MavsBoard

Since the Jazz won tonight, Mavs' magic number to secure HCA in the 1st round is still 2. On the plus side, we can no longer finish lower than 5th, since the Nuggets lost.

The Lakers being eliminated will have interesting implications for SA and NO the rest of the way. How hard do they want to compete for HCA in the play-in game?  Both teams play Golden State, and the Warriors' other game is against the Lakers, and they seem pretty likely to win that game now. So if the Mavs win all 3 remaining games, we probably need to hope either NO or SA can beat the Warriors if we want the 3rd seed.

(04-06-2022, 12:00 AM)Hogmelon Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.si.com/nba/2022/04/06/lakers...-suns-loss

https://giphy.com/clips/theoffice-the-of...n1L2xpmdxi

The text is basically screaming, Kings need Bullock

"What’s clear is they desperately need wings who can guard and shoot. Everyone in the league is searching for role players fitting that profile. But perhaps no other team in the league is more devoid and needy of it. "

What’s next for a Kings franchise that has missed the playoffs 16 straight seasons? – The Athletic

(04-06-2022, 07:41 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]The text is basically screaming, Kings need Bullock

"What’s clear is they desperately need wings who can guard and shoot. Everyone in the league is searching for role players fitting that profile. But perhaps no other team in the league is more devoid and needy of it. "

What’s next for a Kings franchise that has missed the playoffs 16 straight seasons? – The Athletic

Is there anyone on their roster who can play center?  Asking for a friend.

(04-06-2022, 07:54 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]Is there anyone on their roster who can play center?  Asking for a friend.

Sabonis

Working with short sleep the last few nights, so I hope this is coherent...

I was listening to NBA radio today and they referenced the draft picks hoarded by Presti and OKC. So I took a look and they have 4 picks this summer (3FRP, 1SRP) and they have 6(!) picks next year (4FRP, 2SRP) and 6 more(!!) in 2024 (3FRP, 3SRP). Since this is the guy that drafted Westbrook, Hardin, Durant, Ibaka and others, he has a track record of identifying young talent with good upsides. 

The currently have 15 guaranteed or PO contracts for next season. The highest salary they have is K Walker at ~$27M. 

I know they can trade picks for talent, but what is the valuation of a pick slot? You assume they will have to do something because they can't absorb the new picks with an almost full roster. 

I get the feeling they would like to continue the youth movement, but they seem to be headed for significant roster churn just to handle all the guys flowing through. I feel like there should be an opportunity to help them get through their burgeoning personnel crisis, but my brain is too tired to posit specific scenarios. 

Is there anyone not Kemba who would be of interest as an addition/upgrade to the current roster? Giddey, SGA and Favors are probable the most desireable/least available of their current roster, but I don't have a read on the others.

(04-06-2022, 03:32 PM)michaeltex Wrote: [ -> ]Is there anyone not Kemba who would be of interest as an addition/upgrade to the current roster? Giddey, SGA and Favors are probable the most desireable/least available of their current roster, but I don't have a read on the others.

I feel like Dort would be the type of player who would fit well on a Kidd defense.

(04-06-2022, 12:28 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]https://giphy.com/clips/theoffice-the-of...n1L2xpmdxi

LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook are all listed as QUESTIONABLE for the game against Golden State tomorrow night [Thursday, April 7].

LeBron will probably play in the Lakers' last two games (at home against OKC on April 8, and in Denver on April 10) in order to have a shot at the scoring title.

https://theathletic.com/3235745/2022/04/...-the-east/

I do agree Cade could aproximate the role of Luka in a team designed to function like Dallas but so can a Dinwiddie.

Detroit is looking for their Brunson and want ours, per the article.

I think Cade is good but he is not Luka, please.

For reference, Hollinger released how he voted for ROY and had Cade third.  He had Luka 4th in MVP and 1st team All NBA.

Haralabos Voulgaris on Twitter: "Interesting NBA Plot and how it may relate to the Playoffs - Memphis is ridiculously good at two things that *perhaps* can be minimized in a playoff series with better effort and gameplan focus. The crush the offensive glass, and live in transition. - What else stands out? https://t.co/ko822w1v5G" / Twitter

Haralabos Voulgaris on Twitter: "Its pretty hard to be as bad at Offensive Rebounding and Transition as the Mavs are and still be a good offense but Luka seems to overcome a lot." / Twitter

(04-07-2022, 02:41 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]Haralabos Voulgaris on Twitter: "Interesting NBA Plot and how it may relate to the Playoffs - Memphis is ridiculously good at two things that *perhaps* can be minimized in a playoff series with better effort and gameplan focus. The crush the offensive glass, and live in transition. - What else stands out? https://t.co/ko822w1v5G" / Twitter

Haralabos Voulgaris on Twitter: "Its pretty hard to be as bad at Offensive Rebounding and Transition as the Mavs are and still be a good offense but Luka seems to overcome a lot." / Twitter

I think Luka does need to take some transition notes from Kidd
It felt like much anytime Kidd got a rebound we somehow ended up with a layup or a wideopen 3 in transition

(04-07-2022, 03:47 AM)Jym Wrote: [ -> ]I think Luka does need to take some transition notes from Kidd
It felt like much anytime Kidd got a rebound we somehow ended up with a layup or a wideopen 3 in transition

Yeah, I do wish we would push the pace more.    In the playoffs the pace tends to slow down a little (I think at least) so maybe this will be a positive to us.   On the other hand, teams like PHX and other smart teams, should and will push the pace....especially if Luka is slow getting back.

(04-07-2022, 12:41 AM)Hypermav Wrote: [ -> ]https://theathletic.com/3235745/2022/04/...-the-east/

I do agree Cade could aproximate the role of Luka in a team designed to function like Dallas but so can a Dinwiddie.

Detroit is looking for their Brunson and want ours, per the article.

I think Cade is good but he is not Luka, please.

For reference, Hollinger released how he voted for ROY and had Cade third.  He had Luka 4th in MVP and 1st team All NBA.

Interesting that he says Giannis and Luka are no brainers for the first team.   I am a few weeks behind in my NBA podcasts, so right now everything I am listening to has Luka on the outside looking in.  Is he really going to be first team NBA again?   I guess we can all say we want him in better shape to begin the season, but it certainly appears he finishes the year as a freight train.    Getting to first team NBA again is not something I would have considered a few months ago.

(04-07-2022, 02:41 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]Haralabos Voulgaris on Twitter: "Interesting NBA Plot and how it may relate to the Playoffs - Memphis is ridiculously good at two things that *perhaps* can be minimized in a playoff series with better effort and gameplan focus. The crush the offensive glass, and live in transition. - What else stands out? https://t.co/ko822w1v5G" / Twitter

Haralabos Voulgaris on Twitter: "Its pretty hard to be as bad at Offensive Rebounding and Transition as the Mavs are and still be a good offense but Luka seems to overcome a lot." / Twitter

It seems like it could bode well for the Mavs that they don't rely too much on transition points, when those are hard to come by in the playoffs.

OTOH, the big question is still likely to be if the role players can step up around Luka, when opposing defenses get much tighter. Can Brunson improve from his disappointing first playoffs? Can Dinwiddie do what KP couldn't and lead the offense with Luka resting? Can DFS, Bullock, Green, and Maxi hit enough open 3s when we need them?

(04-07-2022, 07:45 AM)Branduil Wrote: [ -> ]Can Brunson improve from his disappointing first playoffs?

I keep seeing this. I don’t remember JB as disappointing. Just went back and looked at his game log. Very solid numbers, with his minutes being the only disappointing thing. 

As I recall, Carlisle tried to go big and by the end of the series was mostly just playing Jalen when Luka sat. Sure, nobody was killing it without our superstar on the floor. But I don’t see or recall anything to be disappointed in Jalen over. 

Shooting: FG 46%, 3PT 46%, FT 77%

Per 36: 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 4.1 FT attempts 

This is my math, so there could be errors in there. But I don’t think so. Betting against Jalen has always been a big fat mistake.

(04-07-2022, 12:56 PM)Jommybone Wrote: [ -> ]I keep seeing this. I don’t remember JB as disappointing. Just went back and looked at his game log. Very solid numbers, with his minutes being the only disappointing thing. 

As I recall, Carlisle tried to go big and by the end of the series was mostly just playing Jalen when Luka sat. Sure, nobody was killing it without our superstar on the floor. But I don’t see or recall anything to be disappointed in Jalen over. 

Shooting: FG 46%, 3PT 46%, FT 77%

Per 36: 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 4.1 FT attempts 

This is my math, so there could be errors in there. But I don’t think so. Betting against Jalen has always been a big fat mistake.

JB kept getting played off the floor because of defense and inability to get a shot off due to the length of the Clippers.

I think he's going to break out this playoffs