Hmm. There's not really a full-tilt moment where a rectified error would've turned things around. I guess the main thing I saw looking back was resource management? In that second game the level 3 with Broly that ended up blocked really hurt you, as that became a large meter deficit. Then later on you did a three bar combo on 16 and he was left alive, that left him with 4 bars to your none, and 16 ended up getting the hit which exacerbated the issue. I know it started with a 2H so your options were limited; was there any way activating sparking there could've got a kill? I also felt like your main goal there was getting 21 out, not necessarily getting a kill on 16, so would it have been possible to Z-Change Super into Goku without wasting her bar? I haven't played 21 essentially since the last time I used her against you, so I'm not sure. They tech quickly after her j214M but Goku has pretty fast start-up. There was a similar issue in the first game too where you dumped three bars on 16 post dragon rush and he was able to raw tag out, and both of those moments felt like they set up the biggest obstacles in your path.
You both had hair triggers, he established the first time he went into the corner in the first game that he wasn't afraid to 2H. With that in mind, I think the raw tags in the corner when trying to get out hurt you, as I'm pretty sure he was ready for every single one and punished. Maybe looking for a moment to guard cancel would've been better? It's a wack mechanic and costs a bar but all three of those characters do have gaps to sneak one in during their basic corner blockstrings, as hard as they may be to come by lol.
All the times we've played I felt you were scariest at the start of the round. 21 genuinely terrified the fuck out of me and I pretty much always lose if she gets the first touch, yet in all of these matches you backed off at the start, and oftentimes had to use an assist before you got your hit. I know Cell's opening gambit is just as good if not better, but he's also much more capable without resources than she is, so the longer you two played neutral the more of an advantage he was at.
Broly didn't get to do much as a point, which the commentators noticed, but that assist was also failing you at times. He got hit out as a defensive pushback a few times due to him extending forward before becoming active. I'm certainly not going to tell you to drop the character because you're a loyalist and I respect that, but I dunno. The most noteworthy thing he did this set was make you waste three bars trying to save his giant trapped in the corner ass. I dropped him super early so I can't comment on how to tighten up his play, but on point he seemed to be the one who was most prone to having your defensive playstyle be blown up.
As for that third game yeah that was just a snowball, and I feel similar in regards to mental strain in sets in this game. Matches can take so long and so many hits yet in certain circumstances your opponent will get a huge momentum string in their favor, either a godlike read or succession of successful hits and you'll already be telling yourself "this match is over, they got the juice." That's not always the case, but after multiple games I find it's much harder to battle back resignation once it starts creeping up. I don't have an answer for that, but if you do please let me know. >_>
Overall, you guys seemed comparable in terms of neutral and defensive ability so it's not like he was an unreachable plateau of skill you couldn't overcome. I think you just hedged your bets on situations that would've worked out if you got a hit afterward, but he was able to escape and pretty much negate your work to that point. There were unfortunate events too, like in the first game you dropped a beam assist conversion with 21 that would've killed. In the end though, outside of that last game where as you said you were mentally resigned, they were even games. Sorry for the wall of text that didn't say much, I tend to stream of consciousness shit like this lol
