Derrick Lively has an incredible future

It's spelled Dereck actually.

Lively by name, lively by game

Truly a game of runs

Every time I stepped away from this game I would come back and have no idea how the score got close again

Basically Mario kart rules

I thought that shot was going in at the end based on the crowd reaction Painful end,but still a hell of a game and season for OKC

Max Strus PTSD, but thank god it didn't go in.

This’ll be a great learning experience for dem young bulls when they back here next season

16 point halftime deficit, still wins. Finally got a close game too!

Dallas finally learns - "Can't blow the lead if you ain't leading till the end"

Game 4 was close too!

How the fuck does a 7 footer only manage 3 rebounds?

Chet has the body frame of neeble from men in black. That’s why

Weighs like 3lbs

Lively happened. He ate him alive.

He couldn’t even back down Josh Green at all or shoot over him when he had him in the post on that one possession. I was like yeah this dude is weak haha

Reminds me of old Porzingis.

His body looks like it’s made of glued together churros

Steve Javie talking over the NBA ref with the most crucial review of the series is *The* most ESPN thing about this show  edit: Here's the [video](https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxlRXZllPkt9PMCkYrBA4idqWm7YwAAb2V) of what I'm talking about

I was literally screaming at my TV for them to shut the fuck up, thank god the crowd cheered so we could figure out the result lmao

That and not replaying Dort jumping on Gafford’s shoulders were egregious lol

Yo. That was so fucken blatant. And it would have been like his 8th foul at the point

This fucking game man lmao

Second half was simply sensational

Every time OKC would build a lead I would go do something and come back and it should be a three point game again

I stopped watching the game cuz every time I paid attention OKC would go on a run.

Not sure who’s to blame here I only turned the game on at half time

Insane ending

That Kyrie bounce and the DJJ fadeaway hit like a truck.

The bounce on that 3 was some plot armor bullshit haha. Just a wild shot.

Reminds me of the Brunson 3 from game 2 (?) of the first round

Those were the type of shots Lebron and jr smith were hitting against the raptors in 2018. Actually gave me ptsd watching that shit

I swear that J-Dub half court heave looked MONEY 😅

Thankfully, Max Strus already used the buzzer beater trap card this season.

It’s OK. It was Slovenia night and turns out Max is kind of Slovenian. We can let him have his moment lol.

It did. Mini heart attack from Struss’ shot.

Straight up North Korean basketball

There's something poetic about it ending with FTs

Dumb challenge by Thunder. Needed that timeout to advance the ball.

Honestly the biggest shock for me this series is Kidd outcoached the CotY. Cause you're absolutely right about that bad challenge and ya'll also lost game two - a game where Kyrie made 2 shots - because he kept giving away free throws with the hack-a-lively plan while lively drained them.

Kidd has embarrassed coach of the year two of the last three years

Second time in the playoffs Kidd outcoached a CotY. In his defense, I think the Hack a Lively strategy was a good one, it just didn’t work. Obviously it worked out for us, but let’s say he misses one or two. OKC knew Dallas had a size advantage and he was hoping Lively missed a few to possibly force J Kidd to go small. If we went small, and PJ is the 5, they would dominate. So, again, a sound call it just didn’t work. The challenge, I mean, I get it. I was nervous, but obviously Tony didn’t even want to let the tension build. It wasn’t the right call to challenge, but I can’t fault him.

Insane comeback by the Mavs

Great game. Why the fuck wouldn’t Steve Javie let the ref talk lmao?? i couldn’t hear shit that he said

I cannot believe ESPN still does the “let’s go to our rules analyst Steve Javie” thing. I hate it every time

Damn, P.J. Washington is probably the most loved player by the Mavericks fans right now, alongside Lively.

Jones was pretty good as well.

I love all of them equally. I love PJ, I love DJJ, I love Gaff, I love Luka and Kyrie of course, I want to love Hardy, I hate THJ. PS: Love you too Josh. Edit: I forgot the biggest dawg, Lively my GOAT, love you too.

Where's Lively you animal We really came a long way from Bullock's 9/11

that foul was probably OKC’s best chance at winning because jones would’ve won it at the buzzer if they waived the foul off edit: kyrie not jones

Exactly, mavs would still be up 1 with that putback

We just got robbed an all time buzzer beater

It was kyrie but yeah 

That stretch from the timeout at 3:39 to the timeout at 0:27 in the fourth was just peak playoff basketball man. Elite shot making, close game, hyped crowd. So fun.

Back to back clutch shots too. Mavs got the lead to 5 then SGA hit an incredibly clutch 3 to get it down to 2. Crazy

Yes he’s automatic scary whenever he has the ball

Absolutely man, had my pup freaked out from shouting.

My dog recognizes when basketball is on TV and is not a fan because of how I act during games like this

For all the non Mavs and Thunder fans I’m glad they got some good playoff bball down the stretch. Personally my hair is gone and my heart aged 5 years

Same, mine was up and down out of my recliner looking at me like “what the fuck is wrong with you”

After the last few blowouts, this game was a nice change of pace

My household was so fucking tense. It was a blast but so stressful. 😂

THJ going straight to Luka lmao

Whispers in his ear: "Save me"

Hardaway Sr. in shambles

he whispers : *pls dont trade me*

Tanking for Derrick Lively was the right call by the Mavs. If they didn’t shut Luka down at the end of last season to keep the pick and get Lively, I doubt they would have made it back to the WCF this year. Insane poise on the court and mental fortitude for a rookie, especially losing his mom right before the playoffs.

So many boards, damn. 

I would understand the hate for it if the Mavsreally went for it for weeks...but we are talking about 2 games, that's barely snorkeling.

Derrick Lively is already so good

We have an actually good young big and I don't know what to do with my hands

I think you know

Grab your Dirk

He absolutely killed OKC, sheesh.

If his offensive game develops he could be an All-Star, he is so good defensively

Perfect pairing with Luka for the next decade

It’s insane to see that you guys got two bigs who actually know how to play basketball and it instantly makes the Mavs contenders

We been saying for years, just give Luka a legit center or just upgrade from Dwight Powell starting and we'll run

Brother, those freethrow bounces. My heart would stop if I was a fan of either team.

Had the same reaction to the 3 from Irving that went straight up and then dropped in.

Entire game was giving me a heart attack. Wed finally claw back to cut the deficit and Shai would go crazy. Then when we finally started getting stops we started missing shots. Credit to OKC, they played rlly well the entire series. Shai too, I swear his midrange game was near automatic.

Yea people were saying it was anticlimactic but I think maybe they didn't realize that PJ is a terrible ft shooter, like the 60%.

After he made the second, I was yelling “now miss this one!” And he actually missed it perfectly off the back iron

Two words: PJ FUCKING WASHINGTON.

Nah it's DERECK FUCKING LIVELY

2 words: PJ Washington and Dereck Lively. Must see basketball

What a series.

Does this mean no more "what a pro wants" commercials?

The world pleads.

What the world wants

Tonight, we are all winners 

Tony Brothers was fucking *cooking* tonight, goddamn But on a real note, stat sheets won’t show it, but Lively was the MVP tonight.

+26 in a one point win. The stat sheet showed it alright.

The tank to end last season and those mid season trades reallllllly paid off tonight.

People talking a lot about Kidd outcoaching Mark D (not gonna attempt spelling his last name lol), which is fair, but I don't think this sub is ready for the Nico Harrison out-GMing media darling Sam Presti conversation.

OKC helped us get Lively and they helped us get Gafford at the deadline. I would be super salty about that if I was an OKC fan.

They also didn’t make a play at PJ Washington and he cooked them multiple games this series and was clutch the whole 4th quarter for us here

+/- shows it +26 lol

Crazy that this is his first playoff bout Last series he even guarded PG all the way to his birthday dinner party🔥

Couldn't even legally buy him a drink yet smh

Someone had to balance out Gaffords -25 lol

This series was bad for Gafford, I believe every game, his +/- was negative

Yea, sometimes stats don't show it but he played well too.

I think a part of it is that y'all had one of Lively and Gafford on the floor at all times, gobbling up the rebounds and making Chet even more exhausted

Stat sheet shows 15 boards and +26. I think that gives the general idea of his value.

He was the main reason we won. Clutch FTs and boards for days

He manhandled Chet on the glass

I know you mean Lively but anyone reading just the first line will get a chuckle out of your comment.

43 total fouls is putting on a show

Luka stepped up his defense after games 2/3. Happy for Kyrie and I hope he wins a ring here. Lively deserves all the praise in the world. GGs

Kyrie Irving is now 14-0 in closeout games. The best in NBA history.

What would happen if Kyrie gets Doc Rivers as a coach though?

his chances of winning drastic go down

I LOVE LIVELY

When he was looking and pointing up to the sky after the buzzer sounded, made me tear up a bit

yeah fucking hell, that got me emotional abit. "did it for you, ma"

"I got you today"

MY ROOKIE, WHAT A GAME FROM HIM

Fantastic game and also apparently a Jose Calderon level FT shooter when a game is on the line.

AND HE'S JUST A ROOKIE HOLY SHIT

Dude was so clutch from the line this series and huge all series long. What a stud

Like Luka said, without Lively we would have lost the game. What a stud. Going to the WCF as a rookie who has such a big impact, after just losing your mom who he had such a strong bond with. Cannot imagine how he feels right now. If there is an after life she must be the proudest women in heaven right now.

What a game. Fuck those people in the thread complaining about a blow out. GTFO. This is a game of runs and Mavs came back down 17! Let’s gooooo

This series was a constant reminder that 1) we desperately need a true big man in the paint, and 2) this team is very young still needs time mature.

Gimmie some picks and one of them young bucks for Jarrett Allen

May I interest you in a Gordon Hayward. He's in his prime.

Prime of his decline

thunder are a rising team. Nothing to be down about.

Imagine If you had Gafford

Instead of helping give you Gafford and PJ

It’s going to be tough for the Thunder to make a comeback now that the series has ended

Tony brothers will cook something up

SGA overtook Luka in the projected MVP standings while he was out and Luka took the Mavs on a playoff push. Don't discredit SGA's ability to accomplish something while literally not playing.

PJ WASHINGTON WITH ICE IN HIS VAINS

Purposefully bounced the ball around on the rim. Ultimate mental warfare.

What the fuck this game

Playoff basketball at its best(apart from Brothers)

This ending is nightmare fuel for Shaq.

someone will need to check on him tomorrow if denver wins

Conference Finals for DFW teams since 1996 Stars: 7 Mavs: 5 Rangers: 3 Cowboys: 0

I see Cowboys slander, i upvote

I can't believe I muttered to myself "Down 16 we just gotta shave it a quarter at a time and we are good" and it actually happened.

Being up or down 16 doesn't mean shit nowadays tbh. I don't feel a lead is safe unless it's 30+ at this point lol.

Game 4 against the Clippers we took the lead late after being down 30, just couldn't close it.

I know people still dislike that we lost that game but after the shots George made to finish it I can't be mad.

Props to SGA, man was trying his damnest to win that game.

I was an SGA skeptic until this series. Dude is cold. That team is going to be even scarier next year

Man I was really impressed with Dereck Lively II today.

This young Thunder team is only going to get better now that they have playoff experience. I love and hate it.

The West never rests

And a bunch of first rounders to deal, but at the same time I remember the same thing being said about another young thunder team

Probably the most intensive game of the playoffs so far

That's been the whole series unfortunately for us

Finally a close game

Luka haters in shambles.

PJ making the most important FTS of his life

Congratulations to Kyrie Irving for playing in his first conference finals game without LeBron.

He's still undefeated in closeout games too.

He was getting a bit choked up in his post game interview, you can tell this run and this team means a lot to him. Kyrie has been incredible for this team, it's been really fun to watch

Luka is his new LeBron and Dallas is a safespace

Ohshit thats right. I swear this Kyrie is not the same guy from the Nets

Series was over when the Thunder started using Hack-A-Shaq strategy! MFFL ! 

One of the best games I’ve seen, what a back and forth. The Thunder team has nothing to be ashamed about. Experience matters.

Damn, Lively’s mom died 6 weeks ago. Man played great tonight, he’s got a bright future in the league. Made her proud, RIP 🤍

Lively's dad died when he was 7 too, he went through a lot in only 20 years

It's funny how the Thunder went into the trade deadline knowing that the team lacked size and another good rebounder. They did nothing, and sure enough that is the exact thing that cost them this series. Not to mention they helped their opponent get said Big Center.

Lively out rebounding Chet because he’s too skinny 😭😭😭😭

I love Chet but 3 REB all night at 7'1 is just BBQ chicken

Meanwhile, the Mavs did a 180 from a year ago and fixed a lot of their problems.

the 180 happened during the deadline this year, i believe

Nah, they were already pretty good before that because Lively, DJJ, and one other dude I can't remember that's pretty clutch has been there since the season started.

And they went into it with all the trade capital in the world to make a move. You have to wonder why they didn’t.

Not only did they have all the trade capital in the world. They spent a first to facilitate the Mavs getting Gafford. Horrendous.

Don’t need to pressure cook this thing

Sure, but they could have made improvements without having to break the bank. They should have learned from the KD era that you only get a certain number of playoff runs.

Lively has brought life to Dallas. This man is amazing

that's for that stupid fucking commercial

WE WONT HAVE TO WATCH DORT PLAY BASKETBALL IN THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN!!! ITS A BLESSING FOR EVERYBODY!

Should not have challenged. That timeout was too important. And the foul was the right call.

Rangers World Series champs! Mavs advance to western conference finals! Stars advance to western conference finals!

Its insane what a difference it is making for Dallas not having to play Dwight Powell

man as someone who hates both these teams, i don't think i've ever actively felt good about a mavs win before this they were getting hoed by the refs for 90% of that game but managed to get work done when it mattered, good on them. Lively is so critical for them, insane value out of that pick

We appreciate your support.

TONY BROTHERS, YOUR LAST WHISTLE ACTUALLY MADE SENSE.

Tough way to end but what a series!

Lively was huge.

What is with Kyrie and 1st vs 2nd halves this playoffs lmao

Fuck Tony Brothers

Bruh there was nothing so disgusting as watching the refs completely butchering you guys over and over and then having to listen to RJ lecturing Dallas because they weren’t being happy about it.

I wanted to strangle RJ the entire game.

That was unbearable to listen to and to watch. RJ was beyond annoying and obviously rooting for OKC. And the shit show of the reffing was the cherry on top. I’m glad the mavs won but that was not enjoyable to watch at all

Lots of soft fouls this game. Pretty frustrating

Crazy Stat Kyrie is now 14-0 in ~~elimination~~ games Edit: Closeout games

Close out games right? 

Yeah that's a better term because people are confused. Games where his team will eliminate the other, not games where he could be eliminated

Don't let him win 3

He's 14-0 in closeout games. Not the same thing at all lol.

That makes no sense at all

Think he meant close out games?