MAVS GO OUT WITH A WHIMPER
BUT FINISH SEASON FIFTH IN WEST
Despite playing their main guys, the Mavericks were blown out by one of the league’s bottom-feeders. Fortunately, it didn't matter much in the grand scheme.
GAME STORY
In the last regular-season game of the season, the Pups had nothing to play for, and the Mavs were contesting for the fifth or sixth seed. Rick went with the latest starting lineup — Luka, THJ, DFS, KP, Powell.
Before the game, Rick Carlisle announced that his team’s goal in this game was to play their best basketball and play the right way.
Welp.
The Mavericks got out to a poor start. They found themselves trailing double digits seven minutes in, and were down 22-38 after one. Dallas’ high scorer in the first quarter was Brunson with 5 points. The visiting Mavs were 0-7 from distance, while the Wolves went 6-12. The Mavs were also out-rebounded 7-15, and suffered a 2-9 disadvantage in second-chance points.
The deficit grew to as much as 23 in the second. The Mavs’ three-point shooting picked up later in the quarter, but the defense was still sadly lacking. The Mavericks were able to get back to break-even for the period, and went into halftime trailing 60-76. Yep. Gave up 76 points in the half to Minny. SMH.
The Mavs were hot from three in the third (6-9), but suffered a 4-20 deficit in PIP, due to their lack of resistance as the Wolves danced to the basket. The scoreline was 95-113 going into the fourth. Powell was called for four fouls in the period. Luka and KP combined for 24 of Dallas’ 35 points. The highlight of the frame was probably a half-court heave by Brunson to beat the buzzer.
The final frame did not go any better. Carlisle emptied his bench in the last 5 minutes.
NOTABLE ITEMS
STATS. I don’t think anyone is too interested in a deep analysis of this insipid showing. Chalk this loss up to opponent inside scoring, with the Wolves earning a 62-38 advantage in PIP. For whatever reason, the Mavericks elected not to defend.
PLAYERS. Despite the blowout, a number of the Mavericks had good offensive stats. Seven Mavs were in double figures — KP and Luka with 18 points each; DFS, THJ, and Brunson with 15 apiece; and, Richardson and Melli chipping in 11 and 10 respectively. Powell oddly led the team with 8 assists, as well as a team-high 7 boards. Six Wolves had 10+ points, led by rookie Anthony Edwards with 30.
OBSERVATIONS
One could speculate on various reasons for the no-show in this game. I am going to choose that this was part of a pattern of the Mavericks young team in insisting on doing the minimum they feel they can against teams with poor records, and underestimating the least effort required. If that theory is true, then we have a very good chance of seeing a different team in the playoffs.
With this loss and victories by the Blazers and Lakers, the three teams ended up in a three-way tie, and the Mavs had the division-leader tiebreaker, slotting your boys in at the fifth seed. Due to the Clippers loss to OKC, the Nuggets took third and the Clippers slipped to fourth. So, we’re looking ahead to a Mavs-Clips re-match in the first round.
As things turned out, the lackluster effort did not cost the team — due to events elsewhere around the league, they still captured the fifth seed, an improvement on last season’s seventh. Some fans may wish they had slipped to sixth so as to face the Nuggets instead of the Clippers, but both teams promised to be formidable opponents, and the Dallas-LAC matchup should be a feisty and entertaining competition. I'm looking forward to it!
Our boys will get a few days of rest, having avoided the play-in tournament, and will hopefully come out refreshed and raring to go to face Playoff P and the boys.
GO MAVS!!
(05-16-2021, 10:53 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]MAVS GO OUT WITH A WHIMPER
BUT FINISH SEASON FIFTH IN WEST
Despite playing their main guys, the Mavericks were blown out by one of the league’s bottom-feeders. Fortunately, it didn't matter much in the grand scheme.
I'm not overly concerned about this lackluster effort by the Mavs. In the grand scheme of things (i.e., in light of the wins by the Lakers, the Blazers, and the Thunder), the Mavs' season finale in Minnesota didn't matter at all (at least, in terms of playoff ramifications).
Now it's time to prepare for the grudge rematch versus the Clippers.
(05-16-2021, 11:04 PM)Hogmelon Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not overly concerned about this lackluster effort by the Mavs. In the grand scheme of things (i.e., in light of the wins by the Lakers, the Blazers, and the Thunder), the Mavs' season finale in Minnesota didn't matter at all (at least, in terms of playoff ramifications).
Yeah, can't argue with that.
I guess, if they weren't going to show up, I would rather they would have just notified the coaching staff in advance, and the team could have let the back half of the roster close the season playing hard.
But that's crying over spilt milk, and all's well that ends well, and all that.
Mavs-Clippers should be a cracker!
The only thing interesting about this game was the Josh Green vs. Anthony Edwards jump ball. The Mavs won the possession, but it looked to me like Ant may have outjumped Green by a centimeter. I’m calling it a draw. Edwards is going to be a stud. I’d like to think that the similarly athletic Green can become a tough matchup for him as their careers progress.
(05-16-2021, 10:53 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: [ -> ]MAVS GO OUT WITH A WHIMPER
BUT FINISH SEASON FIFTH IN WEST
Some fans may wish they had slipped to sixth so as to face the Nuggets instead of the Clippers, but both teams promised to be formidable opponents, and the Dallas-LAC matchup should be a feisty and entertaining competition. I'm looking forward to it!
Our boys will get a few days of rest, having avoided the play-in tournament, and will hopefully come out refreshed and raring to go to face Playoff P and the boys.
GO MAVS!!
Actually, I think most of the Mavs' fans wanted [1] the Mavs to hang on to the fifth seed; and [2] the Nuggets to slip from third to fourth. Nevertheless, I have now adjusted my thinking, and I'm ready for the Mavs to exact revenge on the detested Clippers.
GO MAVS!!
(05-16-2021, 11:35 PM)ThisIStheYear Wrote: [ -> ]The only thing interesting about this game was the Josh Green vs. Anthony Edwards jump ball. The Mavs won the possession, but it looked to me like Ant may have outjumped Green by a centimeter. I’m calling it a draw. Edwards is going to be a stud. I’d like to think that the similarly athletic Green can become a tough matchup for him as their careers progress.
Going to be? He's already a stud. I don't see Green doing anything against him in the future either. This Green hype is almost as bad as Justin Anderson's was and what's he doing now?
(05-17-2021, 07:37 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]This Green hype is almost as bad as Justin Anderson's was and what's he doing now?
Justin was an athlete that the Mavs thought they could turn into a basketball player. Josh Green is actually a basketball player. There is not hype in that statement.
(05-17-2021, 09:37 AM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]Justin was an athlete that the Mavs thought they could turn into a basketball player. Josh Green is actually a basketball player. There is not hype in that statement.
I don't remember Anderson's game all that well (probably indicative that there wasn't much to remember), but Green is a catch-and-shoot game away from being a valuable rotation player. He single-handedly ups the Mavs' athletic quotient significantly when he's on the floor, and like you say, it's not just raw energy. He does smart things.
Unpopular, but should-be-obvious opinion: the Mavs did a good job with Green this year.
(05-17-2021, 09:50 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]He single-handedly ups the Mavs' athletic quotient significantly when he's on the floor, and like you say, it's not just raw energy. He does smart things.
AMEN.
Green has REAL potential because of 1) athleticism you cannot teach and 2) basketball instincts you cannot teach and 3) an on court tenacity that few have.
Like you said, a legit catch and shoot three ball and he is immediately a starter in this league. IMMEDIATELY.
(05-17-2021, 09:50 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I don't remember Anderson's game all that well (probably indicative that there wasn't much to remember), but Green is a catch-and-shoot game away from being a valuable rotation player. He single-handedly ups the Mavs' athletic quotient significantly when he's on the floor, and like you say, it's not just raw energy. He does smart things.
Unpopular, but should-be-obvious opinion: the Mavs did a good job with Green this year.
I really hope there is a consistent minutes for Green next year. He needs to be able to spread his wings a little. I have no problem with his minutes being limited this year though.
Long term, I know it is easy to compare him to Bane, who I really like, and Bey, who will be on the all rookie team, but there may be two other guys who may be compared to Green such as RJ Hampton and Tyrese Maxey. I liked what I have seen from both. Both are much more advanced scorers and have similar athleticism to Green. Those are the guys who we should watch the next few years and compare Green's growth.
(05-17-2021, 10:02 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]Long term, I know it is easy to compare him to Bane, who I really like, and Bey, who will be on the all rookie team, but there may be two other guys who may be compared to Green such as RJ Hampton and Tyrese Maxey. I liked what I have seen from both. Both are much more advanced scorers and have similar athleticism to Green. Those are the guys who we should watch the next few years and compare Green's growth.
I think both are more advanced, like you say, but I'll push back on the "similar athleticism" part.
SBey, who would've been MY pick at #18, is going to be mostly a 4 when the dust clears, and that's specifically because he can't hang athletically. Here, he would have had DFS and Kleber ahead of him, and I think he would've been groomed to play a role similar to theirs.
Bane is awesome, and man can he shoot. In hindsight, I'd rather have him than Richardson, but he wouldn't have gotten Richardson's minutes THIS season, as it's pretty clear the Mavs had high hopes for JRich and knew they were targeting him going into the draft. HE was supposed to be the smaller-guard defender on this team. I also think Brunson would have been in Bane's way here, a little.
Green, alternatively, fits into a role as a 2-3 combo, right where the roster needs him, imho. He can literally replace Richardson next year (as could Bane), AND he can spell DFS some (which Bane could never, ever do).
I like the other players mentioned, and both might ultimately be better than Green, but I don't think it's certain at this point. And, I feel like I get what the Mavs seem to have been thinking when they made the pick.
(05-17-2021, 09:50 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I don't remember Anderson's game all that well (probably indicative that there wasn't much to remember), but Green is a catch-and-shoot game away from being a valuable rotation player. He single-handedly ups the Mavs' athletic quotient significantly when he's on the floor, and like you say, it's not just raw energy. He does smart things.
Unpopular, but should-be-obvious opinion: the Mavs did a good job with Green this year.
Green is a way better ballhandler and passer. Anderson was bigger and more of an undersized PF/SF. The Anderson hype was all about the playoff series against the Thunder. He was one of the few bright spots on a heavily outmatched team. Had some nice highlight plays. Looked like a solid hustle/defense guy but he never developed any kind of offensive game.
(05-17-2021, 10:16 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]Green is a way better ballhandler and passer. Anderson was bigger and more of an undersized PF/SF. The Anderson hype was all about the playoff series against the Thunder. He was one of the few bright spots on a heavily outmatched team. Had some nice highlight plays. Looked like a solid hustle/defense guy but he never developed any kind of offensive game.
I don't think I ever saw that behind the back pass! His specialty, though, was the chase down blocked shot.
Here's 5 minutes of Justin Anderson blocked shots. Pretty fun watch. This highlight reel is a good example of why highlight reels don't tell the whole story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvrjBJJOYi0
(05-17-2021, 10:16 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]Green is a way better ballhandler and passer. Anderson was bigger and more of an undersized PF/SF. The Anderson hype was all about the playoff series against the Thunder. He was one of the few bright spots on a heavily outmatched team. Had some nice highlight plays. Looked like a solid hustle/defense guy but he never developed any kind of offensive game.
Ya, I think Anderson is a decent comp right now seeing both their rookie seasons. They both were/are very dependent on an offensive game surfacing. Anderson had a bit further to go than Green does, but both have/had pretty much nonexistent offense.
(05-17-2021, 10:37 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]Ya, I think Anderson is a decent comp right now seeing both their rookie seasons. They both were/are very dependent on an offensive game surfacing. Anderson had a bit further to go than Green does, but both have/had pretty much nonexistent offense.
I think Josh's offensive game is leagues ahead of rookie Justin's. Josh is a 3pt shot away from having an NBA offensive game. Justin was never really close to having an NBA offensive game.
(05-17-2021, 10:37 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]but both have/had pretty much nonexistent offense.
See, I agree that this is where Green
started the season, but I don't think that's where he is today. Recently, he has showed incredible improvement with his handle, and I actually think he's one of the better passers on the team. Unlike many of the other Mavs who touch the ball, he isn't afraid to move it early, and almost always does so in a productive way.
I really think he's "catch-and-shoot-confidently" away from being a pretty GOOD role player on the offensive end.
(05-17-2021, 10:44 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]See, I agree that this is where Green started the season, but I don't think that's where he is today. Recently, he has showed incredible improvement with his handle, and I actually think he's one of the better passers on the team. Unlike many of the other Mavs who touch the ball, he isn't afraid to move it early, and almost always does so in a productive way.
I really think he's "catch-and-shoot-confidently" away from being a pretty GOOD role player on the offensive end.
That’s why I say he is ahead of Anderson. I like about him the things you and Fif have said and I’ll add I like that he came in with a good mind for cutting to the basket. None of any of it is NBA ready though, just like JA. To say “leagues different, I think is an overstatement.
His handles are really suspect for a guard, meaning he might have to be an undersized DFS replacement, which is fine against some teams, not so much others.
(05-17-2021, 10:44 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]I really think he's "catch-and-shoot-confidently" away from being a pretty GOOD role player on the offensive end.
Why would this not be the exact same sentence to have been said about Justin Anderson?