About last night... Game 5 v Clippers

 The Mavericks got steamrolled last night 154-111. The highs of game 4 will not be forgotten, but game 5 did it's best to damper Mav fan's expectations. The Clippers shot a scorching 63% from the field and 62.9% from three. It was their night for sure. The Mavericks couldn't match their 3 pointers, shooting a putrid 32.4%. The game got out of hand midway through the first; the Clippers went on a 19-0 run that featured a lot of dumb turnovers by Dallas. As much as it was the Clippers night it was very much NOT the Mavericks night. 

Paul George finally found his rhythm in game 5. He got going early with two buckets that came from him stiff-arming Mavs defenders. He finished with a game-high 35 points and shot 67% from the field. He had a good game, all I've gotta say is... Front runner. 

Luka and co. were without KP for a second straight night. Last time the held it down, this time... couldn't be done. The Clippers threw out some key defensive switches to confuse the Mavericks. Kawhi was put on Burke initially, which almost nullified him in the first half. As a key x-factor for Dallas, this was huge. Seth Curry was also limited to 4 points, both floaters. They made sure to keep these guys under wrap. Burke and Hardaway Jr. still finished with good games, but it wasn't enough to chip into the lead. Dallas couldn't get a stop all night. If KP is healthy we NEED him for game 6. A guy who is so unguardable that the Clippers stick KAwhi on him. With him out there, everything opens up and adds a rim protector.  UNLEASH THE UNICORN. 

Marcus Morris

What a dirty dirty player. This guy intentionally tried to hurt Luka's ankle, even while being up 20. Luka had this to say when asked if it was intentional: "you tell me... I don't want to talk to him. He's just saying a lot of bad stuff to me all game. I don't want to talk to him. I've just got to move on... I just hope it wasn't intentional. If that was intentional, that's very bad." It was intentional. It is very bad. The league needs to do something about this. Morris of course denies that it was intentional, going to twitter for the first time in months to post a rant about it. We all saw you, dude. You hop stepped over and onto his ankle trying to take him out. It was dirty, cheap, and loser behavior. Your little post on twitter isn't going to change my mind about that. 

Tim Hardaway Jr. "retaliated" after this, smacking PG in the face on a drive earning a flagrant foul call. So weird how he gets called for that when Burke got clotheslined on a layup last game and got no call. THJ even got the ball first! He hit him on the followthrough! PG acted like he needed to be held back. Fake tough guy act.  

Honestly, there wasn't much to take away from this game. Tension is building between these teams. Bench players who can't even get minutes are running their mouths all game long. As if Luka didn't just destroy them last game. I never disliked the Clippers, but tat's changed. A bunch of fake tough guys who think that they're better than they are. Without Kawhi they are nothing. 

Looking at this objectively, the Mavs have gained valuable experience. Win or lose, this is all you could have asked for, in terms of getting Luka, KP and this young team used to playoff basketball. 

Another thing. I shouldn't even know who Kane Fitzgerald is, but this guy is that bad. He ejected Carlisle last night in the third quarter and ejected KP in game 1. He has it out for Dallas for some reason and should never ref a Mav game again. That's all.