It’s still a bad message to send to a young team…I’ve watched a lot of Maverick games this year and Lively hasn’t missed critical free throws all year especially considering the Mavs have the best close game record in the league…(google that you bunch of a-holes).

It was a bad coaching decision and I bet it doesn’t get used again this playoffs.

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Posted by NOLALGD

Member since May 2014

2358 posts

Posted on 5/12/24 at 9:38 am to thekid

Its not just about the offensive end, sometimes the goal is the force the player to the bench which affects the teams defensive strategy. and it worked. The one defensive possession Lively was on the bench OKC scored after getting 3 offensive rebounds.

quote:
I’ve watched a lot of Maverick games this year and Lively hasn’t missed critical free throws all year especially considering the Mavs have the best close game record in the league…(google that you bunch of a-holes).

Lively actually shoots free throws at a worse percentage in the 4th quarter (47.8%) than the rest of the game, which seems improbable based on your statement.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/dereck-lively-4th-quarter-averages

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Posted by wildtigercat93

Member since Jul 2011

113105 posts

Posted on 5/12/24 at 9:48 am to thekid

quote:
I’ve watched a lot of Maverick games this year and Lively hasn’t missed critical free throws all year especially considering the Mavs have the best close game record in the league…(google that you bunch of a-holes).

Well it’s funny, I did google to see that Lively is also a 50 percent FT shooter (2/4) in “clutch” situations this season

That’s with the broadest definition of clutch available (game within 5 points, game within 5 minutes, and in the 4th/OT.

LINK

Seems like he’s a 50% FT percent shooter no matter how you slice it outside of what seems to be 1-2 anecdotal recollections you have of him hitting big free throws. Certainly it’s a small sample size. Most likely because the Mavs don’t want a FT liability on the floor in close games

ETA I see someone already pulled the full 4th Quarter FT % as well that are lower