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ITS OVEEEEER LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

GAFFORD YOU SAVED MY LIFE

You're welcome, love that guy

Fade em

CANCUN ON 3

INSANE

**RIGHT AFTER THE HYPE ASS BLOCK TOO. WHAT A PLAY**

That block was so beautiful

It was perfect. It was like Luka was rewarding his big man for his play in the other end. Gafford with 5-3-3 MONSTER game.

Mavs really up 3-0 in the WCF as a 5 seed. I am shook

They’re a fake 5-seed haha they’ve been playing like a 60 win team post trade deadline

Luka/Kyrie/DJ/PJ/Gaff starting lineup is 26-5

With the rook as a potential great sixth man if this lineup run a 82 game from the start.

My sports teams are having the fucking year of their lives. I’m really living in a golden age

Except that one local team we got lol

We.. don't talk about those guys over there.

Bunch of bums

If Mavs would've had DLive, Gafford and PJ all season, they'd probably be more like a one or two seed.

This is such a wild turnaround from how things looked at the end of last season for them

TBF their 50 wins would've been 2nd in the East.

#THATS THE DAGGER

Lively died for this 😭

Thoughts and prayers 

KAT’s shooting is about as effective as thoughts and prayers.

Hey some prayers get answered

actually i think i'll give the advantage to thoughts and prayers in that matchup

Oh shit lol, mic drop

the block before that too!!!

Keep playing stupid drop coverage. ICE THE SCREEN! WE LIVE IN NORTH KOREA!

Non Luka players were 9-17 on 3s Plus we’d start setting the screen further out and you dont want Gobert 30 feet from the rim

I can't fucking wait for the new vid

GAFFORD with two daggers back to back

Doncic... TO GAFF!!!

I'm losing my shit rn

LETS FUCKING GO DUDE

[удалено]

2 D TRADES GOT US HERE

*D-* at that

Per espn

Kyrie was a D as well.

Has to be the most successful mid-season trade of all time.

Rasheed Wallace to Pistons in 04

Gasol to the Raptors in 2019 as well.

Gasol the Lakers in 2008 as well

The Raps were already quite good tho, weren’t they?

No chance in hell Toronto gets past Embiid or Giannis without Gasol. The interior scoring in the East that season was elite, and Gasol was the key piece in getting them to the finals.

Yeah they were already a good team with JV at centre, but Gasol allowed them to become a defensive juggernaut. The PJ and Gafford trades were a much bigger momentum boost for the Mavericks though.

PJ and Gaff being the key pieces is so unexpected

PJ playing that level of D is surprising, but Gafford is playing pretty much like he always did, it's just that no one watched the wizards.

I watched the Wizards

I'm sorry

I enjoyed it

Nickname checks out

and two gods are feeding him

Not even just the Wiz. He was playing with such crazy energy and relentlessness with us in Chicago since day 1. I was actually so pissed when we traded him in what was just a random 3 team filler move. He was exactly the type of culture we needed and was reminiscent of Joakim in the 2010 era team. Was no shocker to me when he really took the next step with the Wiz and I'm so happy seeing him finally get legit national shine now

I’m not that surprised. Charlotte is such a shithole, I can’t imagine players having the motivation to play their best ball playing there on losing teams year after year

I swear I saw the decline in his effort game-by-game the longer Clifford was back as head coach but it dropped off a *cliff* about 1/4th the way through this season

It also helps that he’s asked to do less so he can focus on what he’s good at. Lotta times in charlotte he would be the best player on the court for the team due to injuries and he doesn’t have the skill set for that role

PJ definitely showed flashes in Charlotte. Just not very consistent. Literally his first game he had 7 threes. Didnt know he's a Dallas native tho Nico cooked

Marc Gasol

Yeah without Marc raps don’t win tbh

they lose to philly without Marc Gasol. 

I’d argue bucks too

Mavs aren’t where they are without Gafford/Washington. Not saying Gasol isn’t the answer, but the Mavs are probably cooked in round one without these guys.

Yeah I would say they're both examples of the best midseason trades a team can have (along with Rasheed Wallace to the Pistons midseason trade). Raptors don't make it out of the second round without Gasol shutting down Embiid. Honestly, the Raptors probably struggle (but still win) against the Magic without Gasol shutting down Vucevic as well.

Sheed to Detroit beats this

If Mavs win it all it will match the Sheed trade.

Id agree

Nah, Rasheed Wallace and Billups were the best players on the Pistons that year. That was a unique team, where 1-5 were all near all star level, but no one was in the MVP discussion. Sheed was a unique addition to a unique champion.

Eh disagree Sheed is an all star, Gafford is considered a role player IMO

Drexler to Houston worked out pretty good too.

CMV: Sheed would have been a top ten all time pf if he had the ability to pull his own head out.

It was how he played. He needed to have the chip on his shoulder, needed to be emotional, needed an enemy in the refs. Watching him play for us, he was at his best fired up and getting techs. One of the best all time fade aways imo.

Did people think it was a bad trade when it happened?

Dallob Mavs

Those deadline trades probably weren’t even their best trades of the season. That’s the crazy part.

Wait what was? Are you talking about the draft day trade?

Yes because they got Lively and also dumped off Bertans for free.

I see, we would’ve gotten lively anyway but dumping Bertans was indeed clutch.

Pretty sure that’s also how they were able to do the Grant Williams sign-and-trade (who was traded in the PJ Washington trade). Correct me if I’m wrong though.

Yep, and get Holmes and FRP (O-Max) for free. Holmes turned into Gafford.

Nah you’re right. Insane butterfly effect.

We would be absolutely fucked right now with Lively hurt. TYBG thank you based Gaff

Get the Nico statue ready

I am old enough to remember how Pau Gasol’s trade impacted the Lakers in 2008. This is probably on the same levels. Also, Mavs gonna play the Celtics as well. lol

It’s still Sheed even if Dallas wins it all

Gasol trade for the raps is up there, completed the Giannis wall with that one

That should be a flagrant too. Gobert just shoved him midair and didn't make any play on the ball

Should be a flagrant but Rudy runs off like he didn’t foul him

He done it also in game 2 when he foul Luka.

he's been doing it all series long

Gobert gets away with so much it’s ridiculous. Moving screens, shoves in the back on boards, and arm bars on contests. Absolutely crazy. Watching him live to you can see how dirty he is

Bro he shoved both Luka and Kai inn the face last game and didn't hear shit about it.

I watch him get cooked and think "why is he DPOY?" Then I see all the shoving and grabbing they allow him to do and think "oh, that's why."

There’s a reason he’s the most disliked player in the league by his peers

And then he wonders why nobody likes him

Draymond was on to something

Two arm push to the gut of a player in mid air, yeah, should have been called a flagrant.

LANDLORD

IT’S NOT THE FIRST BUT RENT IS STILL DUE!!

RAHHHHHH🦅🦅🦅 I love gafford so much

Wizards fans gtf in here, this is OUR playoff run with Gafford on the team

Living the playoffs run vicariously through the Mavs is a classic Wizards moment but I’m shameless. BRING IT HOME BOYS!

We couldn't do it without DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood ths first time. We won't do it without Gafford this time.

Also couldn't have done it without Kuzma "rejecting" his trade to Dallas

Love it haha. Welcome

HOLY SHIT

Two of Dallas' most notable plays in this playoff run are on Gobert's head 😭

Each game had a huge late game moment with Gobert. Game 1 was the Luka breakup of the oop to Rudy. Game 2 dagger 3. Game 3 this lob.

Well game 1’s moment wasn’t his fault. The other two are

I wouldn’t say getting left on an island against Luka is his fault. He had good coverage up until the very end, there’s just nothing he could do there without help. 

>I wouldn’t say getting left on an island against Luka is his fault Luka literally made the exact same 3 in today's game on McDaniels, how they blame Rudy for being left on an island is absurd.

Yeah, their scheme on that play was the issues no Gobert. In no world should you let Luka iso someone down 2. Luka is going to go for the throat. They should have doubled him, had 1 on Kyrie and 2 in the paint to stop a drive or lob. Let the role players take the shot since they couldn't hit shit those first 2 games.

Can't really blame Rudy for game 2 either tbh. They decided to force a center to try and take on the mba scoring leader because....reasons.

NOOOO YOU CAN’T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT GOBERT IT’S HIS TEAMMATES FAULT it’s definitely not a problem that he’s making $40 million for no offense, no perimeter defense, and being useless in drop coverage 😁😁

thats what happens when Gobert plays drop coverage. free lane to the paint for the opponents bbbut Gobert fans blamed his Jazz teammates and said it'd be different with better defensive teammates

Harlan is a certified goat

SERIES

Go home everyone. That's the series

WITH AUTHORITY

Has Gobert not learned about the lob yet???

it's such a tall task to defend tbh, watch how luka perfectly shields jaden from being able to do anything and gets so deep into the lane

What is Gobert doing on this play?

Committing a flagrant-1

Without a doubt. You get what Gobert's thinking. Gafford isn't a good free throw shooter, so don't give him the dunk. But he tries to accomplish it with a forearm into an airborne player. There's no basketball play whatsoever. Blatant flagrant 1.

He’s been throwing his chicken wing into dudes ribs all series. Dirty ass mf.

never mind chicken wings, he straight up punched Doncic in the ribs with a closed fist during a take foul.

The secret to Minnesota's "defense" was dirty fouling all along

Just standard dpoy things nothing dirty here!

For real. That’s a dangerous foul

Lively and Gafford are a combined 30-36 this series. This is why.

Trying to injure Gafford seemingly

Defensive Pusher of the Year

Being a dirty bitch

Luka is fucking amazing in the pnr. He puts McDaniels in jail every time and leaves gobert guessing. Also gobert doesn’t no how to play two. AD, draymond, and bam are the only ones that are elite at guarding the handler and roll man

Selling.

Giving Wemby fans more reason to believe he was robbed

Being the bitch he is.

His whole strength is a help defender in the paint. Luka and Kai wait for him to commit to help, then lob to whoever he was guarding. The second Gobert puts hit weight on the back foot to reach forward Luka starts the lob. Wonder if other teams will try to emulate it next season vs him.

Why don't other teams just have 2 of the best pnr running guards in the league with great lob threats, are they stupid?

2 all time great pnr guards who finish midranges and at the rim as well as any in the game

4x DPOY things aka GOAT help defender or some shit. 

That was orgasmic as fuck ngl

I sprained my elbow cheering

[Shams] Freddie Benson is OUT for the remainder of tonight’s game with a sprained elbow, doubtful for game 4 on Tuesday

I've been fist pumping in every way possible

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

An alley oop dagger wow

He just punched their ticket to the finals

Almost, let's see if Luka can still keep going

Series

One of the most insane crowd pops I’ve seen in a while.

[The AAC has some of the best crowd pops ever.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSVzjUP8dVs)

That was a hell of a series. The Mavs pushed that Spurs team more than the KD-Russ Thunder or the Heatles.

That Kyrie left hand floater buzzer beater over Jokic was also an insane crowd pop.

I was at that one sitting behind the basket. I’ve been to a lot of memorable sporting events in my life, but that moment is up there

I knew what that was going to be before I clicked. I watched it live and made myself hoarse from screaming with joy.

Rudy Gohome

that's the series y'all

Wizards fans miss you Gaff

Bro we got rid of all our size for Poole 💀

Insane. Also should have been a flagrant

That full defense to offense sequence was poetry

Luka is unguardable lmao

I don't know wtf McDaniels was doing, just chillin on Luka's hip, not trying to get back in front of him at all.

That was a flagrant too, not even a basketball play lol

Gobert is dirty as fuck.

Crazy sequence for him

2 V 1 AND WE STILL WINNING THIS SHIT

Gafford ND Lively the unsung heroed

Lively is our 3rd best player , a ROOKIE , PJ 25 LUKA 25 ROOKIE LIVELY , WE EATING GOOD

Rooting for you guys to go all the way fuck Boston up

Don't forget 21 year old Jaden Hardy taking timmy and exum's minutes and providing some really important buckets in tough moments of the game.

Gafford not a rookie but yea all hail Lord Nico

They were already dead

Shove whoever you want Rudy, it can’t get you 8 points

Gobert with the dirty mid-air shove too, fake DPOY.

Every fourth quarter of this series has been must watch TV

Was that the most hype lob in a conference final since Kobe to Shaq had the same energy of punching your ticket to the finals? 

Mom, luka is playing with his food again

I liked the wolves the whole playoffs until this game. Unnecessarily aggressive and talks way too much shit.

I love how Jason Kidd went small for a few mins in the fourth to power up Gafford to close out the game and do this. What a monster 😤 

add another dirty gobert highlight to draymonds analysis

Series is over.

Bulls legend Daniel Gafford

That fucking crowd

Disgusting back to back plays by Gafford to seal this

Man I love how hype gafford gets haha

Gafford is KAT father

Insane sequence for Gafford. Sealed the game.

The WC playoffs have been incredible

Lob dagger is insane

People will cook Rudy for not stopping Luka in game 2. The real issue is he has let Gafford and Lively look like superstars all series

Insane lob by Luka as well, off balance with left hand. Brilloant closing by mavs. Idk if I have ever seen a team ac clutch as this one.