Game 24: Dallas Mavericks (15-8) vs. Toronto Raptors (7-16) | 6:30pm CST

[Mavs2021]

Nico: Here we have the model Omax. Maybe we can interest you in a little Omaxi for Kelly trade.

....

Nico: ...on second thought maybe we keep the O.

[KillerLeft]

Lively has had some rough moments tonight, but also some good ones. Kind of a mixed bag.

That lazy closeout on Barrett belongs in column A.

[KillerLeft]

Outstanding defense by Kyrie!

[Chicagojk]

A little behind but this has been the best stretch by Omax as a mav. Sure he made a three but he is doing all the hustle, being a pest and just being active. Exactly what he needs to do to earn minutes.

[KillerLeft]

A little behind but this has been the best stretch by Omax as a mav.  Sure he made a three but he is doing all the hustle, being a pest and just being active.  Exactly what he needs to do to earn minutes.

Call me delusional, but he looks like he’s getting closer to backup 4 minutes to me.

[KillerLeft]

The Mavericks have so many freaking great defenders. It’s crazy how fast Harrison has turned to this team around. Kidd, too.

[KillerLeft]

Luka is definitely starting to Luka again. What a sick shot.

[Mavs2021]

Jokic vs. Poole, the battle we didn´t know we needed. Jokic will have to have a 60 pt triple double for the Nuggets to win.

[BoredAssistant]

Guessing this is a franchise record breaking performance from 3 for a Mavs duo.

[KillerLeft]

O-Max is BALLING

[KillerLeft]

O-Max is hustling, rebounding, defending and moving the ball smartly.

[Mavs2021]

30 pt 3rd quarter lead almost gone. This is some garbage play on both ends. Omax and Klay have been good. Everybody else has been shit the last 15 minutes.

[KillerLeft]

PJW has defended ok tonight, but his offensive game was pretty rough.

[KillerLeft]

Unbelievable defense from Dinwiddie to avoid fouling there, which was Dick’s goal, clearly.

[myconsumerclub]

If this is how they play against garbage teams they will start to lose games that are being counted as easy wins. They need to take care of business out there and put teams lights out though the Raps were heating up from 3 at the end there but we still looked like they had other things on their mind and were just going through the paces thinking that game was in the bag enough to coast.

[Chicagojk]

Just one of those games where your offense is coming easy but you are a little loosie goosie with the ball and not great intensity on defense with a big lead and you let up a tad and the other team gets on a run. It happens. A road win is always nice.

Faster pace is really fun but would like to see the turnovers trend down a little. Especially when the season progresses.

[Chicagojk]

Stat sheet may not tell much but that is the performance Omax needs to force minutes. Minutes are tight but he can make it hard for Kidd not to give him minutes at time. If he can just get on the floor and produce like that, it will give him time for the game to slow down and find his role.

[Dundalis]

Feel like Omax defensively has really stepped up the intensity and taking a lot more risks. Feels like one of the criticisms out of college on the defensive end, was despite his athleticism and length, his stocks were really low. Felt like he would consistently stay grounded and rarely take risks attempting to challenge shots or jump passing lanes which didn't make full use of his athletic ability, but he seems to be far more active in those two areas now. If he keeps that level of aggression and intensity on defense, he could steal a bunch of Klebers mins behind PJ as the season goes on.

[SleepingHero]

Stat sheet may not tell much but that is the performance Omax needs to force minutes.  Minutes are tight but he can make it hard for Kidd not to give him minutes at time.  If he can just get on the floor and produce like that, it will give him time for the game to slow down and find his role.

That stretch from OMax is enough to convince to give him the backup 4 position for now and keep Kleber in a cryochamber. Maxi is too valuable to risk not having come playoff time, and the unfortunate reality is that he is fragile. Omax is right there, willing to eat 15 mins up to keep Kleber healthy.

Hard to balance, but I just loved watching Omax tonight.

[DL2RimRocker]

OMax is one of those guys you just want to cheer for and he came through tonight.
While others looked complacent, he hustled his butt off to fight for minutes which seemed to be just enough to help keep the team from fully self-destructing.

Putting him in the rotation right now would benefit in multiple ways imo. He would help preserve Maxi, get vital development time, perhaps turn himself into a valuable trade asset and hopefully plays to a level that could make him become another weapon come PO time.

When I saw Powell come in to play the 4 with Gafford, I thought OMax's days as a Mav were virtually over.