(12-10-2024, 01:20 AM)F Gump Wrote: On the lack of bodies to play PF, it will be interesting to see how they play it if their top 3 are all out.

I can't imagine they would go ultra large, with Lively sliding to PF (alongside Gafford).

Could we see Luka truly playing PF? If so, and without Naji playing any SF, what would the PG-SG-SF rotations end up being?

(12-09-2024, 09:54 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: It's ok that you're not sure. People can disagree, and I am sure. Both players are effective shot deterrents in the paint (Lively's better at that, too, but that's not the different part), but good ball movement really exploits Gafford quite easily, and it's drastically more easy for the opponent to generate open 3's when he's in the game (which is what they're all trying to do in the first place).

(12-09-2024, 11:27 AM)mvossman Wrote: Not sure if its really an apples to oranges comparison of Lively to Gafford net and defensive rating last year.  Most of Lively minutes were prior to the trade when the Mavs were struggling with a lot of injuries, and a lot of Gafford's minutes were when Lively was out and the team was otherwise healthy.  There were few games in that sample when both were playing.

In the playoffs (where Gafford's limitations are more exploited) Lively had a significantly better net rating and defensive rating as he does this season.  Given that Lively was rookie last year with a very steep learning curve, I think the playoff and current season data is probably more indicative of what those two are.

(12-10-2024, 01:20 AM)F Gump Wrote: On the lack of bodies to play PF, it will be interesting to see how they play it if their top 3 are all out.

I can't imagine they would go ultra large, with Lively sliding to PF (alongside Gafford).

Could we see Luka truly playing PF? If so, and without Naji playing any SF, what would the PG-SG-SF rotations end up being?

(12-10-2024, 04:34 AM)Dundalis Wrote: Do we disagree though? My comment isn't that Gafford is as good as Lively defensively, it's that there isn't a 15 point differential in defensive rating (and subsequent gap in their overall defensive ability). A 15 point differential isn't indicating Lively is better, it's indicating the type of gap between a great defender, and a really bad one. I'm saying I don't think Gafford is a really bad defender like the stat indicates, that he's very much a positive one.


The only relevance to my comparison was that Gafford is clearly a good overall defender though, despite his weaknesses. Nothing to do with trying to prove in any way that he's better or even as good as Lively. And yeah, even good defenders can get exploited by elite teams in the playoffs, we've seen plenty of proven good defenders get torched in that environment.

(12-10-2024, 11:18 AM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I think we all agree Lively is better than Gafford defensively.

But that "stat" seems dumb considering Gafford was in the starting unit early in the year when Luka was a disaster and the Mavs were struggling because of it.  Now Lively is in the starting unit with an in shape Luka.

(12-11-2024, 04:48 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Wow, so we are off until 12/19?  I thought we had a game tomorrow.  I hope the rest does us all good.    I wonder if Leonard will be back for our back to back against LAC?

(12-11-2024, 04:57 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: 4 in the top 100 ranked:  Luka, Kyrie, PJ and Lively.

PJ is new to the list.  He deserves it.  I think Lively will be higher, but probably needs a run of starting to justify a higher ranking. 

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/

(12-11-2024, 05:38 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: Genius Kidd tanked the game, so Luka gets another week off to work on his "wrist".  

Other possibility: maybe they haven´t scheduled the quarterfinals losers bracket games yet, cause the other QF games haven´t been played?

(12-12-2024, 08:21 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: I like the cup and think the games have been entertaining.

Although picking up a extra road games at OKC and Golden State is tough.  Especially when things could be razor tight for playoff seeding late in the year.