(03-20-2024, 11:47 AM)Smitty Wrote: https://x.com/coopmavs/status/1770489740623544665?s=46&t=4w35gotNXtBJnqxbaL7e9w

If you've wondered where the Mavs would find a third scoring threat, they just may have found it...In their center combo of Lively & Gafford. In 7 games since the lineup change those two have combined for 25.4 pts on 82.6 FG%. Throw in 13.3 rebs and 3.29 Blks just for fun

(03-20-2024, 12:43 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Wow that is amazing.  I did not know the numbers were so high.  I am so glad they are leaning into this.   It may not work against every opponent, but if you are getting 20 plus points on high percentage shooting, it certainly helps.   Especially when you are playing with a superstar who will get the most out of these centers.

(03-20-2024, 01:02 PM)Smitty Wrote: It's nice to see the move Kidd made to start Gafford next to PJW is paying off so far.

Basically, Gafford + PJW is excellent. Gafford + Maxi is very bad.
Then with Lively + Maxi it's excellent. Lively + PJW is bad.
Small-ball is still an excellent wrinkle with Maxi + PJW.




The rotation looks good to me and they still have Green coming back before playoffs but the decision to start Gafford to set up the rest and then keeping Exum in that "Dinwiddie role" off the bench has been perfect. Credit to DJJ for making that decision easier! 

The closing lineup isn't quite set and that's why we've seen different guys close. It's not necessarily a good thing to not have a go-to closing group but the fact that Kidd has options each night, depending on the performance of the "other three" up to that point can be a good thing.

This is the first time in a long time that the Mavs have the personnel to dictate matchups and/or adjust to others.

(03-20-2024, 01:17 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Yeah, I have to admit that the Gafford part of that exchange is working better than I expected. For one thing, he sets REALLY physical screens, and I think that's setting a tone of physicality early. 

I still don't love it, because I think Lively is the better player and I think he should play the most minutes. Knowing that one of them is often not going to finish games (and sometimes, even the first half), it seems like the guy coming off of the bench is going to get short-changed a bit. Also, I feel like whichever one plays the most with Luka is going to look better with the stats. That could be a case to start either (because Gafford off the bench wasn't really working, imo) but I just hate the idea of stunting anything about Lively's growth. He's so special, defensively.

(03-20-2024, 11:47 AM)Smitty Wrote: https://x.com/coopmavs/status/1770489740623544665?s=46&t=4w35gotNXtBJnqxbaL7e9w

If you've wondered where the Mavs would find a third scoring threat, they just may have found it...In their center combo of Lively & Gafford. In 7 games since the lineup change those two have combined for 25.4 pts on 82.6 FG%. Throw in 13.3 rebs and 3.29 Blks just for fun

(03-20-2024, 08:11 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Yeah, I think we would be all surprised how good even fringe NBA players are.   Put most in an open gym and they will hit an impressive amount of open threes in a row.  I remember as a kid seeing Sean Rooks (Former Mav) and he was making threes left handed at a practice I was at.

(03-20-2024, 12:14 PM)michaeltex Wrote: Looking at BB Reference, DAL has most of the core group under contract for next season with the only significant unsigned player as DJJ. Based on his performance so far, I think he will be looking for something more than the vet minimum he's no now.

Without DJJ and without Hardy's non-guaranteed contract, DAL is just under the projected LT for next season by roughly $7.5MM. 

Given the Salary Cap Projections and MLEs, which are complicated enough to make my head hurt, Is it possible to keep the gang together for another year?

I feel like there will be less angst this summer about FA acqusitions and trades if this proves to be a team with growth potential if given a little time and am looking for some of the salary cap experts' input.

(03-20-2024, 02:35 PM)The Jom Wrote: If you assume as I do that the LT is a hard no unless it’s a temporary way to land another star, then your question answers itself. But you’d have to think trading an expiring Timmy this summer won’t prove as difficult as it has the past couple years. (That’s one reason to keep playing him ahead of Hardy, in my view. A couple hot games in the playoffs could affect his value pretty significantly. And history says that’s not unlikely.)

(03-20-2024, 02:35 PM)The Jom Wrote: If you assume as I do that the LT is a hard no unless it’s a temporary way to land another star, then your question answers itself. But you’d have to think trading an expiring Timmy this summer won’t prove as difficult as it has the past couple years. (That’s one reason to keep playing him ahead of Hardy, in my view. A couple hot games in the playoffs could affect his value pretty significantly. And history says that’s not unlikely.)

(03-21-2024, 10:18 AM)mvossman Wrote: Timmy’s primary value this coming offseason will be as an expiring contract and I doubt a couple of hot games is going to change that. He had a great first half of season and it didn’t help his market value enough

(03-21-2024, 04:19 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: I'm interested in swapping Kyrie for Dejounte, as I think the Mavs will get an additional something back from this swap.

They could then take that additional something, and send it along with THJ and whatever else may be needed to Detroit for Grimes and Fontecchio.

G: Dejounte, Exum
G: Grimes, Green, Hardy
F: Luka, Fontecchio, DJJ
F: PJ, Kleber, O-max
C: Lively, Gafford

How does this team look?

Interesting small-ball lineup that could be used on occasion: Green, Grimes, Fonte, Luka, PJ.

(03-21-2024, 04:19 PM)RGP1981 Wrote: I'm interested in swapping Kyrie for Dejounte

(03-21-2024, 03:43 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don’t believe that the luxury tax is a hard no anymore. I think that is one of the primary factors behind the recent sale of the team’s majority stake.

I hope they will avoid paying it frivolously and without cause, of course, because of the competitive ramifications. But it is obvious that the top teams will continue to be in the tax, so that is where the Mavericks need to be at some point.

(03-22-2024, 01:42 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: Noah Weber (@noahweber00)
Jason Kidd said P.J. Washington stepped on someone’s foot at the end of the game and he will have an injury update on him tomorrow.

(03-21-2024, 06:00 PM)Smitty Wrote: I agree. This team will be a tax payer going forward. The biggest decisions will be if/when they exceed the first and/or second apron as those come with some real inhibitors.

(03-22-2024, 01:55 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: I've rewatched this play maybe 50 times now. There is no twist of the ankle. Barely any contact really. PJ literally steps on DJJ's foot at a slight downward angle for maybe a split second and instantly comes up limping. I fear a broken toe/foot based on how instant that pain was. Even on the bench where the trainer was pressing down, it was around the mid foot area, not ankle. 

I really REALLY hope I'm wrong. 

Even this statement is making me think they're going send him to get x-rays and see what they say.