(12-17-2023, 11:00 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: Zach Lowe gave the Mav's some love on the most recent pod.  He thinks our best lineup is Lively, GWill, Exum, Kyrie and Luka which he say have not played a single minute of time this season (quotes Cleaning The Glass).

(12-19-2023, 03:18 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: I haven't listened to this podcast yet but I have been thinking about this.   I think Kyrie and Luka are givens to close games.   Lively is a given too...although a little risky to count on a 19 year old for playoff rounds, but he has earned that spot.  For the rest, I am sure we will see a rotating cast of characters.   I really like how Exum has been playing and think he should be given a lot of opportunity to close games.  But sometimes it may be Jones Jr or Josh Green.  Hardaway too, but I really want the wings to be plus defenders when Luka and Kyrie are healthy.   

My issue is whether it is Exum, Green or Jones at the 3, it just feels like Grant Williams makes that lineup to small.  Maybe this is recency bias over his past few weeks, but I am thinking this is one of the reasons Maxi is so important.    I have not liked Maxi's play this year at all and he has been hurt for a large part of the season.  But he does provide defense, size and a solid open three point shooter.    I am sure Grant will close some games, but I wonder if a healthy Maxi could be a better closing fit.   Just being asked to spread the floor and take wide open threes when available, provide some size inside, and to be able to guard bigger wings.    I just hope that Maxi is still possible.

(12-19-2023, 03:40 PM)mvossman Wrote: If Derrick and Exum can maintain decent shooting, its hard to argue not having both in.  Along with Lively they are our best defenders.  Jones is already regressing towards his recent average and Exum is still a very small sample, but even with average shooting they are probably best options.  I don't think a Lively/DJJ/Luka/Exum/Kyrie lineup will be too small in the playoffs.  In a very small sample (22 minutes) that group is +71.

(12-19-2023, 08:35 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: I saw on twitter that today marks the 6th week Maxi has been out and Green for 2 weeks. 

Maxi dilocated his toe and missed a week and then came back for one game and then missed 6 weeks.  Why did he even play that game?  Seems pretty careless seeing his has been out for 6 weeks.  Are they really ramping him up slowly to make sure he is 100%.  Mavs have new trainers.  I wouldn't blame them for all the injuries but it has been a tough stretch.

(12-20-2023, 06:09 PM)JamesConway912 Wrote: Devin had a comparable injury iirc and missed a TON of time, I think it might have been months. 

Given that we hear so little about Kleber I doubt we’ll see him in December, maybe not even in January.

Anything new on Lively? Is there a timetable for his return? I’ve seen him wear a walking boot on twitter but nothing in terms of a potential return date.

(12-21-2023, 12:30 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth)
There is nothing new regarding injury information for Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Maxi Kleber, or Josh Green. Jason Kidd says there is "no timetable" for Dereck Lively II's return as he recovers from a left ankle sprain.

No timetable for Lively. He's probably a good 2 weeks away depending on the sprain. His X-Rays were negative. 3 weeks seems right for a moderate sprain.

(12-21-2023, 03:01 AM)omahen Wrote: That is bad. Mavs are in danger to run Luka to the ground, just as it happened last season. Another 44 min game against Clippers.

(12-21-2023, 12:16 PM)MarkAguirreWrathofGod Wrote: Should’ve rested Luka for the Denver game. We have a back2back Friday away and Saturday home. Xmas day late game in Phoenix. And then a home and away b2b. After that we have a game every other day until Jan.20th. I hope Kidd sits Luka against SA on Saturday. We should be playing for something bigger down the line at this point.