(04-19-2022, 04:46 PM)fifteenth Wrote: [ -> ]but they haven't stayed in the middle/lower end of the playoff pack
I don't know what you call it, but I call 7th, 5th and 4th seed middle/lower end of the pack. Maybe pack isn't the right word. Their playoff finishes have so far been lower in the pack.
(04-19-2022, 04:59 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]I don't know what you call it, but I call 7th, 5th and 4th seed middle/lower end of the pack. Maybe pack isn't the right word. Their playoff finishes have so far been lower in the pack.
Playoff finishes and seeding all have context (and so far we've improved both of those each of these last three years anyway).
If you don't think this team has taken noticeable steps each of the last 4 years well...I simply feel bad for you then. This team has brought me back to the early Dirk years and given me that excitement you feel when everything is up and to the right in terms of progress. I think the biggest problem is that in today's society expectations are created way too early and may force some folks to miss that ride to that point when the pressure is really on. If you think we have pressure to win at this stage in the Luka era then I would suggest to quit watching ESPN.
(04-19-2022, 05:05 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: [ -> ]If you think we have pressure to win at this stage in the Luka era then I would suggest to quit watching ESPN.
It's not the pressure to win that I'm speaking to. It's the respect to the process of making a championship caliber team. It takes hits and misses, we just got rid of a HUGE miss, that has no bearing on whether or not we'll hit on the next one (whatever the intent of the impact is). We have a roster chock FULL of guys you want on your championship team, we don't however have the horses that these guys can help propel to that promised land (I will say, JB might be a horse...time will tell, and hopefully time doesn't take him to another team...). I think that it is flawed building, esp when there is so much salary put into those non-horses.
Because of the CAP situation, this will not bear fruit any time soon, but I do think Nico/Kidd are going to be more attractive for future free agents than Rick and Donnie. It will help that Luka will be entering his prime and we should have an outside chance at a championship every year. Benchmarks for the next year are:
-Can we retain JB?
-Can we make a good draft pick?
-Do we do something with THJ?
-Do we extend DP and Maxi?
Is our team better this year? That's an interesting question. I'm going to lean towards yes. The core players (Luka, JB, God King) are all improved but I've been lowkey impressed by Bullock in the two playoff games. Jury is out Spencer. He was great after the trade but I don't think he's performed close to that level so far in the playoffs. Maybe that's good news for the Mavs if he can figure it out and turn it up a notch. Bertans is whatever. I don't think we really miss KP much like I don't think we really miss THJ, though I think THJ could be useful in spots this series with Luka out.
(04-19-2022, 05:27 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]-Do we extend DP and Maxi?
If we do, I hope it's for half what they're making now (don't even know if that is a possibility as far as extensions go) taking them into their mid 30's!
(04-19-2022, 05:27 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Because of the CAP situation, this will not bear fruit any time soon, but I do think Nico/Kidd are going to be more attractive for future free agents than Rick and Donnie. It will help that Luka will be entering his prime and we should have an outside chance at a championship every year. Benchmarks for the next year are:
-Can we retain JB? The Mavs better
-Can we make a good draft pick? Or use in a trade to upgrade?
-Do we do something with THJ? See above
-Do we extend DP and Maxi? We need a younger Maxi. Extend at your own risk.
I think DP would take a hometown discount. He's much closer to a veteran minimum salary than the $10-11m he is making now. Maxi's long term health is worrisome. He's a backup 4/5. Playing him minutes beyond that is recipe for injury. He only makes $8m now? I'm not sure I'd pay him that again. I'm not so sure someone else wouldn't though.
We need a younger Maxi. Extend at your own risk.
The problem is how paper thin you are at the position. The trades you make if you are going to get rid of your draft pick and move THJ need to be for a 4/5.
With Jalen about to break the bank, we really need a guy on a rookie deal that can contribute. I don't think Josh Green is close to that level of contribution yet.
(04-19-2022, 05:39 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]I think DP would take a hometown discount. He's much closer to a veteran minimum salary than the $10-11m he is making now. Maxi's long term health is worrisome. He's a backup 4/5. Playing him minutes beyond that is recipe for injury. He only makes $8m now? I'm not sure I'd pay him that again. I'm not so sure someone else wouldn't though.
We need a younger Maxi. Extend at your own risk.
The problem is how paper thin you are at the position. The trades you make if you are going to get rid of your draft pick and move THJ need to be for a 4/5.
With Jalen about to break the bank, we really need a guy on a rookie deal that can contribute. I don't think Josh Green is close to that level of contribution yet.
I want to keep Maxi next year in the last year of his deal. I've got a fantasy trade(s) idea on what I think makes the Mavs the best team in bball next year.
Draft day trade of THJ for Holmes
FRP for PJ Washington into the TE
Waive Burke
Luka - Dinwiddie
Brunson - Green
DFS - Bullock
PJ - Maxi
Holmes - Powell
I don't know what to think about Gobert. I have never been crazy about him, but at the same time I think he gets some unwarranted blame for the Jazz struggles. Sure, it would be nice if he could punish smaller defenders, but that is not what he is (besides crashing the boards).
I was not aware how poor Conley and especially Mitchell are on defense. I don't blame Gobert that he needs to leave the corner constantly in order to stop a layup line.
He has a huge salary, but would playing with a better team defense and defensive coaching staff and catching lobs from a legendary passer take this team to the next level. Not sure. Not sure we would have the best trade package either.
(04-19-2022, 12:44 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not sure I understand the origins of the Mitchell hate. There aren't a ton of guys that want to play in Utah. Imagine if we'd drafted him over DSJ.
I also think he’s overrated and gets treated and marketed as a superstar which he is not. Part of my hate is probably irrational though, I admit, and stems from DSJ getting screwed in the dunk contest which Mitchell won.
Ingram is good and under-appreciated. He has the talent to carry them in the two games in New Orleans and put the Suns in a hole
I love Ingram. I'd be tempted to see if New York would empty the bank for Zion in the offseason. I don't think that dude's body is going to hold up.
I bet nobody expected the result we saw tonight with N.O. I don't know if Book's injury was the sole reason for the Suns loss, but the Pels have been playing well since the end of the regular season. Like I said earlier, Willie Green has this young team's ears when SVG did not.
Trae Young horrible again last game. I was watching Hawks last 3 games, and Trae has been beyond awful in as many as 11 out of those 12 quarters. A pure one-way player with absolutely zero defense, playing really soft in these more physical games. Had 10 TO last game, but it's more that he is unable to manipulate defenses as a PG that is the troubling part, and lack of defense. He is a fantastic one on one attacking force in iso situations. However, once he is trapped in difficult situations with good help defense that knows how to make complex movements and switches, he doesn't have the skills to manipulate the defenses to commit to wrong places and movements and doesn't anticipate those movements by the defense to exploit the holes that will appear. The team needs to carry him for too many stretches. He is able to however explode at any moment with his offensive game, and this series is far from over as Atlanta is a great team overall, but the worrying part is Trae's omnipresent inconsistency that has been there since he entered the league. You never know what you get.
(04-20-2022, 01:47 AM)burekemde Wrote: [ -> ]Trae Young horrible again last game. I was watching Hawks last 3 games, and Trae has been beyond awful in as many as 11 out of those 12 quarters. A pure one-way player with absolutely zero defense, playing really soft in these more physical games. Had 10 TO last game, but it's more that he is unable to manipulate defenses as a PG that is the troubling part, and lack of defense. He is a fantastic one on one attacking force in iso situations. However, once he is trapped in difficult situations with good help defense that knows how to make complex movements and switches, he doesn't have the skills to manipulate the defenses to commit to wrong places and movements and doesn't anticipate those movements by the defense to exploit the holes that will appear. The team needs to carry him for too many stretches. He is able to however explode at any moment with his offensive game, and this series is far from over as Atlanta is a great team overall, but the worrying part is Trae's omnipresent inconsistency that has been there since he entered the league. You never know what you get.
Wow !! Way to crap on Trae Young. Don't you think Miami's scheme has a lot to do with his struggles? Also, Atlanta is not the same team they were last year, and they just lost Capela for probably the series. A lot of what they do is predicated on the Trae Clint P&R. Not having him hurts, and Collins just came back from injury. A lot of variables going on here. As far as his D, what really great small scoring guard was a good defender? Iverson? IT, during his run in Boston ? They all are hidden on defense. I just think you're being a little harsh on Trae, and not giving Miami credit for how they are defending him. But more probably than not, you're going to hear from him before the end of this series.
Jae Crowder after 2 games
56 minutes played with 6 points 2-15 0-9 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
I bet Josh Green could reach that in 56 minutes. 
(04-19-2022, 05:27 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Because of the CAP situation, this will not bear fruit any time soon, but I do think Nico/Kidd are going to be more attractive for future free agents than Rick and Donnie. It will help that Luka will be entering his prime and we should have an outside chance at a championship every year. Benchmarks for the next year are:
-Can we retain JB?
-Can we make a good draft pick?
-Do we do something with THJ?
-Do we extend DP and Maxi?
Is our team better this year? That's an interesting question. I'm going to lean towards yes. The core players (Luka, JB, God King) are all improved but I've been lowkey impressed by Bullock in the two playoff games. Jury is out Spencer. He was great after the trade but I don't think he's performed close to that level so far in the playoffs. Maybe that's good news for the Mavs if he can figure it out and turn it up a notch. Bertans is whatever. I don't think we really miss KP much like I don't think we really miss THJ, though I think THJ could be useful in spots this series with Luka out.
Don't think we are missing KP specifically, but we are missing big depth after his departure. We are also missing THJ offense, especially with no Luka or KP. He was one of the few guys that showed out the last two playoff series.
As for our cap situation, I don't see any reasonable avenue to having cap space anytime soon. Oddly, the KP trade made that even more the case. We are stuck with that Bertans contract, and right now it looks like Din is a good long term fit.
Given that, we should retain everyone we can. Brunson is obviously at the top of the list, but it would make sense to retain DP and Maxi on reasonable deals. We do have a roster crunch with too many wings and an incoming pick. Combine that with a need for one more high level starter and frontcourt depth issues, and some kind of 2 for 1 trade for a starting big would make a lot of sense. Given our lack of assets, there is a good chance one of the outgoing pieces will be the pick.