Game 41: Dallas Mavericks (22-18) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (9-32)

[BolsDamols]

No you missed our guys showing great effort and really stepping up in many ways. We just really need our 2 superior shot creators at the end.

A moral victory against the worst team in the west missing their 3 of their top players? I’ll pass

[SleepingHero]

That might be true, but be if it was reviewable, they couldn’t have because they were out of timeouts.

Yeah, confirmed. It was a reviewable play, but Dallas couldn’t challenge because they were out of timeouts.

I think if the refs are able to go back 5 possessions and change the ruling on whether a 3 can count depending on if the player stepped on the line or was out of bounds entirely, they should be able to look at a potential goal tend that decides the game. 

Mavs should've won tonight. Dinwiddie tried his hardest to make sure it didn't happen, but they should've won.

[ThisIStheYear]

Mavs now 7th with an anchor and sinking fast. Kyrie with a late career back injury. Luka with a leg he’s injured a dozen times already (heel, ankle, calf, knee, you name it, different place each time but the same leg.) A coach who can only win when everything is perfect and doesn’t have a clue about how to manage a rotation (how is Grimes not closing tonight?). Very tough schedule upcoming. Can’t even beat the worst team in the conference in a must win game. Young, loaded teams on the rise. They’ll be out of the playin before you know it. Decision time is approaching. It’s time to sell and tank, and see if you can come back with one more run before Luka declines in his late 20s.

[Mavs2021]

If Kidd wasn´t such a shit coach, we´d have won tonight and the first Denver game.

[JamesConway912]

Absolutely maddening that they play Irving against Denver but then have him sit out against the Pelicans.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

This was a game they had to win with OKC coming in next.

[Chicagojk]

Something is off with Grimes.  Only 18 minutes tonight in the last 20 seconds.  After a nice run in the fourth.  What are we missing?

From Iztok's free section in his substack:

Dinwiddie logged 38 minutes and was tasked with guarding Murray for most of the night, while Grimes played just 18 minutes.  

This is a part of the section where he is considered with a good perimeter defender.   I have yet to see Marshall show much promise in this.   Klay is ok, but tough to ask him to be much more than average.    They are asking a ton on PJ.  PJ is probably better defending taller guys.    It certainly feels like this is a concern....along with a ton of other issues.  Luka and Ky will solve most of them, not sure if they can solve this though.

[Chicagojk]

I am probably being too hard on Dinwiddie. I think he has done some good things this year. I just don't think you can rely on him so much to be the head of the snake. Even with a depleted team. I think this falls on Kidd. Maybe there are no answers. I just see other teams who have guys fill in with injuries and at least play to their strengths. This last month has been really frustrating

https://x.com/iztok_franko/status/1879831600848069097

[Reunion Mav]

No moral victories. There are certain teams that are must win games without Luka and Kyrie. This was definitely one of them.

I did not say moral victory or even good game. Not even progress. I don’t believe in moral victories either. I just point out that game was worth watching and our team is worth supporting.

[Chicagojk]

Anyone find it odd that when we came back from a timeout down three that Maxi was in the game. WTF? It was the play that PJ got fouled but why in the heck do you have Maxi in the game down 3. No Grimes.

[SleepingHero]

From Iztok's free section in his substack:

Dinwiddie logged 38 minutes and was tasked with guarding Murray for most of the night, while Grimes played just 18 minutes.  

This is a part of the section where he is considered with a good perimeter defender.   I have yet to see Marshall show much promise in this.   Klay is ok, but tough to ask him to be much more than average.    They are asking a ton on PJ.  PJ is probably better defending taller guys.    It certainly feels like this is a concern....along with a ton of other issues.  Luka and Ky will solve most of them, not sure if they can solve this though.

Naji came up with one of the biggest steals of the game though? He’s been a solid defender. Haven’t once thought he was a weak link out there.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

The Grimes minutes are just baffling at this point.

[KillerLeft]

From Iztok's free section in his substack:

Dinwiddie logged 38 minutes and was tasked with guarding Murray for most of the night, while Grimes played just 18 minutes.  

This is a part of the section where he is considered with a good perimeter defender.   I have yet to see Marshall show much promise in this.   Klay is ok, but tough to ask him to be much more than average.    They are asking a ton on PJ.  PJ is probably better defending taller guys.    It certainly feels like this is a concern....along with a ton of other issues.  Luka and Ky will solve most of them, not sure if they can solve this though.

So, Marshall isn't really a "perimeter defender" if I understand your intended meaning clearly. He's a good defender, but not that type. 

Basically, he's the polar opposite of DJJ. DJJ is an (very) undersized 4 on offense and can guard 1-3 with the best of them. Marshal is clearly a 3 on offense and a slightly undersized 4 on defense. It's why I keep suggesting he's likely to end up playing those 10 minutes behind PJW in a shortened rotation. Imo, not only is he able to guard forwards, it's his best defensive role. On ball, fighting through screens - that's not him. That's supposed to be Grimes. 

For whatever reason, Grimes isn't really being asked to play that role as much as I think many of us anticipated. This is only speculative theory on my part, but this might give us a glimpse into why he has bounced around and was available more cheaply than we expected this past summer. Many of us remember the tenacious, high-minute defensive role he played in NY for Thibs that one year, but...what if that's not what he wants to do? What if Grimes fancies himself an offensive player and Thibs got sick of trying to convince him what his role should be and traded him? I mean, isn't all the excitement about him around here lately mostly due to his timely makes off the dribble and as a movement shooter? If we're pointing at guys who've made less of a DEFENSIVE impact than expected, I'd start with him, personally, though I'm nowhere near ready to move on from him. There's something there, I'm just not sure it's quite what we thought (yet).

[KillerLeft]

The Grimes minutes are just baffling at this point.

This kind of goes with my post right above, but it has occurred to me that Kidd might possibly prefer Dinwiddie's and/or Thompson's DEFENSE to his. It's not impossible. 

Hard to tell without Luka and Kyrie in the mix - it might solely be about Dinwiddie and Hardy both being better on-ball offensive players (which they are).

[sefant]

This kind of goes with my post right above, but it has occurred to me that Kidd might possibly prefer Dinwiddie's and/or Thompson's DEFENSE to his. It's not impossible. 

Hard to tell without Luka and Kyrie in the mix - it might solely be about Dinwiddie and Hardy both being better on-ball offensive players (which they are).

If the first sentence is true, might as well fire Kidd yesterday

Thats debatable. Grimes shooting 50 % from open 3's basically. Lively and Grimes single-handedly saved Dinwiddie ass in the Blazers game as well. Would have been another losss. Grimes was basically the best player vs. Lakers. The only 2 wins recently were basically largly because of Grimes.

Defensive EPM

Lively +1.6 (37)
Luka +0.9 (79)
Grimes +0.9 (84)
Naji +0.8 (88)
PJ +0.8 (91)
OMax +0.3 (137)
Klay -0.1 (200)
Gortman -0.2 (225)
Dinwiddie -0.3 (233)
Hardy -0.3 (234)
Kyrie -0.4 (254)
Maxi -0.4 (258)
Powell -0.5 (275)
Gafford -1.4 (390)

Overall EPM

Luka +5.6 (4)
Lively +2.8 (37)
Kyrie +2.5 (45)
Klay +1.1 (82)
Grimes +1.1 (86)
Naji +0.2 (149)
Gafford -0.1 (161)
PJ -0.1 (162)
Dinwiddie -1.0 (226)
Powell -1.9 (284)
OMax -2.3 (305)
Hardy -2.7 (334)
Kleber -4.3 (417)

[Chicagojk]

So, Marshall isn't really a "perimeter defender" if I understand your intended meaning clearly. He's a good defender, but not that type. 

Basically, he's the polar opposite of DJJ. DJJ is an (very) undersized 4 on offense and can guard 1-3 with the best of them. Marshal is clearly a 3 on offense and a slightly undersized 4 on defense. It's why I keep suggesting he's likely to end up playing those 10 minutes behind PJW in a shortened rotation. Imo, not only is he able to guard forwards, it's his best defensive role. On ball, fighting through screens - that's not him. That's supposed to be Grimes. 

 If that is true, than we have a hole imo.   Especially as Marshall has not been getting minutes as backup 4 (I too would like to see this when everyone is healthy).   I think PJ is better guarding the bigger players than Marshall.   We really need a player or two who can make it difficult for the 1-3 star players.  They may still get their points but it just got to make their life more difficult for them.   i look at the "Luka stoppers" OKC has in Dort, Wallace, Caruoso and others.  Now Luka may still get 40 a game in a series but they have a much better path of making Luka work than we do against SGA.   

Right now, we are over relying on PJ to guard these type of players.  I seem to think Grimes is a good defender, but the coaching staff may disagree.   I would like to develop/find one or two more guys like this.

I got to be honest, I am starting to worry about our developmental program.  That may not be fair with Lively and in the past the lack of young talent.   OMax is not ready and he has plenty of rough spots.  I just don't understand not getting him more minutes to develop.  Especially when we are short handed.   He has skills that can be useful to this roster.   Now, we may be looking back in a few years and Omax will be a distant memory, but I would be in favor of him learning a bit on the job.   It may pay off later.   The role Omax plays is not a make or break role for a game imo.    I mean, look at Kleber.   It is not like we need him to score 20 points in 10 minutes.

[BigDirk41]

Mavs are 2-8 in their last 10 and only 1 out of the next 5 is winnable imo. We are looking at at potential 3-12 fifteen game stretch. At what point does Nico consider draft position and start tanking? I know we aren't there yet, but the Mavs may not be in a position to recover by the time Luka returns. We also don't know if Luka can stay healthy once he tries to play again.

[mvossman]

So, Marshall isn't really a "perimeter defender" if I understand your intended meaning clearly. He's a good defender, but not that type. 

Basically, he's the polar opposite of DJJ. DJJ is an (very) undersized 4 on offense and can guard 1-3 with the best of them. Marshal is clearly a 3 on offense and a slightly undersized 4 on defense. It's why I keep suggesting he's likely to end up playing those 10 minutes behind PJW in a shortened rotation. Imo, not only is he able to guard forwards, it's his best defensive role. On ball, fighting through screens - that's not him. That's supposed to be Grimes. 

For whatever reason, Grimes isn't really being asked to play that role as much as I think many of us anticipated. This is only speculative theory on my part, but this might give us a glimpse into why he has bounced around and was available more cheaply than we expected this past summer. Many of us remember the tenacious, high-minute defensive role he played in NY for Thibs that one year, but...what if that's not what he wants to do? What if Grimes fancies himself an offensive player and Thibs got sick of trying to convince him what his role should be and traded him? I mean, isn't all the excitement about him around here lately mostly due to his timely makes off the dribble and as a movement shooter? If we're pointing at guys who've made less of a DEFENSIVE impact than expected, I'd start with him, personally, though I'm nowhere near ready to move on from him. There's something there, I'm just not sure it's quite what we thought (yet).

My understanding was that Thibs got pissed at Grimes because he didn't play hurt enough in the playoffs that year (which is such a Thibs kind of thing).  I don't think there is anything in his history (including college) to think he doesn't want to play defense.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Guys not sure if you saw but the last 2 minute report confirmed goaltending so everything is cool now.

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

So, Marshall isn't really a "perimeter defender" if I understand your intended meaning clearly. He's a good defender, but not that type. 

Basically, he's the polar opposite of DJJ. DJJ is an (very) undersized 4 on offense and can guard 1-3 with the best of them. Marshal is clearly a 3 on offense and a slightly undersized 4 on defense. It's why I keep suggesting he's likely to end up playing those 10 minutes behind PJW in a shortened rotation. Imo, not only is he able to guard forwards, it's his best defensive role. On ball, fighting through screens - that's not him. That's supposed to be Grimes. 

For whatever reason, Grimes isn't really being asked to play that role as much as I think many of us anticipated. This is only speculative theory on my part, but this might give us a glimpse into why he has bounced around and was available more cheaply than we expected this past summer. Many of us remember the tenacious, high-minute defensive role he played in NY for Thibs that one year, but...what if that's not what he wants to do? What if Grimes fancies himself an offensive player and Thibs got sick of trying to convince him what his role should be and traded him? I mean, isn't all the excitement about him around here lately mostly due to his timely makes off the dribble and as a movement shooter? If we're pointing at guys who've made less of a DEFENSIVE impact than expected, I'd start with him, personally, though I'm nowhere near ready to move on from him. There's something there, I'm just not sure it's quite what we thought (yet).

Marshall is fine guarding small forwards, and guards that rely on strength and length rather than quickness. The ones that he finds difficult to guard are the water bugs.

Grimes didn't bounce around. He isn't CWood who hopped from team to team because he has issues. Grimes got injured and his performance dipped thus the trade. Same reason the Mavs had him, and not some "I-want-to-score" type of shenanigans. 

And.. even if it's true Grimes is making it known he prefers a bigger role in offense, what's wrong with that? The guy is delivering. If Kidd is pigeon-holing Grimes to be a stopper with spot up shooting only, then that just confirms Kidd is an !diot. I have no problems with Kidd riding with Spencer as the main ball handler and facilitator, but clearly Spencer has the green light to score. So...  Kidd wants shot creation on the hands of a streaky, most times awful inefficient PG and then wants Grimes to have the role of the stopper and "you-can-shoot-when-you're-open-no-need-to-dribble"  kind of role. That's just not an optimal use for player capabilities.

And about the less-than-expected defensive impact, that may be true and Grimes might be capable of so much more on that end. BUT.. it's not like Grimes' B game in defense is anything less than Spencer's best defensive outings. Kidd has the right to be disappointed with a players performance knowing the player can do better, but limiting the player's minutes in favor of an inferior guy can cost the team games.