MAVS NEWS:

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

My guess is that you can lift a bud light can, sadly.

You son of a bitch...I was going to say 12oz curls

[JamesConway912]

I’m not advocating for tanking as of now but I’m gonna say it: DONT ever disrespect the tank.

JUST. DONT.

It got us Luka and Lively. It’s part of your weird american sport system. Facing that fact and playing the system the right way is what separates the successful franchises from the stubborn ones.

By far THE worst about the Kyle Collinsworth and Ben Bentil-seasons was the constant BS about winning culture from fans and local media guys like Followil, Skin and Coop who couldn’t get their heads out of their butts and admit that it is at times the right move.

Whenever I think of Kyle Collinsworth, Pierre Jackson, Ben Bentil I get a warm feeling in my heart. These guys did more for us in one season than Wes Matthews, Zaza, Deron, Bogut, Charlie V and all the other 35+ year old win now veterans did in their time here.

I’m not gonna stand for it this time.

If the time comes I’ll defend the tank with everything I have (in the few moments I can spare from real life responsibilities).

Just be thankful. Tanking is a gift. FUCK the Wes Matthews years where they were too stubborn to swallow down their pride and make the right moves. I watched probably 90+% of Wes’ minutes played here and that’s something I will never get back again. It still enrages me every once in a while during a random moment of the day in an otherwise pretty fulfilled life.

[JamesConway912]

Grimes will be available against Minny per Mavs PR. He’s the only one from the group of players who were questionable to play.

Lively
Luka
Klay
Marshall
Exum
Powell
Hardy

all out.

[StrandedOnBeauboisHill]

Four weeks is SIGNIFICANTLY different than 2-3 months, especially with Gafford on the roster filling in, with Kleber/Powell behind him. That 4-6 week range is doable. Let's hope for the best!

Powell may be out that whole time

[speedkilz88]

Man that's a lottery of injuries to deal with.

[ThisIStheYear]

Are you talking about when we tanked two games at the end of the season?  That is completely different than tanking over half a season.

It all depends on Luka.  If he is able to come back relatively soon, I don't see any chance they shut him down for the rest of the season.  If he can't come back for a long while and we dig a big enough hole, there might be a conversation, but I think we are a ways from that yet.

You don’t really think that was a two game tank, right?

[ThisIStheYear]

And I’m tired of the season too. But no game thread? The Mavs luck will turn, just probably not in time to save this season. Hope this place is still around when it does.

[LukaMVP]

we don't need to intentionally tank to drop out of the top 10 in the tough west. just give our guys more rest instead of exhausting them, enjoy the game without caring too much about the standings. if we finish the regular season within the playin range (a straight playoff berth will be difficult to get), with luka and other guys back healthy and well rested, we will have a decent shot at the championship again, otherwise we get a lottery pick from a stacked draft. it won't feel bad either way tbh. 23' tanking case was a bit different because we had to ensure we finished the season with top 10 shittiest records and hoped we wouldn't get jumped in the lottery, or our pick would go to NY. assuming we miss the playoffs, our pick would most likely be a #10 or something nearby, no matter tanking or not. we have already won too many games to join the real tank battle with the likes of wizards and Pelicans for a decent #1 chance imho.

[Chicagojk]

They are playing hard. Being such short handed they have no room for error. Got to within one and two next two possessions they gave up offensive rebounds that led to 5 points.

[Chicagojk]

Disappointing Grimes game. Got a chance to shine, but threw a dud tonight.

Both teams went small late. Min was able to grab boards and score to easy at the rim. Better than Dallas was able to.

[Chicagojk]

Also, please get healthy so I don’t need to watch so much Dinwiide. He has had some good performances this year. He is just tough to play with. I have a feeling he rubs people the wrong way too. 15 minutes should be his role.

[Chicagojk]

25 percent three point shooting. This short handed team can’t lose the three point game.

[Chicagojk]

Just came up short. Played hard. Lost the free throw and three point game. Just seems like there is always something they don’t do that bites them. Kyrie, pj and Gafford played well. Maxi showed a pulse and was aggressive. Wasn’t happy with his late minutes but provided a spark at times. No one slew stepped up. They needed at least one more guy.

[Chicagojk]

That is not an impressive Mindy team though. Although I am getting tired say8ng so and so team is not good, but keep on losing the game

[KillerLeft]

And I’m tired of the season too. But no game thread?  The Mavs luck will turn, just probably not in time to save this season. Hope this place is still around when it does.

Why didn’t you start one, my dude?

[ThisIStheYear]

Why didn’t you start one, my dude?

Same reason no one else did. It’s a depressing day to be a Mavs fan.  One of the worst ever. We’ll be happier this time next year.

[SleepingHero]

And I’m tired of the season too. But no game thread?  The Mavs luck will turn, just probably not in time to save this season. Hope this place is still around when it does.

I've been meaning to make a post, but I am working 14-15 hour days every day. And there are times when I just can't make a game thread. 

My bad. I strive to do it, but I really just can't sometimes. 

But also! Anyone can make a gamethread at any point. My usual free time is around 12-3am and games are done by then. So to anyone reading this, if you don't see a gamethread please don't be shy and make one! I promise I'll give your post a "like" so you can get some fake internet points from me.

[BobyM]

Sure, only...what big event does team Slovenia have this summer that he'd be using his $50 million+ salary to rehab for? When does he start missing THEIR stuff to play for the team providing him with generational wealth?

Never .

[Nowitzki Way]

I’m not advocating for tanking as of now but I’m gonna say it: DONT ever disrespect the tank.

JUST. DONT.

If i could have given this post multiple likes, i would have given it 100. I am a huge fan of team tank. I'll never understand fans (but i respect them) that would prefer their team winning meaningless games when they KNOW their team has no shot at playoffs or a championship.  This goes for all sports, not just the NBA. 

We have a great example with the Mavs. The Luka draft year (we almost messed that up) and the Lively draft year (excellent execution).

With all of that being said, we're still not there yet with this team. But we're close. Injuries haver killed this team. I'm not sure the Mavs have ever had a deeper, more versatile team. I had high hopes after the championship run.  A full year of Gafford and P.J.  We got rid of THJ. We added Klay freaking Thompson. Grimes was a solid get.  And Naji Marshall was such an underrated move, and excellent pivot after the Derrick Jones Jr. fiasco. Spencer Dinwiiddie on a minimum contract to be a 3rd or 4th ballhandler was crucial because we knew Luka and Kyrie would miss games here and there.

But we could have never imagined the injuries being this bad. Starting with Exum being out from the beginning. If everyone else was healthily i think we could have sustained a long term Luka injury like this. But no Luka combined with Kyrie bulging disc, No Exum, Hardy, Marshall having weird illnesses, Lively made of glass. We cant even keep our beloved Dwight Powell healthy. 

This season might just be doomed. But we are not there yet folks. Maybe Luka comes back in a few weeks. The All-Star break gives the whole team a chance to get healthy and re-set. Lively only misses a month instead of 3. Exum expected back this season?

Maybe we can figure out how to turn the corpse of Maxi Kleber and something else into a serviceable piece at the deadline. I'm thinking a 4/5 combo who can play some 5, but also stretch the defense and hit some 3s. Take some minutes from Gafford while Lively and Powell are out. But also play with Gafford at times.  You know like a prime Maxi Kleber, but better rebounder. My thoughts keep taking me to John Collins. Jerami Grant would be nice  but they would want more than we should give. But at this point i'd settle for a Kelly Olynk or Chris Boucher. Wild card trade option, how about Marvin Bagley? He's been out awhile with his own injury, but should be back soon. Salary matches with Maxi. Just a thought. 

Lets hold on another month and see where we are, but if things are looking bad i'm jumping on team tank with James Conway. And i expect the tank to get full with passengers.

[F Gump]

At this point, the Mavs don't have to embrace a tank. They are losing because they don't have a choice - they just suck, and the losses pile up accordingly. It's a question of whether they will even have a choice to be good, if they wish.