In my opinion we need someone who can dribble and get to the rim instead of standing still at the 3 point line waiting to chuck another 3...I cringe every time a player not named Luka or Brunson try to dribble to the basket...90% of the time it ends in disaster and we know how pathetic our supposed good and overpaid shooters can't hit the side of a barn currently...
Give me a ball handler who can penetrate and take the load off Luka...
Its been the same past 2 seasons.
We need C/PF that hustles, plays D and can roll and dunk.
We need PG (Am 95% sure Dragič is coming, whether that will solve problems or not we will see).
And we need a Wing/Pf who is a great 3&D guy.
I mean everybody and their wives know this by now. We had the same needs two years ago.
But for me, our frontcourt is the most pressing issue. Basically get rid of everybody bar Kleber and bring me two studs. We need guys like Turner, Capela, Collins, Homes, Grant, Gordon and so on. That for me is number one priority.
The only right answer is a time machine.
to switch back to the other basketball?
(12-08-2021, 08:31 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]A new owner.
This really.
But since we can't change that.
We need a new bench. Have to get rid of Powell/WCS/Burke/ as they aren't NBA players. Same with Josh Green.
We need to turn Bullock/THJ into reliable shooters.
We have to get a 2nd ball handler that can actually run an offense. We need a better starting center. This team is flawed and broken.
(12-08-2021, 09:05 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]This really.
But since we can't change that.
We need a new bench. Have to get rid of Powell/WCS/Burke/ as they aren't NBA players. Same with Josh Green.
We need to turn Bullock/THJ into reliable shooters.
We have to get a 2nd ball handler that can actually run an offense. We need a better starting center. This team is flawed and broken.
Making everyone available and doing the panic trade that @"cow" wants to avoid. Do the Mavs have the assets to turn KP, Brunson and THJ + picks and if someone is interested one of the young guys into Simmons and Turner?
(12-08-2021, 09:18 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]Making everyone available and doing the panic trade that @"cow" wants to avoid. Do the Mavs have the assets to turn KP, Brunson and THJ + picks and if someone is interested one of the young guys into Simmons and Turner?
I don't think we have the ammo for Simmons. And Simmons seems like a massive gamble anyway. We can't miss anymore in any phase (drafts, free agents, trades, resigns) of player acquisition any longer. I really think this team is at a crossroads. I'm not saying everything needs to be a homerun but we definitely need singles and doubles.
Turner is interesting but I'm going to stick with "no future FRPs" unless we are talking about a star and Turner is a rung or two below that. I'd say we don't have the ammo for him either at that point unless KP is involved and maybe another team. I'm not sure MBT is going to let KP go, but I do believe there is some truth to the rumblings we heard last year. I'm also a little dubious that the Mavs would trade THJ right after signing him. Still, of the major upgrades I think the Mavs
could pull off, Turner feels like a realistic target.
And speaking of not having the ammo, but a tire I'd like to kick is McCollum. He's going to be out for a while with his collapsed lung. He's also missed a ton of games the last two seasons and he's now 30. I don't think the conversation would go anywhere because THJ is who you'd want to swap and that isn't going to help out there defensive woes but I'd still keep in communication. KP/THJ -> Nurkic/CJ works financially. That's probably a Hail Mary move and means Dame will ask out after the season is up. Much like the Mavs, I think they'd be much better off tanking.
And speaking of "no FRPs", Powell isn't going anywhere short of salary matching for a player like Wall. And even then it is tricky as I'm not sure Houston would want our bigger contracts in trade for salary matching.
(12-08-2021, 09:37 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]but I'm going to stick with "no future FRPs"
I don´t think anyone wants to gift away 1st round picks but as long as Luka is under contract chances are that we are talking about mid/late picks. Luka alone raises the floor of the team. Makes me more willing to at least consider it.
OTHER:
"An Optimized Luka"
(12-08-2021, 09:51 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]I don´t think anyone wants to gift away 1st round picks but as long as Luka is under contract chances are that we are talking about mid/late picks. Luka alone raises the floor of the team. Makes me more willing to at least consider it.
I'm living in the now with comment. 2025 is a long time away.
Hard to say a position really
Our current players (not named Brunson or KP) playing up to their level of play from last year would certainly help. Bullock is the weak link in the top 7/8 at the moment. Hopefully that can turn around
Overall we just need an infusion of solo scoring, infectious energy and ball handling ability. And I'm not feeling picky on which of the those 2 traits the guy we pick up brings. I'm not sure we have the assets to get someone who can provide all 3 but that would be ideal. Lillard is the guy who comes to mind who fits that
A secondary Ball Handler would prevent our offense from having those dead periods in games. It would also allow JB to just focus on scoring and THJ and to focus on just on finishing. Another ball handler should also help KP get more/better shots
My vote is an All Defense caliber player at any position. I think the offense will be better once Luka plays himself into shape and they go more 5-out with KP at center. Driving lanes will open up and guys will eventually start to knock down shots.
We need more than one position. I considered voting for "other" and stating ....everything but shooting guard. But...I went ahead and voted for secondary ball handler--to play with Luka, but especially when he's off the floor. JB is really more of a shooting guard.
Condition still? I posted this on reddit.
The starters playing between 7 and 8 times worse in the 2nd half compared to the 1st half. The +/- mess is largly 2nd half, and not 1st half.
This was roughly Luka +/- over the two halfs before the Grizzlies game.
1st half -10
2nd half -80
Any other explanation than condition not being NBA level for the team in the first 20 games.
- Kidd defensive schemes demanding more condition? tied to shooting woes?
- Team collective being tired in the 2nd half?
- Luka + KP clearly condition issues and therefore performance dipping in 2nd halfs on both sides of the floor
- Defense falling off the cliff the longer the game goes
I think the injuries multiplied the problems and have a way bigger effect on the team. The team could use a 10 game run of being healthy.
Anyway if they would have just done the same in the 2nd half compared to 1st half, they would probably won quite a few more games. Despite the shooting.
1st quarter: -0.2
2nd quarter: -0.5
3rd quarter: -2.0
4th quarter: -1.7
Thats avg per game
Luka net rating quarter by quarter
1st: 0.8
2nd: -3.7
3rd: -10.5
4th: -10.9
The discrepancy in performance between 1st and 2nd half is legit insane ....
Ball handler as in someone who can create for himself and others. Preferably that would be a PF/big wing.
(12-09-2021, 02:44 AM)sefant Wrote: [ -> ]Luka net rating quarter by quarter
1st: 0.8
2nd: -3.7
3rd: -10.5
4th: -10.9
The discrepancy in performance between 1st and 2nd half is legit insane ....
Thanks for putting these numbers together.
WOW, incredibly eye opening and significant IMO.
(12-09-2021, 02:44 AM)sefant Wrote: [ -> ]Luka net rating quarter by quarter
1st: 0.8
2nd: -3.7
3rd: -10.5
4th: -10.9
The discrepancy in performance between 1st and 2nd half is legit insane ....
Conditioning could be a factor but I've also noticed teams change their defensive coverages late and cause problems. Dallas has trouble when teams switch everything. Luka gets a big on him and tends to take a lot of long threes that seem like bad shots. He makes some but the eye test tells me he's not hitting enough of them. If Luka gets a small he's trying to back him down but when the double (or triple) comes guys aren't making shots off the kickout.
Meanwhile, no one else can consistently exploit their matchup. Brunson is closing games because he's their next best attacker, but he's also being exploited on the other end so I doubt it's a net positive for the Mavs. KP may be better than last year, but I don't like the idea of dumping the ball into him in the post in the 4th quarter. Everyone else tends to just stand around waiting for catch & shoot opportunities off Luka.
I saw a bit more movement on the weak side last night, backside cuts from Bullock and DFS. I bet that's something they talked about.
I vote for a better shooting coach and/or a team psychologist.