Playoffs basketball is fun. Especially when the Mavericks win like they did Friday 105-100 to the Clippers. Each of the first four games of the series was a chess game of tactical moves, adjustments, and counters.
But Game 5 was an X&O chess match. Here’s what happened.
Pre-game adjustments
The Mavericks came into the game after two depressing losses to the Clippers on their home court. It looked like the Clippers figured out the Mavericks, and the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George looked unstoppable. Dallas’ defense looked awful and we speculated on what kind of adjustments Rick Carlisle can do.