So, we’ve got threads for every player, Mark Cuban, etc, and thought it’s about time we dedicated a thread to the broadcast team, and ask ourselves... is this really working? Are we on the treadmill of mediocrity or is it time to blow this thing up?

Let’s investigate:

Mark Followill AKA “mavsluvr”:

For me personally, I think he’s one of the best in the business. His encyclopaedic knowledge of everything Mavs related is incredible, his play calling is top-notch AND he somehow manages to bridge the gulf between Skin and Harper (more on that later). There are minor issues of course; his “step back jack” and in particular “hello Wenda” jokes are borderline cringe inducing, but on the whole, I couldn’t be happier with him. Give that man his max entension!

Player comparison: Luka Doncic

He’s our franchise player and I hope he never leaves...

Skin:

This is a tricky one. On the one hand, I really enjoy his understated homerism, and dig the fact he seems to be a real MFFL. When he talks a little X’s and O’s I find him to be quite insightful, and most importantly, he seems like a genuinely cool guy who you’d like to have a beer and shoot the breeze with... but there’s another side to him...

His broadcast style just doesn’t work for me. His constant obscure references and “zaniness” more often than not distract from the game, rather than enhance it. Now I’m all for a little zaniness, and his chemistry with Followill is really nice and I like their “riffing”, but it’s just too much... I’m not sure if it’s him calling the play or if he’s told to do it, but it all needs reeling in a bit.

Player comparison: Aaron Gordon

In the right situation, I think Skin has A LOT to offer. The talent is certainly there, but he’s being misused... badly.

Which brings us to:

Derek Harper:

*long sigh* Derek Harper... where do I begin?

First of all, I’d just like to say that, despite what I’m about write, I actually don’t hate him. It’s like listening to the game with your grandad; a bit irritating, but basically comforting.

I wrote in another thread yesterday, that I genuinely thought two seasons ago that he was drunk every broadcast. He was surly, could barely string a sentence together, and mistakes were frequent. He’s tightened it up recently, but it’s still a bad product he’s putting out there...

I was thinking recently, what qualities are you looking for in a colour guy, and I thought it was a combination of the below:

1) a good knowledge of X’s and O’s

Now, I’ve never played organised ball, so a lot of the specifics of the plays are lost on me, and do enjoy the insight when available. Does Harp give you good, detailed breakdowns? Literally never.

2) an insight into what it’s really like to be an NBA player

I’d love to hear the particulars of team schedules, what an average day is like, what the locker room is like in times of adversity, etc, etc, but he just doesn’t deliver the goods . It’s almost like he’s never actually played on an NBA team and got all of his information second hand...

3) good NBA anecdotes

Harp, there’s only so many times I can hear about the time you knew Kobe would be great. Really get in there, man! Dish the dirt from time to time!

4) a fun attitude and good rapport with the other announcers

Look at the Toronto guy. I don’t watch them much, but I enjoy his regular references to drinking and getting drunk. That’s something we can all enjoy and feel good about. Harper on the other hand is not that type. He seems like an intense kind of guy, and a man with little sense of humour.

When Skin’s riffing, Harper is lost and just does not know how to handle it. He either makes it too literal or flat out ignores it, occasionally even interrupting the other two to give his thoughts on another entirely different topic.

It seems like Followill and Skin try to get him involved all the time, and laugh hysterically any time he makes a SEMBLANCE of a joke, but the dynamic is just not there. I think him and Skin have some of the worst chemistry I’ve ever seen from any two individuals during my time on this planet ...

5) talk good

Maybe this is the harshest point of all, but you’ve got to be at least articulate, coherent and have a certain charm, and Harp, unfortunately, is not a naturally charming man...

So, for me, Harp goes 0/5 there. Ouch... but there is an obvious fix: Ced Ceballos.

The few times I’ve heard the man talk, I’ve just been in awe. He’s got it all; a GREAT voice, natural charm, a way with words, great insight, just the total package.

It’s time for a blockbuster trade, my friends...

Player comparison: Kristaps Porzingis

He should be our second star; a pillar of the broadcast team, but the fit just isn’t working, and it looks like it’s time to bring the experiment to a merciful end, and try something new...

All thoughts welcome and appreciated!

LUKA-LESS MAVS SEND THUNDER OUT WITH A WHIMPER

Without their star, the Mavericks stumbled their way through the game, ultimately blowing out a seriously awful OKC team. 


NOTABLE ITEMS

GAME FLOW. Luka was out with lower back tightness, and Jalen took his place in the starting lineup. Both teams struggled to score in the first quarter, although each squad eventually broke twenty points. Mavs led 25-23 after one. The second was even worse, with Dallas scoring 24 points and “holding OKC to” 19. The Mavs were up 49-42 at the half, despite hitting only 1 of 19 three-point attempts. Yuck. 

Ya boys looked a little livelier in the third quarter, and had a 26-19 period against the Thunder, ending the frame at 75-61. Dallas had a putrid 12-point fourth period, but held on for the win. 

NUMBERS.  Both teams shot horribly (Dallas 39/20/79, OKC 33/23/65). The Mavs worked well on the glass, with 53 rebounds, and 18 of their 32 made baskets were assisted. They earned 19 points off OKC turnovers, and had 15 fast-break points. 

PORZINGIS. With Luka out, it was KP’s chance to shine, and he ended the game with a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double. He had a fierce drive and flush in the first quarter, and three very deep threes in the second half. Rick remarked that Kris was a huge factor offensively, with his great screening, rolling, and positioning making things easier for his teammates. 

HARDAWAY. Tim shared high-scorer honors with KP, with 19 points off the bench to go with 6 rebounds. He was active on the court in a variety of ways, taking a charge, driving to the basket for a slam, making a great pass to Maxi for an and-one, and hitting a couple of triples. Coach said he was terrific.

RICHARDSON. Josh had 16 points and 6 boards to go with 4 steals. Carlisle mentioned his great floor game, key shots, and coming up with the ball and pushing it ahead for a fast break on several occasions. Josh was also energetic on the defensive end, and was Devin Harris’ pick for the DPOG award, which ended up going to the entire team. 

BRUNSON. Jalen did a solid job filling in for Luka, and put up 11 points and 4 assists. He showed a lot of hustle, diving to the floor to beat OKC to a loose ball, and making some good defensive plays. 

BURKE. Rick singled out Trey for giving the team a big lift in this game and the last. He had 9 points as a reserve, and led the team with 6 assists. He played with confidence and swagger, and resembled his bubble self. 

THUNDER. I would like to credit the Mavericks defense as the reason OKC managed to score only 78 points, and I’m sure they had something to do with it, but I think the greater factor was that this Thunder team is just so, so bad offensively. I was embarrassed for them, with this pathetic performance. 


OBSERVATIONS

Rick congratulated his team for sticking with the process and coming together in the second half after a physical, tight, difficult first half with the shots not falling. He described the team’s defense as “tremendous.” He seemed more relieved than anything. 

Mavs fans, a beautiful display of basketball artistry this contest was not. It was an ugly slog of a game, and tbh does not warrant much of a breakdown. But it’s a win, and it counts the same as the most impressive skilled performance imaginable. 

Going into the All-Star Break, the team stands at 18-16, having won nine of their last 11 games. Hopefully, they will make good use of the rest and come back refreshed and raring to go. In the meantime, Luka is expected to participate Sunday in the All-Star game and the skills contest, if anyone wants to look in on that. 

Enjoy the break, MFFLs!

Who was the player of the game who elevated his game to help the team win?

OFFENSE HUMS IN ORLANDO

Your Dallas Mavericks played a crisp team game and put the Magic away, holding off a late Orlando rally.


NOTABLE ITEMS

GAME FLOW.  The Magic had four players on the injured list -- Anthony, Fultz, Gordon, and Isaac. The Mavericks were at full strength to start the game. 

The Mavs got off to a slow start and found themselves trailing for most of the last four minutes of the first quarter. Orlando led 33-29 after one. Luka kept the Mavs in it with 10 points in the beginning twelve minutes. Dallas was back in the lead at the 8:25 mark in the second period, and never trailed again. The visitors were up 61-58 at halftime. 

About halfway through the third, our boys caught fire, with their star duo LD-KP combining for 19 of the team’s 34-point frame. They built a 13-point advantage during the quarter and led 95-86 after three. They maintained a double-digit lead for most of the fourth and were up by 18 points in the last five minutes. The Magic mounted a comeback attempt, closing the game on a 22-10 run, but the Mavericks held on for the win. 

NUMBERS. Both teams had proficient offenses, shooting well (52%, 49%) and recording only 8 turnovers each. Orlando’s defense mostly consisted of fouling, and Dallas had a 23-14 advantage in free-throw attempts. The Magic stayed in the game with their hot three-point shooting (20-41, 49%). The Mavs had a balanced game, with six players in double figures.

DONCIC. The birthday boy turned 22 over the weekend and celebrated with a near triple-double (33/10/9). He hit five of his 10 three-point attempts and also feasted in the paint. He even lost a shoe at one point and did not let it faze him. Luka said after the game that he is still working on his leadership skills, and by all accounts, his efforts are paying off. Yet another outstanding night. 

BRUNSON. Jalen dazzled in a bench-scoring role, putting up 24 points on 9-13 shooting to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Rick commented on how far the young point guard has come since his introduction to the league, making adjustments to his body and his game to adapt to the NBA. Coach said that Brunson is not only an effective scorer, but has become a solid defender, growing stronger and quicker over the seasons. Rick complimented Donnie for performing at his “phenomenal best” in the Luka-Brunson draft. I think we can second that. Devin Harris observed that JB has made great strides in mixing up his pace and in reading game situations. Great to see the young Mav making such progress!

PORZINGIS.  It was a tale of two halves for KP, who was 1-9 from the floor with only two points in the first half. He sprang to life in the second half and ended up with a 17 and 10 night. In a highlight-reel moment, he stunned the Magic with a dash from nowhere for a ferocious put back flush in the third quarter.  Rick complimented #6 on his “great floor game” and “big presence around the basket,” and commended Kristaps for the work he has been doing off the court. 

KLEBER.  Maxi had 13 points and 6 rebounds and won the DPOG award. The coach commented on the key defensive role the man from Wurzburg played, doing a “solid job” on Vucevic, and making some good help plays. Rick went on to observe that Maxi is a very valuable player in Rick’s system.

BENCH MENTIONS. The reserves were key in this win, scoring 50 points in the effort. Carlisle particularly singled out Powell and Burke, saying that looked ready to play and brought much-needed energy at the end of the road trip. Both made an impact in limited court time. Powell had 8 points and took a turn on Vucevic. The Orlando venue seemed to bring back Bubble Burke, with Trey scoring 11 points in 10 minutes, including an exciting 7-point burst in a one-minute stretch in the second quarter. WCS had to leave the game early with a sprained thumb. 

MAGIC.  The opponents were no pushovers in this contest, despite missing some of their key players. Vucevic put his defenders through their paces, putting up 29 points, 15 boards, and 8 assists. Fournier also had a good night, torching the Mavs for 26 points, including five threes. Carter-Williams and Terence Ross had 18 apiece, with MCW hitting 8-13 from the field. Although their offense was prolific, they offered little resistance on the defensive end. 


OBSERVATIONS

Carlisle “loved” the game, especially admiring his team’s “wonderful” ball movement. This was a Rick Carlisle type of contest, with the ball popping, the scoring balanced, and the team exerting good energy on the glass. 

The coach was asked to comment on how the team has improved to such an extent at this point in the season. He acknowledged that it is much easier to cope without having to deal directly with COVID. More generally, he admitted that the squad was not in very good condition entering the season, which affected their ability to play well. He said that his players still have work to do, but they have been playing “an excellent brand of basketball,” and he sees “good signs.” Encouraging developments!

This win, their eighth in the last ten, put the Mavs over .500 for the first time since January. If they can defeat OKC on Wednesday, they will enter the All-Star Break with momentum on their side. The coach called the upcoming Thunder match “a trap game at all levels,” so hopefully the Mavs will bring the appropriate energy and focus. 

Good times, Mavs fans!

Who was the player of the game who elevated his game above normal to help the team win?

MAVS DOMINATE SHORTHANDED NETS
BROOKLYN HELD TO 34 SECOND-HALF POINTS

Your Dallas Mavericks moved to a surprisingly comfortable win in Brooklyn.


NOTABLE ITEMS

GAME FLOW.  Porzingis returned to action, enabling Rick to return to his “normal” starting lineup of Luka, Josh, DFS, Maxi and KP. Durant, Kyrie, and Dinwiddie were out for the Nets. 

Dallas led with a 38-26 first quarter. Fans were treated to a Luka-Harden battle, with each star putting up 15 points. The Mavs were a blistering 61% from the floor, including 6-11 from three, and closed the frame with a 14-2 run. Your boys’ three-point shooting cooled off in the second period (4-12), whereas Houston hit 7-13 in that frame. Although the Mavs lost the quarter 30-38, they carried a 68-64 lead into halftime, thanks in no small part to 20 points off 9 Brooklyn turnovers. 

The Nets collapsed in the third, with their mighty offense scoring only 18 points. The two teams combined for a putrid 2-15 from deep, but Kristaps shone with 10 points in the period. The scoreboard read 94-82 Mavs after three. The fourth was mostly garbage time, with KP and THJ appearing for only 15 seconds combined, and the Nets managing to record only 16 points. The deep-bench players got a nice run-out, and the outcome was never in doubt. 

STATS. The Maverick point differentials were +20 on points from twos, a push on points from threes, and -3 on made free throws. They shot a respectable 39% from long range (14-36), and clobbered the Nets on points in the paint (50-36). The story of the game was turnovers, with Brooklyn losing a whopping 32 points on 19 giveaways, and the Mavs giving up a stingy 9 points in that category. 

DONCIC. Luka had a relatively quiet stat line by his standards (27/6/7, 2 steals)), but make no mistake, his fingerprints were all over this contest. The young superstar put on a game-managing masterclass, and he took advantage of his superior size and strength over the dainty Nets to perfection. He also took wonderful care of the ball, recording an impressive 1 turnover in 34 minutes on the court. Rachel Nichols asked Doncic after the game what he thought about Carlisle’s recent comments about his similarity to Larry Bird, and Luka, always humble, replied that he has many games to go before he can be compared to Bird. What an amazing player!

PORZINGIS.  Kristaps looked fresh as a daisy after his time off from back stiffness, and exhibited the type of engaged performance that the Mavs presumably hoped for from him when they acquired him. He played a lot of his favored post-up game, and punished the Nets for guarding him with smaller players to the tune of 18 points and 7-13 shooting, taking only 2 three-point attempts on the night. He was quite eager for the ball, kicking a chair when Luka looked off him, and following with a missed shot from the logo early in the shot clock. After some trade rumors in the past week, I guess he wanted to make sure he got a chance to shine in this one. Perhaps more importantly, he was an important defensive factor, making an impact on the Nets’ ability to score at the rim. 

DFS.  Doe-Doe has a penchant for contributing his effective performances quietly, and this game was no exception. He put up double-digit shooting (12 points, 5-6 from the field), and stuffed the stat sheet with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals, a block, and a game-high +24. His defensive presence was felt in a team-high 35 minutes, and he led the squad on the boards, and was awarded the championship belt for being the Defensive Player of the game. His highlight reel featured a magnificent chase-down block on Harden. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS. The Mavs had balanced scoring on the night, which is something they have been aspiring to. In addition to Luka’s 27 points, KP had 18, Brunson 14, Tim 13, DFS 12, and Josh 11. All Mavericks who played at least 10 minutes were in positive territory for the match. Maybe the most impressive development was the Mavs’ defensive performance in the second half, with the team clicking on that end of the floor. 

NETS. The Mavs, for the most part, played Harden in single coverage, and he responded with a game-high 29 points, albeit with an inefficient 4-11 shooting performance. He got to the line for only 8 FT attempts, and was responsible for 6 turnovers. Only two other Nets were in double figures — Jeff Green and Bruce Brown with 12 apiece. Although Brooklyn shot very poorly, hitting 32% from three and only 41% overall, it was their ghastly inability to take care of the ball that really did them in. Can’t imagine that their head coach, former Mav Steve Nash, was too proud of the night’s display. 


OBSERVATIONS

Luka congratulated his squad for playing “like a team,” and I think few spectators would disagree. Really great to see the Mavs come together, especially after their unfocused prior performance against the Sixers. Defensive juggernauts the Nets are not, and Dallas took full advantage of the Nets’ ineffectiveness on that front, abusing Brooklyn over and over in the paint. 

There is no question that the Mavericks caught a huge break with both Durant and Kyrie unable to go, but they were overdue for a stroke of luck this season, and we’ll take it. The win is welcome, but even more encouraging was the way it happened, particularly the defense in the second half and the well-coordinated effort for the whole game.

The victory brought the Mavs back to .500, at 16-16. They remain in 9th place, half a game ahead of Memphis and 1.5 games behind Denver. 

Our boys face the Magic in Orlando on Monday. We’ll see if they can sustain this level of play. 

Keep the faith, Mavs fans!

Who was the player of the game who elevated his game above normal to help the team win?