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No one that bashed him in the previous game thread deserves to celebrate the win today.

It's almost like he's monstrously inconsistent.

Of course we get to bash a bad game.  He was excellent tonight.

(01-04-2021, 10:41 PM)Hypermav Wrote: [ -> ]Of course we get to bash a bad game.  He was excellent tonight.

Maybe use the same energy for other players when they suck. I have already pointed it out a few times. Richardson has been worse on offense but he is the new shinny toy.
Why not question the Richardson trade? He is the new addition. With Curry instead of him the Mavs looked a lot better last year. THJ is doing exactly what he was doing last year. Good but streaky shooting with some shot creation.
For some reason THJ is always the scapegoat and if it is not THJ it is Powell.

I promise to not slander his name for 14 calendar days.

I didn't like how THJ played last game and I am celebrating this game.  Everything has to be so black and white...all or nothing.

(01-04-2021, 10:59 PM)jesusshuttlesworth82 Wrote: [ -> ]I promise to not slander his name for 14 calendar days.

You won´t make it. Don´t think I will. Maybe if I focus on Trey Burke´s attempt to remind all of us why he was nearly out of the league just a few month ago.

(01-04-2021, 11:01 PM)Hypermav Wrote: [ -> ]I didn't like how THJ played last game and I am celebrating this game.  Everything has to be so black and white...all or nothing.

Welcome to the internet.  Kneejerk threads in either direction are silly.

(01-04-2021, 11:04 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Welcome to the internet.  Kneejerk threads in either direction are silly.

It´s all about the right balance. THJ was once again turned into the scapegoat. Only fair to give him his due when he is playing great.

Neck and neck with Powell for the title of who's most responsible for each loss and here is my proposal to get rid of them...

I haven't bashed him. Far too small of a sample size to do that. He appears to be the same streaky THJ that was more often a positive than a negative last season. That's what I'm counting on, at least until we have 30-40 games in upon which to base a new opinion.

(01-04-2021, 11:09 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]THJ was once again turned into the scapegoat

I don't see how pointing out a dude going 4/16 from the field and 2/12 from 3 and saying how his bad game affected the outcome against the Bulls is turning him into a scapegoat. There are a lot of problems with the team. THJ not playing well is one of them.

This team needs an elite shooter on the court. THJ showed tonight how much better this team looks with one. THJ being super cold one game and then supernova the next is nothing new. It's also not a quality I particularly want out of my supposed starting SG.

Already with the apology thread? He was our least reliable shooter when it mattered most. Loved that RC benched him, even though he got starter minutes. As for J-Rich, I am really surprised with his defense. He and DFS should definetely be the starting and finishing the game with Luka/KP.

(01-05-2021, 06:42 AM)aguiar95 Wrote: [ -> ]Already with the apology thread? He was our least reliable shooter when it mattered most. Loved that RC benched him, even though he got starter minutes. As for J-Rich, I am really surprised with his defense. He and DFS should definetely be the starting and finishing the game with Luka/KP.

Love that people don´t realize that I am just holding up the mirror. If the sample size was big enough to declare THJ the worst player that should be traded asap it is big enough to declare him the 2nd or 3rd best player of the early season after tonights game. The numbers certainly back it up.

You point out THJs streaky shooting but what about DFS and Richardson. So far we have:

THJ 17/4/2 45.2% FG 40.7% from 3, -4.1 on/off
Richardson 14/3/2 42.5% FG 32.6% from 3, -10.3 on/off
DFS 9/5/1 41.5% FG 28.6% from 3, +4 on/off

But THJ is the problem?
I agree that both are way better on defense and once they start to hit at least league average percentages from 3 both are great fits next to Luka but right now (especially without KP) the Mavs desperately need more shooting next to Luka. That´s why THJ closed the game. Everytime the Rockets closed the gap he made a big shot.
For some reason people are in love with Richardson (maybe because fans missed a really good defender) but so far THJ is clearly the better shot creator, shooter and even passer.

(01-05-2021, 07:33 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]Love that people don´t realize that I am just holding up the mirror. If the sample size was big enough to declare THJ the worst player that should be traded asap it is big enough to declare him the 2nd or 3rd best player of the early season after tonights game. The numbers certainly back it up.

You point out THJs streaky shooting but what about DFS and Richardson. So far we have:

THJ 17/4/2 45.2% FG 40.7% from 3, -4.1 on/off
Richardson 14/3/2 42.5% FG 32.6% from 3, -10.3 on/off
DFS 9/5/1 41.5% FG 28.6% from 3, +4 on/off

But THJ is the problem?
I agree that both are way better on defense and once they start to hit at least league average percentages from 3 both are great fits next to Luka but right now (especially without KP) the Mavs desperately need more shooting next to Luka. That´s why THJ closed the game. Everytime the Rockets closed the gap he made a big shot.
For some reason people are in love with Richardson (maybe because fans missed a really good defender) but so far THJ is clearly the better shot creator, shooter and even passer.

DFS and Richardson are not (and never were) shooters. Both never passed 38% on 3's in their whole carreers. DFS works better as a SF, not good when played at PF. DFS-Richardson looked nice yesterday against Wall-Harden. All metrics point out (at least without KP) that the 2 big lineups works better than the 1 big.

As I've said on the discord chat, even with a 12-point lead, I felt our offense wasn't doing a good job in the 1Q of creating good shots. Could be him being missed or just bad overall playmaking/Rockets good defense. But our defense was great with DFS/Rich on their stars, Maxi/Luka can switch with almost everyone and WCS protecting the paint. Our only weakness was the Wood PnR defense.

THJ is not the problem. DFS and DP at the 4 & 5 were. If you want to go Luka-THJ-Rich-Maxi-WCS, I'll suport it (Luka will have to step up defensively, but we gain a shooter/creator). Maybe it was that CHI game that we were close and he couldn't buy anything. He's actually played good on half of our games (his defense is improved, but still not good).

I'm on the J-Rich train because of the impact he's had so far on our defense (communication, deflections, switches). If he could get more than 15ppg than it's a plus. Right now it's Timothy's job is to be our 2nd best offensive player. Can he deliver?

(01-05-2021, 04:33 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]THJ being super cold one game and then supernova the next is nothing new. It's also not a quality I particularly want out of my supposed starting SG.

Leaving THJ out of it for a second, my belief is that ALL shooters are like that, to an extent. Duncan Robinson is the best shooter in the league, and didn't he go like 1/12 the other day against the Mavs? It's just something that happens. Percentages even out. 

I think the problem the Mavs have been facing is that ALL their shooters have been rough to start the season (except Kleber).

Congrats to THJ for finally doing his job! Well done sir.

(01-05-2021, 10:16 AM)BigDirk41 Wrote: [ -> ]Congrats to THJ for finally doing his job! Well done sir.

And that´s exactly what I mean. The same applies for anyone not named Brunson and maybe Luka. Why focus on THJ? Burke is playing like he once again wants to be out of the league by the end of the season. DFS and Richardson cannot make a shot. WCS had games where he looked like a rookie and played with zero energy.

That´s the usual reddit/twitter narrative. Just lazy. Blame one guy and once he is gone and the problem is still not fixed find a new scapegoat.

(01-05-2021, 10:33 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]WCS had games where he looks like a rookie and played with zero energy.

Even last night, when he was a HUGE positive overall, there where multiple possessions during which others were having to tell him where to go and what to do. And, I can remember one defensive possession when he purposefully moved out of the way so Cousins could take a straight line to the basket with nothing but Brunson on his hip (this was the play that got Cousins ejected). 

I'm starting to believe that WCS simply has more trouble understanding the details of his role in the offense/defense than other players, and that this is why he wasn't kept in SAC or GSW. This is probably why he wasn't played much last season when he got here, too. Kudos to Carlisle for being patient and trying to work him in. 

When he's playing well, one thing he does REALLY WELL is run the floor. Nothing in the game is more potent, offensively, than a fast big who can beat his defender up the court. As you mentioned, that's an effort-based skill, so I hope he can do this consistently. Obviously, he's also a good roll guy, too, but I've noticed that he isn't such a great screener. That has to improve, as does his chemistry with Luka in those situations. Maybe "chemistry" isn't the right word - maybe it's just an improved understanding of all the different ways to react in different situations after setting screens. 

Overall, I think starting him was the right move, and I hope he continues to get a chance. I just think I can see the warts already. Maybe with the help of Luka/Carlisle, he can overcome them finally.

EDIT: Just realized I put this in the THJ thread, sorry.