(05-10-2022, 12:08 AM)MFFL Wrote: [ -> ]Here is the contact that drove Paul into such a fury that he wanted to beat up a 15ish year old kid. And it wasn't even the kid who touched the family member
As fans, it might be good if we had something more definitive about this issue. One the one hand, it appears from what we know to be an over-reaction. On the other hand, the family can't be "hugged" or anything else. These days, it could be more than just inappropriate.
I'm not sure we have a good read on this yet.
Whatever the actual circumstances, Paul didn't need to go rage monster on the group of kids who were escorted out from courtside. That was out of line.
Will be interesting (terrifying) to see how CP is officiated tonight after virtually every talking head decided you aren’t allowed to call fouls on CP even if they’re fouls.
According to most “experts” the Mavs still haven’t won a game this series. Game 3 the Suns lost and Game 4 the refs won.
Hopefully there isn’t some over correction by the stripes reacting to two days of Suns and media whining because their darling CP wasn’t escorted into the conference finals.
(05-10-2022, 08:14 AM)Winter Wrote: [ -> ]You keep talking about years. This game just isn't about years. The coaching staff is projecting skill, and they've had well over a year to look at him. He's having a hard time staying in a playoff game because of his skill, not because of his age.
I'm willing to bet Green is still given a look by the front office because first-round draft picks should get that much of a look. If he were a mid 2nd-round pick, I venture he'd be playing exclusively in the G League. That's where he should be right now.
Years are definitely a part of it. Do you really not think a kid with a partial year of college ball at 19 does not have more room to grow than 3/4 year college player, or a mid 20s guy we pluck out of Germany?
As for belonging in the G league, here are the EPM (best on/off advanced stat) and BPM (best box score stat) for these guys as sophomores:
Green: EPM: -2.3 BPM: -1
Dinwiddie: EPM: -4 BPM: -5.2
Bullock: EPM: -2.7 BPM: -3.2
Dorian: EPM: -1.9 BPM: -4.6
Powell: EPM: -1 BPM: .1
Brunson: EPM: -.3 BPM: -.9
Maxi: EPM: 1.2 BPM: .4
Looks like a lot of our rotational players should have been in the G league as sophomores. The reality is most young players struggle in their first couple of years in the NBA. For comparison sake, Frank was worse as a sophomore and is roughly the same in his 5th year as Green is now. If Green follows that same trajectory (a distinct possibility) then he will be an NBA player but probably not ever worth more than his current contract. On the other hand, Dorian played at roughly Green level for 3 years before making a huge leap (and he is still getting better).
You had said earlier that your assessment was not based on your scouting eye. First it was minutes, and then that he belongs in the G league. The reality is his minutes and on court impact as a sophomore is right in line with most of our starter/rotational players.
The fact that the lights were too bright in his very first playoffs as a 21 year old is unfortunate, but I don't really think it makes sense to dump a player off a couple of game sample.
(05-10-2022, 08:38 AM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: [ -> ]Will be interesting (terrifying) to see how CP is officiated tonight after virtually every talking head decided you aren’t allowed to call fouls on CP even if they’re fouls.
According to most “experts” the Mavs still haven’t won a game this series. Game 3 the Suns lost and Game 4 the refs won.
Hopefully there isn’t some over correction by the stripes reacting to two days of Suns and media whining because their darling CP wasn’t escorted into the conference finals.
![[Image: 13dxms.jpg]](https://i.imgflip.com/13dxms.jpg)
(05-10-2022, 08:38 AM)MaxiThreeba Wrote: [ -> ]Will be interesting (terrifying) to see how CP is officiated tonight after virtually every talking head decided you aren’t allowed to call fouls on CP even if they’re fouls.
According to most “experts” the Mavs still haven’t won a game this series. Game 3 the Suns lost and Game 4 the refs won.
Hopefully there isn’t some over correction by the stripes reacting to two days of Suns and media whining because their darling CP wasn’t escorted into the conference finals.
I agree with some of this. But the Mavs got the more favorable whistles in game 4. At least according to some of their players. CP3 won't foul out of this one. As Chuck would say, "Guaaaranteed"
I hope all the make up calls are tonight rather than spread out over the next 3. Regardless, the Mavs have at least a puncher’s chance against the league’s best team this year. Exciting times, Mavs fans. Exciting times.
(05-10-2022, 09:25 AM)mvossman Wrote: [ -> ]The fact that the lights were too bright in his very first playoffs as a 21 year old is unfortunate, but I don't really think it makes sense to dump a player off a couple of game sample.
Just for the record, let's clear up the "dump a player" comment.
You use Green in a package deal for a veteran. That's not dumping him. You're looking for a higher quality product that can give you leadership and playoff experience. You would be doing this because your bench is thin, and it's especially weak in playoff experience. Green's is usable currency in a trade package.
The Mavericks need to upgrade their bench to a Phoenix or Miami-quality rotation. It's a very serious need. Outside of the center position, I would say it's their biggest need. How will they do this? The Mavs don't have many picks to trade or even cap space. This is just the reality of what we are facing in Free Agency. We don't have many assets.
If Green simply can't be used as sweetener for a better product, then keep him as a bench player. But if I'm Cuban or Nico, I'll add him in a heartbeat to any useful player with playoff experience - one that will actually play some minutes this time of year.
You've heard all this before from me. I'm not going to repeat myself after this - we can just give it a rest if you want.
(05-10-2022, 11:52 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]I agree with some of this. But the Mavs got the more favorable whistles in game 4. At least according to some of their players. CP3 won't foul out of this one. As Chuck would say, "Guaaaranteed"
CP can play as free and easy and physical as he wants because he will 100% not foul out.
There were a couple of weird technicals but the majority of the Mavs getting the favorable whistles narrative is about CP fouling out.
The Suns biggest concern right now shouldn’t be the refs it should be their effing soft front running all NBA SG.
Let's talk ish once we win this series.
(05-10-2022, 12:18 PM)Winter Wrote: [ -> ]The Mavericks need to upgrade their bench to a Phoenix or Miami-quality rotation. It's a very serious need.
The Phoenix bench that we've outscored 127-109 over the last 4 playoff games?
Random tangent, I really don't understand how folks can watch playoff basketball and then continue to talk about the need for depth or a strong bench. Having one or two guys who can come in and hold down the fort when your main offensive weapons sit is one thing but depth really is only a regular season need. Everyone's rotation shrinks in a huge way. You pay your best players what you pay them because you plan on riding them 40 minutes a game when it matters.
It’s interesting to me to compare Mavs/Suns by couplets in this series. It surprises me how many similarities there are.
Offenders: Doncic/Brunson vs. Booker/Paul. Advantage Mavs, no? If Luka continues to be the best player on the court, and Brunson continues to be more than a role guy, Mavs could complete the upset.
Defenders: Finney-Smith/Bullock vs. Bridges/Crowder. A wash? This group is about as good as you could hope to match up with the opposing stars. Crowder’s ankle may have slowed him half a step. But I don’t see meaningful separation here. Similar players in similar roles.
Bigs: Kleber/Powell vs. Ayton/MacGee. Advantage Suns, but not to the extent we expected, eh? Suns bigs defend the rim and dunk the ball. The Mavs switch screens successfully and, in Maxi’s case, stretch the floor. Mavs’ strategic advantage here seems to be mostly neutralizing the advantage of having the #1 pick in the draft. Completely unexpected.
Bench: Dinwidde/Bertans vs. Payne/Johnson. Whatever. Bertans and Johnson have been up and down. Dinwidde and Payne have been bad and badder, respectively.
Not sure there are any conclusions to draw from this about the likely outcome of the series. But it sure makes me think the Mavs are a lot closer to contending than I would’ve believed a few months ago.
My observations:
-Crowder's shooting cooled off.
-Ayton seems highly dependent on CP3. His first two games were great but when CP3 struggled in games 3&4, his production dropped off.
-The Cams have really struggled in this series.
(05-10-2022, 02:45 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: [ -> ]Random tangent, I really don't understand how folks can watch playoff basketball and then continue to talk about the need for depth or a strong bench. Having one or two guys who can come in and hold down the fort when your main offensive weapons sit is one thing but depth really is only a regular season need. Everyone's rotation shrinks in a huge way. You pay your best players what you pay them because you plan on riding them 40 minutes a game when it matters.
Agreed.
Personally, I am amazed that Kidd has found a way to keep the rotation 9-deep and still finds himself tied with the best team in the NBA. 9 is as deep as a playoff rotation gets, tbh.
It speaks to the competency of both Kidd's staff and the players on the roster, imo.
I don't know if they have enough in that room yet to get the job done, but I feel like I DO know that we can expect significant improvement coming out of this successful season.
Amazing is how many minutes we've played Bertans.
(05-10-2022, 02:45 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: [ -> ]Random tangent, I really don't understand how folks can watch playoff basketball and then continue to talk about the need for depth or a strong bench. Having one or two guys who can come in and hold down the fort when your main offensive weapons sit is one thing but depth really is only a regular season need. Everyone's rotation shrinks in a huge way. You pay your best players what you pay them because you plan on riding them 40 minutes a game when it matters.
I don't think you need to have crazy depth for the playoffs, but it would certainly be nice to have another dependable wing. Every time DFS picks up a 1st quarter foul I start sweating.
(05-10-2022, 03:31 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Agreed.
Personally, I am amazed that Kidd has found a way to keep the rotation 9-deep and still finds himself tied with the best team in the NBA. 9 is a deep as a playoff rotation gets, tbh.
It speaks to the competency of both Kidd's staff and the players on the roster, imo.
I don't know if they have enough in that room yet to get the job done, but I feel like I DO know that we can expect significant improvement coming out of this successful season.
Technically he's playing 9, but it feels more like 6 plus 3 guys who probably shouldn't be out there except there are no other options.