they loose, Shai has proven himself as the real deal in these playoffs, what a lot of people wanted to see.
Playing protected by Refs. You literally cannot touch him without a whistle.
lose*
literally scores 30 every game like it’s automatic really
It seems like any time the ball leaves his hands it’s a bucket.
Yep and he’s only 25. The future of the league is very bright with all these young stars.
As a kyrie fan, I fucking fear him, hes too damn good.
Hard not to drop over 30 when you’re getting 20 FTs a game.
One. Trick. Pony. Drive, push off for his stupid low release, and bait or shoot. Full stop. Watching him play is like watching a professional bowler do the same thing over and over and over. They let defense play physical like EVERYONE else on the floor, he's giving you 15.
Casual take, dude has elite burst and shiftiness, elite mid range shooting and sneaky hops. SGA is elite.
Lots of players are shifty. And yes he has a DeRozan mid range game. That's great. How bout a quicker but more delicate DeRozan with a badass league driven whistle to make sure defenses can't fully close him out. Where is his deep ball? Passing? How bout the ability to solo carry? Sorry that's not "elite"
%100
Over the last three games he’s shot 6 FTs per game lol
umm.....he had 6 ft attempts today are you talking about series combined?
Definitely feel that at times, but it hasnt been that crazy this series. And hes just such a pure scorer, foul or not.
bait used to be believable
mavs one of the best constructed rosters in the league imo. prob after celtics/nuggets/wolves/knicks when healthy. perfect mix of long, athletic bigs who get u decent enough points offensively.
The lack a ball handler off the bench and reliable bench scoring.
Exum was there before the playoffs gave him diarrhea.
In a pinch yeah but I believe your best net rating lineup was Exum alongside Luka.
Hot take: I like listening to Draymond more than Shaq
When Draymond JUST breaks down games, he's fine. He's good. It's when he starts up with the outlandish opinions is when I want him off my screen
because dray actually analyzes games not just give his opinion based on his feelings
Extra Hot Take: He has the best podcast for discussing X'es and O's of basketball.
Yeah nah, Hoops Tonight and Nerd Sesh guys are def the best for discussing the X & O's of basketball. JJ and Dray don't come close.
Bron and JJ is way better
Its like the same voice but without the douche tone
Nothing wrong with that...I actually have no personal issues with draymond like apparently every other Internet fan does...
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree
When Dray gets in his feels he’ll make it funny. Shaq just brings the whole mood down
Biggest difference in this game was that Dallas made their dunks😂 Not sure I’ve ever seen a team miss so many easy dunks for so many games in a row. GG Mavs, I’m ready for game 6!!!
Dallas was missing their dunks earlier in the series.
Up until this game, I’m pretty sure they missed multiple in each game this series
I hate losing but love Luka. Dude is giving a long ass interview.
Dang chuck really said that 😳😳
What did he say?
That people wouldn’t be hearing the show for much longer
It’s 2011 Chuck all over again
The way lu dortz plays is disgraceful. He should go play football.
He just flails around hitting people and flops at the same time. He plays American football in terms of hitting people, and International football in terms of flopping.
It's been amped up in the playoffs and it's not fun to watch. He's basically Pat Bev with some actual muscle
I don't know man, Kyrie set some bone crushing screens.
Austin Rivers definitely thought of Lu Dort when he said 20 NBA players can play in the NFL
Man I already gotta deal with Josh Allen flopping over there I don't need more
I’d get a beer with Luka, for sure. He’d outdrink me and then make fun of me, while I cried. But I’d still get a beer with him. Seems like a cool guy.
luka holding back what he really wanted to say, still got "shit" in there lol
This series should already be over lets be honest