Jalen Brunson in the fourth
Reminder that Nico Harrison let this man walk
As a life long Mavs fan who has watched more or less every game for decades, I knew we had a star on our hands immediately from his rookie year. He finally proved his star power during the deep playoff run when Luka got injured and then they just let him walk right after that. I couldn’t believe it.
Wait til u hear what he did next
Lmao, I thought of that as I was typing it out. “If only I had known what was coming”. Tbf I don’t put all the blame Nico. I think the entire organization is behind the faux pas and they unfairly let him take the blame. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Whats done is done. The basketball god’s somehow blessed us with Luka immediately after Dirk, and for some reason in this fucked up timeline we now have Cooper Flagg immediately after Luka. So all is well I suppose. (Nico is a prophetTM?)
I felt he was a future star as a Knicks fan watching Brunson his first 2-3 seasons in Dallas. His shot creating and shotmaking ability always looked superstar level to me. I’ve been watching basketball for 20 years and the way Dallas Brunson was schooling defenders was something special. I just knew this guy was gonna be good.
100 percent. Even though he wasn’t putting up numbers immediately, you could still see how smart he was and that he could basically score at will. Y’all are lucky to have him. I’m rooting for yall in the East.
Brunson asked for 4⁄55 extension and Nico really said he wasn’t sure if he’s worth that. really one of the worst GMs in nba history
That was Cuban not Nico lol
Mark Cuban.
This will be the only time I defend Nico - Brunson was going to the Knicks unless the Knicks did something crazy like offer him a 2-way contract.
They hired his dad a month before they signed him…
He asked for an extension from the Mavs, they declined
I forgot about that! My God he was a terrible GM.
I just can’t believe Kenny didn’t either take Harden off the floor or change coverage. Absurd.
And when they started doubling, it was at the dumbest possible time up 6
I can’t believe how easily they switched every screen up 22. You’re in the ECF and you’re not going to make them work for it?
The Darvin Ham special
If I’m honest. I think Harden did an alright job defending and Brunson just made some tough shots. It’s not like he’s giving this guy layups or anything.
I blame Atkinson over anything and he should’ve put in more defensive guys. Harden did alright in his constraints
Yeah compared to the other clips not guarded by Harden I think he did a better job than the other guys. If Brunson makes shots like that then there’s not much you can do.
I think the bigger problems were on the offensive end.
No disrespect but Brunson was in the zone. He was hitting tough shots no matter who was defending him.
Built a big brick wall in 3 quarters to climb on it and dunk on Cav’s head top on the 4th.
Yea I know the narrative is already set in stone that Harden didn’t even try on defense blah blah.. if you actually watch the game, you see that he had good contests on most of brunson’s makes. It’s just lazy media bs as usual. Not to say they couldn’t have doubled, but this wasn’t harden being a turnstyle and giving up uncontested layups. Keep in mind, brunson is the same guy that sent Ausar thompson flying 12 feet in the opposite direction with a nasty crossover to win a series last year
Brunson was unreal in the 4th. Just willed us back into it.
Doubles as James Harden lowlights too
Tbh, it wasnt awful defense by harden. Probably 1 or 2 bad possessions, a few decent, and one or two good ones. Brunson was just making everything.
MVP activities
Harden wasn’t so bad, just the wrong guy for the job. And Teague said Cleveland had no one to guard Brunson.
The real adjustment was putting Shamet in for Hart. You can leave Hart open when he’s having a bad shooting night but having to account for Shamet opened the paint for Brunson.
Just incredible shot-making.
This whole time I was reading comments about how harden gave the most half assed effort, but it looks like pretty decent defense to me tbh.
Aside from the first and last play it’s not like he was blowing past Harden.
That last play to tie it though is criminally lax defence.
The 🐐
i’m taking brunson over anyone idc idc
im blaming the magnets lmaoooo/s
He cooked the beard
Harden late in the game defending Brunson is going to get torched. Harden is already a bad defender, add in that he’s on the floor on tired legs, forget it. The Cavs coach defended Harden in the presser but he as coach has to find a way to get Harden out of that situation.
I still can’t believe a guy this good is ours
Looks like the cavs just froze
Everybody better than Brunson until…
The degree of difficulty on those shots is genuinely insane.
In some of these plays Harden actually wasn’t even that bad. He got no help though and you need to double Brunson and get the ball out of his hand
HORSE shots and theyre all pure
It was awesome to see him stop the flailing and just lock in on just making plays. Felt like they were letting physicality of the game get to in the 2nd and 3rd quarter.
Ya I mean I don’t see how you defend a lot of these shots, the angles are just ridiculous. Best option would probably be a super mobile wing with length but Cavs don’t have anyone like that.
This clip really does expose Harden
Lmao wtf? Where’s the doubles? Why leave Harden on him? Inexplicable
Bro those OG screens are straight up fouls. Wade tries to get around but he just holds him in place.
Reminds me so much of IT4
The defense at 1:18 really bothers me. It’s a 6 point game. I know Brunson has been on fire but helping off one pass away lets it be a one possession game after a made three
I knew harden got cooked because of the comments but hot damn. This is worse than I imagined.
Mannnnn he was just working Harden. Hunted him for every one of these
Why the fuck are they switching so easily. Makes no sense. You’re up 20. If OG pops off and makes a pick and pop 3 with 18 on the shot clock, so be it.
I truly never, ever thought I’d say this but… I felt bad for James Harden.
I like how Harden just stood there and watched him do the layup
Harden playing defense like he’s guarding Devin Booker in a summer time pickup game at the LA equinox.