MAVS NEWS:

[SkenfromLMF]

The crazy thing is that Luka is playing hurt... Now why he is NOT 100% is another conversation
I would be more interested in him taking a game or two off to get right, especially with Live and PJ out.

[KillerLeft]

The crazy thing is that Luka is playing hurt... Now why he is NOT 100% is another conversation
I would be more interested in him taking a game or two off to get right, especially with Live and PJ out.

See, but that won't help, because the reason he keeps getting nicked is that he's not in game shape, and one thing we know is that he won't get into game shape without playing in games. Some players just aren't into conditioning, and he's one of them. I actually think sitting might lead to more of a setback than playing with slight injuries. And, I don't know that we're ever going to see another Luka season without a ton of minor injuries. I hope we do, but I'm not going to expect it anymore. The good news is that he's willing to go out and power through them. I'd prefer that he take the off-season as an opportunity to reach peak physical condition in an effort to avoid them, but we can't have everything in life.

[SleepingHero]

See, but that won't help, because the reason he keeps getting nicked is that he's not in game shape, and one thing we know is that he won't get into game shape without playing in games. Some players just aren't into conditioning, and he's one of them. I actually think sitting might lead to more of a setback than playing with slight injuries. And, I don't know that we're ever going to see another Luka season without a ton of minor injuries. I hope we do, but I'm not going to expect it anymore. The good news is that he's willing to go out and power through them. I'd prefer that he take the off-season as an opportunity to reach peak physical condition in an effort to avoid them, but we can't have everything in life.

It’s a shame really. Because Luka is cut from the same cloth of Jordan, Bird, Magic, Duncan, any all time great really. But he lacks the dedication to the small things like being in shape. 

It’s annoying every year we talk about it ad nauseam, but it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t have at least two MVP’s by now if he took his conditioning seriously. That type of regular season success would obviously benefit playoff seeding and thus maybe he has even more playoff success than now. 

It’s just such a stark difference compared to 21 years of Dirk, where we’re accustomed to our star player giving a shit night in and night out. 

I never thought I’d write this sentence when the trade happened but Luka Doncic is letting Kyrie Irving down in such a major way. He’s been a killer all year and has brought it basically every night. Meanwhile Luka has cost the Mavs so many games this year just based off his decision making and horrific shooting.


Ugh. I’m frustrated.

[michaeltex]

Once PJ and Lively are back, I wouldn't mind seeing Luka on the "injury" report for a few weeks of behind-the-scenes conditioning training.

I think he got hurt a couple years ago in December and was out for a few weeks, but when he came back he looked much better physically and seemed to play at a higher level than before. But maybe I just dreamed it...

[Chicagojk]

I really thought this off-season that maxi would be beat out for minutes. Time will tell if Maxi still has it or is healthy, but I know think he will get the backup minutes at 4. Marshall will get some as well. I thought he would get more though. It just feels like we are two small without a bigger four. Thoughts? I was also hoping Omax would be further along but he is not ready yet. Game is too fast and he plays too mechanically. Getting minutes will help but he is going to be iffy whether he eventually breaks through. Rooting for him.

If that is the case, minutes tend to get tight at the forward and guards if Marshall is getting 25 minutes. Who is going to earn those remaining minutes?

[mvossman]

I really thought this off-season that maxi would be beat out for minutes.  Time will tell if Maxi still has it or is healthy, but I know think he will get the backup minutes at 4.  Marshall will get some as well.  I thought he would get more though.  It just feels like we are two small without a bigger four.  Thoughts?  I was also hoping Omax would be further along but he is not ready yet.  Game is too fast and he plays too mechanically.  Getting minutes will help but he is going to be iffy whether he eventually breaks through.  Rooting for him.

If that is the case, minutes tend to get tight at the forward and guards if Marshall is getting 25 minutes.  Who is going to earn those remaining minutes?

I think Naji has been just fine at the 4, which is good because basically any injury to PJ, Maxi or Lively (its crazy all three are out right now) will mean minutes at the 4 for Naji.  Given how often those guys get injured I don't see Marshall getting 25 wing minutes a game regularly.  When everyone is actually healthy my guess is the 2nd unit will eventually be Lively/Maxi/Naji/Grimes/Din, but it doesn't seem like that will be very often.

[F Gump]

I wonder if winning the scoring title might have been the WORST thing that could happen to Luka. He's a great talent when he's committed to the cause, but this feels like Harden World 2.0 to me. That logo shot in crunch time was an abomination by a guy too taken with himself and his need to be hero. Ugh.

If Luka remains focused on getting his, and hero ball, at whatever the cost, this team is dead in the water. Any other tweaks are just like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

MacMahon reporting that Lively is hoping to play tomorrow

[KillerLeft]

MacMahon reporting that Lively is hoping to play tomorrow

That should help a ton. They've really missed him.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

It’s a shame really. Because Luka is cut from the same cloth of Jordan, Bird, Magic, Duncan, any all time great really. But he lacks the dedication to the small things like being in shape. 

Things that make you go hmmm…

How can you say he’s like the greats when his actions are more like Barkley, Harden, Embiid?

He still has time to write his story but I’m not sure I believe anymore.

[KillerLeft]

Things that make you go hmmm…

How can you say he’s like the greats when his actions are more like Barkley, Harden, Embiid?

He still has time to write his story but I’m not sure I believe anymore.

Well, that's the thing with Luka. 

I totally think this is a justified complaint, and kind of obvious at this point, but...

...I also know he's going to do some stuff this season (at some point) that makes me feel like he's the greatest of all time. 

It's a spectrum.

[SleepingHero]

Things that make you go hmmm…

How can you say he’s like the greats when his actions are more like Barkley, Harden, Embiid?

He still has time to write his story but I’m not sure I believe anymore.

How can I say he's one of the greats despite some of his actions painting a different story? Because his story is still being written. Jordan had his moments of sheer debauchery during his playing days too. I remember all too well Jordan heading to Atlantic City in the middle of the playoffs to gamble and smoke cigars all night before a playoff game. 

Only reason no one ever cares (in fact it's celebrated as apart of his legend) is because Jordan won, and won a lot. Not just by playoff standards, but in the regular season too.

Luka has had his fair share of insane individual brilliance on the level of those greats, but never the consistent winning that usually comes along with that brilliance. Of course we can all explain it with very legitimate reasons as to WHY it hasn't happened. I.E. Dumb front office with Donnie setting this team back years. Carlisle losing the locker room. KP literally tanking his way out of here. Losing Brunson for free. Cuban. etc. etc. 

None of these horrific plot points are Luka's fault, and in fact, the Mavs being able to win so much despite so much turmoil should be a feather in Luka's cap. But the things we're critiquing him on has become so frustrating because it is SO EASY TO JUST NOT DO IT! Just DON'T yell at the refs. JUST PLAY YOUR GAME. He's always been this fiery competitor that feeds on confrontation so I don't want him to radically change his game, but there's a big difference in yelling at an opposing player or fan vs. the refs and we can all tell when Luka starts to hunt the call. 

It's a two way street. Currently Luka has run out of runway to be afforded "he'll grow out of these maturity things." now. And every game the Mavs lose in this steep Western conference will fall directly on his shoulders as long as he continues to shit the bed. 

His game against Denver wasn't even that bad until he decided to hoist up a logo 3 in crunch time and then turned the ball over in the final 2 minutes. Boneheaded stuff that isn't injury related and something he's literally never done in his career (at least this often). 

As always, I am in Luka's corner. I will always pull for him. I know he will pull out of this slump, sooner most likely than later....But his performances so far this season deserves some measured critiques that aren't just "Luka's fat lol"

[SleepingHero]

Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon)
Mavs center Dereck Lively II, who missed last four games due to sprained right shoulder, told me he had a “good practice” today in San Francisco and hopes to play tomorrow vs. Warriors. “Just got to see how I feel when I wake up, but it’s been steady progress and I’m feeling good.”

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5910332...ed_article


Klay Thompson's Bay area return.

[SleepingHero]

@nationmffl

Klay Thompson on joining the Dallas Mavericks:

"Honestly, it's rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental and my career… So, I really feel the love here, and I feel highly valued that I can do great things."

[SleepingHero]

I really hope the offense actually looks functional tonight.

It’s really felt like the coaches just want to spam iso looks and aren’t really utilizing the gravity Luka/Kyrie/Klay all have. I think that tells the story as to why so many guys are shooting so poorly. The looks aren’t the best.

We’ll see.

[SleepingHero]

Also, can’t count out injuries. No Maxi, PJ, and Lively early on has definitely been felt.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I really hope the offense actually looks functional tonight.

It’s really felt like the coaches just want to spam iso looks and aren’t really utilizing the gravity Luka/Kyrie/Klay all have. I think that tells the story as to why so many guys are shooting so poorly. The looks aren’t the best.

We’ll see.

It's shocking that we are roughly averaging the same assists/game as last year (25.6 vs 25.7)

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Also, can’t count out injuries. No Maxi, PJ, and Lively early on has definitely been felt.

No one, especially the FO, should have relied on Maxi this season.  Dude is cooked.  Decline and injuries...

[michaeltex]

Also, can’t count out injuries. No Maxi, PJ, and Lively early on has definitely been felt.

I see it as a progression of issues starting with Luka's calf injury in training camp that eliminated his participation for most of the preseason. A lot of other players would possibly have started on the bench until they got their game legs back, but Luka was on court from the opening tip of game one.

By the time he started coming around then the injuries to teammates started and the level of competition ramped up. Feels like he's trying to do too much sometimes. He seems more committed to defense, but is supposed to do that at a high level, initiate the offense, approach triple double stats and score 30+ a night? That's a heavy lift.

TBH, I'm disappointed with how Klay is contributing offensively. He doesn't seem to be as accurate as his reputation says. Maybe blame it on the scrambled rotation, but I suggest he's not scaring any opponents right now. He was OK in the first 3 games, but in the last 7 games he's 14/49 (28.6%) on 3pt shots. 

I really like Marshall's game. Decent ball skills, seems to play good defense and is shooting 50% overall despite only hitting 20% beyond the arc (on only 2 attempts per game). He's definitely part of the rotation as the injury list clears.

To me, the jury is still out on Grimes, he needs to start showing something or he'll get the Grant Williams treatment. Hardy shows flashes but doesn't seem to sustain anything game to game. OMax looks like he should be a monster, but I'm wondering if he and Hardy are here come March 1st. 

I have to give respect to Powell. Going from regular rotation (sometimes starting) to a deep bench role has to be hard, but he's there when asked and plays with the energy we have come to expect. Could not ask for a better teammate.

Really looking forward to getting everybody back and finding the rotation rhythm. Kidd's DAL teams always seem to start slow, but I hope he doesn't wait until 1/1/2025 to get it figured out.

Sorry, didn't mean for this to be a team summary. Just train of thought typing.