THJ/Green/Moses/2 2nds for Harris/Lopez, is this enough to entice the Magic?
Reading some tweets that Cuban's mom passed. RIP.
Just some random observations on the Mavs from my three week sabbatical from the board:
- Luka is looking MUCH better. He is thinner. He is more explosive. He is moving much better (most of the time). In the last 15 games he is +13.8 On/Off (+8.1 O, +5.7 D). He has dug himself out of the basement and is now -2.4 On/Off for the season (and only 3rd worst on the team after being the worst for months). His D at the end of the OKC game was a huge reversion to what he looked like most of the early part of the season, but he noticed it and hopefully it is the outlier moving forward.
- THJ going down sucks from an asset standpoint this TDL and summer.
- But THJ going down might have been the best thing to happen to RB. RB had already turned a big corner post-COVID, but he has now reached a new level in the last 5 games. Overall he is now the team lead in On/Off for the season at +8.3 (+1.2 O, +7.1 D). As I predicted in the off-season, if RB could fill in the JR role in the way he was capable the team would make a massive leap by that alone. It is now playing out in the last 17 games (post-COVID for RB).
- Kidd post-LAL can coach. Hell of a job.
- The two losses against ORL and OKC were BAD. But the Mavs D had started to slip, so it was a good wake-up call that they need to bring the D EVERY game.
- The Mavs are 2nd in D in the NBA in the last 25 games.
- The Mavs are 3rd in net rating (+6.3) in the NBA in the last 25 games.
- JB has been great, GREAT, but I think the Mavs should trade him...even if that means trading him in a year after locking him into a contract. I think someone in his position next to Luka needs to be a longer defender for this team to take the leap.
- KP still needs to be traded, but he has been really good when available. The Mavs need someone more consistently available in his position as well as having better chemistry with Luka (though there have been a couple flashes of improvement there in the last three weeks).
- I think this team is a "low-level" contender as is with Luka having lost weight and even with THJ out, BUT I think trading JB and KP are the way to making that most difficult jump into the top tier. Those trades shouldn't be rushed necessarily, but I am hoping by the start of next season the roster has been reshaped based on what we have learned this year.
"It's not a tough decision, we're gonna keep Jalen. We are going to do whatever it takes to keep JB. He's made just so many strides, he has just improved leaps and bounds. It's fun to watch. I think he's been our most consistent player; he deserves so much credit and we'll definitely do all we can do to keep him."
- Mark Cuban, majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
https://twitter.com/pedritosilva/status/...9086630921
(02-05-2022, 12:19 PM)Fuerza1 Wrote: [ -> ]"It's not a tough decision, we're gonna keep Jalen. We are going to do whatever it takes to keep JB. He's made just so many strides, he has just improved leaps and bounds. It's fun to watch. I think he's been our most consistent player; he deserves so much credit and we'll definitely do all we can do to keep him."
- Mark Cuban, majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
https://twitter.com/pedritosilva/status/...9086630921
Wow, nice find!
This would seem to be pretty definitive.
(02-05-2022, 12:20 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Wow, nice find!
This would seem to be pretty definitive.
Could also just be trying to keep his trade value high. If other teams think we are not sure about being able to sign him, they could take advantage of the situation. Sorry to be the pessimist. I need a happy pill.
(02-05-2022, 12:19 PM)Fuerza1 Wrote: [ -> ]"It's not a tough decision, we're gonna keep Jalen. We are going to do whatever it takes to keep JB. He's made just so many strides, he has just improved leaps and bounds. It's fun to watch. I think he's been our most consistent player; he deserves so much credit and we'll definitely do all we can do to keep him."
- Mark Cuban, majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
https://twitter.com/pedritosilva/status/...9086630921
Wise decision. His fit with Luka is simply amazing, and Brunson is indeed super consistent. You need to build the team with consistent players that match each other.
(02-05-2022, 12:28 PM)Davemo Wrote: [ -> ]Could also just be trying to keep his trade value high. If other teams think we are not sure about being able to sign him, they could take advantage of the situation. Sorry to be the pessimist. I need a happy pill.
Could be, but I doubt it in this case. Can't really quantify why, but having followed Cuban and the Mavs for so long (as we all have, I know) I just don't feel like this is double talk. I think it's more likely that Cuban has a warm, fuzzy feeling for one of the few draft picks his team has ever gotten right.
(02-05-2022, 12:19 PM)Fuerza1 Wrote: [ -> ]"It's not a tough decision, we're gonna keep Jalen. We are going to do whatever it takes to keep JB. He's made just so many strides, he has just improved leaps and bounds. It's fun to watch. I think he's been our most consistent player; he deserves so much credit and we'll definitely do all we can do to keep him."
- Mark Cuban, majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
Well that's that from my perspective. I wonder if Cuban keeps this same view if Brunson lays an egg in the playoffs
(02-05-2022, 12:20 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Wow, nice find!
This would seem to be pretty definitive.
What is very weird is after seeing Cubes be so definitive about Brunson, where does the CJ McCollum rumor fit then?
Taken at face value that means the Mavs are looking to run Luka/JB/McCollum guard rotation.
(02-05-2022, 12:55 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]What is very weird is after seeing Cubes be so definitive about Brunson, where does the CJ McCollum rumor fit then?
Taken at face value that means the Mavs are looking to run Luka/JB/McCollum guard rotation.
I'd love this combination on offense. Keep JB as a 6th man running things and we're good to go. THJ/Green/Moses/1st (this is the hard part) for CJ/McLemore.
Luka/JB
CJ
DFS/Bullock
Kleber
KP/Powell
D continues well with DFS/Maxi/KP/Bullock/DP and offense can up a notch a bit with Luka/CJ/JB/KP
(02-05-2022, 01:29 PM)aguiar95 Wrote: [ -> ]I'd love this combination on offense. Keep JB as a 6th man running things and we're good to go. THJ/Green/Moses/1st (this is the hard part) for CJ/McLemore.
Luka/JB
CJ
DFS/Bullock
Kleber
KP/Powell
D continues well with DFS/Maxi/KP/Bullock/DP and offense can up a notch a bit with Luka/CJ/JB/KP
I just don't think we can move Brunson back to the bench after his breakout starting. Especially if we want to keep him in the summer.
(02-05-2022, 12:28 PM)Davemo Wrote: [ -> ]Could also just be trying to keep his trade value high.
I think Cuban's talk is legit....BUT with that said, you get an offer that you think is WORTH it, then you pull the trigger. I think the Mavs are confident they aren't going to get that offer at this time. In a year, after JB is locked in to a contract? More likely I would think.
(02-05-2022, 01:53 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]I think Cuban's talk is legit....BUT with that said, you get an offer that you think is WORTH it, then you pull the trigger. I think the Mavs are confident they aren't going to get that offer at this time. In a year, after JB is locked in to a contract? More likely I would think.
I tend to agree with you, but do have reservations. It seems since the Summer of missed opportunity, Cuban has gone from the "I cannot comment on that" line to just flat out lying. I realize in some situations you have to deny, stretch the truth a bit or even tell some small lies......it just seems he is much more blatant about it now. I cannot point to anything specific, but just have felt this way for awhile. Every time he opens his mouth now, I have no idea if it is legit or BS.
I would like to keep JB if he wants to stay. Same with DFS. KP....not so much.
(02-05-2022, 04:49 PM)Tyler Wrote: [ -> ]I think I'm most interested in what's really going on with Sterling. There's gotta be more to it than just a sore foot.
Been wondering about this too. Seems like he's had a "sore foot" for quite a while for not having any other details released about a specific injury...
(02-05-2022, 06:16 PM)Dirknows Wrote: [ -> ]Hope this doesn’t turn into a scenario like a couple years ago where he sat out and eventually they said he tore something in his knee.
My guess is that one way or another KP and Maxi will be fine after next Thursday.
I really like this set. It is a little rigid right now...almost like a middle school team running it. Hopefully it moves to more of a feel and a read and react fluid set.
But it has player movement, several players touch the ball, and it gets Luka in an attacking position and really lets him read the defense to get a real good look somewhere.
https://twitter.com/LukaBassin/status/14...4496425990