MAVS NEWS:

[BoredAssistant]

Coop "The Fluke" Flagg but obviously his game is no fluke. I was going to say "Hooper" and apologize but held back.

[Smitty]

This was asked on X recently and got a lot of responses. So, asking here.

What would you say is the best lineup your team can put on the floor?

For me there’s a couple different answers, depending on the matchup and situation. Of course, the timing as well, with Kyrie out till February or so.

To start the year I think the best 5-man lineup is: DLO-Klay-Flagg-PJW-AD

When Kyrie comes back (February?) I expect the leap to have happened for Christie and think the best 5-man lineup will be: Kyrie-Max-Flagg-PJW-AD

I’m aware that Lively is missing here, I just think AD is a much better Big, therefore he didn’t make the “best lineup”. I do think he’s one of the top 5 most impactful players on the team though. He needs to stay healthy!!!!

[Winter]

This was asked on X recently and got a lot of responses. So, asking here.

What would you say is the best lineup your team can put on the floor?

For me there’s a couple different answers, depending on the matchup and situation. Of course, the timing as well, with Kyrie out till February or so.

To start the year I think the best 5-man lineup is: DLO-Klay-Flagg-PJW-AD

When Kyrie comes back (February?) I expect the leap to have happened for Christie and think the best 5-man lineup will be: Kyrie-Max-Flagg-PJW-AD

I’m aware that Lively is missing here, I just think AD is a much better Big, therefore he didn’t make the “best lineup”. I do think he’s one of the top 5 most impactful players on the team though. He needs to stay healthy!!!!

I can't imagine a better lineup than the one you put out -  DLO-Klay-Flagg-PJW-AD

I think that lineup would have the best chance to spread the floor. The 3-point shooting is adequate, the defense is stellar, rebounding excellent, and most of those players can beat people in the paint.

[KillerLeft]

This was asked on X recently and got a lot of responses. So, asking here.

What would you say is the best lineup your team can put on the floor?

For me there’s a couple different answers, depending on the matchup and situation. Of course, the timing as well, with Kyrie out till February or so.

To start the year I think the best 5-man lineup is: DLO-Klay-Flagg-PJW-AD

When Kyrie comes back (February?) I expect the leap to have happened for Christie and think the best 5-man lineup will be: Kyrie-Max-Flagg-PJW-AD

I’m aware that Lively is missing here, I just think AD is a much better Big, therefore he didn’t make the “best lineup”. I do think he’s one of the top 5 most impactful players on the team though. He needs to stay healthy!!!!

I think you've nailed it.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

This was asked on X recently and got a lot of responses. So, asking here.

What would you say is the best lineup your team can put on the floor?

For me there’s a couple different answers, depending on the matchup and situation. Of course, the timing as well, with Kyrie out till February or so.

To start the year I think the best 5-man lineup is: DLO-Klay-Flagg-PJW-AD

When Kyrie comes back (February?) I expect the leap to have happened for Christie and think the best 5-man lineup will be: Kyrie-Max-Flagg-PJW-AD

I’m aware that Lively is missing here, I just think AD is a much better Big, therefore he didn’t make the “best lineup”. I do think he’s one of the top 5 most impactful players on the team though. He needs to stay healthy!!!!

The monster frontcourt and its versatility is our competitive advantage.  I can see there being a true center and 2 true forwards on the floor for 40mins/night.

IMO, you list the #2 lineup, #1 lineup being DLo, Flagg, PJ, AD, DLive.  Swap out DLo for Kyrie upon return.

[Chicagojk]

Lively needs to stay healthy but I am a firm believer if this thing is going to work Davis needs to be able to play with Lively. Lively’s upside is so big to me. I don’t think he is an all star but he is a winning player. Those are foundation pieces imo. I agree AD is best at 5, but if this trade has any chance at working out AD needs to thrive at Pf playing with Lively.

Note: you are never going to break even on the Luka trade. I am just saying if Nico’s vision has any chance to work then AD and Lively pairing has to work.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Lively needs to stay healthy but I am a firm believer if this thing is going to work Davis needs to be able to play with Lively.  Lively’s upside is so big to me.  I don’t think he is an all star but he is a winning player.  Those are foundation pieces imo.  I agree AD is best at 5, but if this trade has any chance at working out AD needs to thrive at Pf playing with Lively.

Note: you are never going to break even on the Luka trade.  I am just saying if Nico’s vision has any chance to work then AD and Lively pairing has to work.

Yup.  Extending Gaff and PJ showed a strong commitment to the large lineup.  When healthy, I'd be shocked if there were more than 5mins/game where DLive or Gaff aren't on the floor.  Situational minutes only.

[DL2RimRocker]

Lively needs to stay healthy but I am a firm believer if this thing is going to work Davis needs to be able to play with Lively.  Lively’s upside is so big to me.  I don’t think he is an all star but he is a winning player.  Those are foundation pieces imo.  I agree AD is best at 5, but if this trade has any chance at working out AD needs to thrive at Pf playing with Lively.

Note: you are never going to break even on the Luka trade.  I am just saying if Nico’s vision has any chance to work then AD and Lively pairing has to work.

Couldn't agree with that last statement more!

I'm obviously biased toward Lively, my favorite Mav, but he will be a key element in any successes we have this season. Most of the top teams in the west have a legit sized center that will somewhat diminish our competitive advantage so having a center playable in critical minutes allows us to continue to have a size advantage in most situations.
AD as our center makes it a small ball lineup and that doesn't play into our strengths considering our guard  situation.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

For all the idiocy of the AD/Luka trade, there's only one way Nico would have done it: put AD at his most comfortable/effective.  AD is get some burn at C, but again, only situational.

[Smitty]

Lively needs to stay healthy but I am a firm believer if this thing is going to work Davis needs to be able to play with Lively.  Lively’s upside is so big to me.  I don’t think he is an all star but he is a winning player.  Those are foundation pieces imo.  I agree AD is best at 5, but if this trade has any chance at working out AD needs to thrive at Pf playing with Lively.

Note: you are never going to break even on the Luka trade.  I am just saying if Nico’s vision has any chance to work then AD and Lively pairing has to work.

AD and Lively will play plenty together. Provided they have good health. This was just a best lineup question.

[F Gump]

Yup.  Extending Gaff and PJ showed a strong commitment to the large lineup.  When healthy, I'd be shocked if there were more than 5mins/game where DLive or Gaff aren't on the floor.  Situational minutes only.

We've talked about this before in this forum.

I agree that the Mavs will tend to play BIG all the time, with 2 C/PF types on the floor. But imo AD/PJW may be that combo at times in each game, for longer minutes than people are anticipating, even when everyone is healthy. I don't think it's a lack of confidence in Gaff-Lively, but rather how Kidd will try to maximize his talent. Bigs play hard, get exhausted, next man up to do the same, trying to wear down the other team.

Health will be a big variable that changes all the thinking. So will the opponents and the matchups, since there may be some games where Kidd shortens the rotations for some and lengthens them for others, like in the playoffs.

But in general, I think Gaff-Lively will be splitting 36-40 of the C minutes, with AD getting the remainder, when everyone is healthy and it's a normal game.

[Chicagojk]

Coop and Dirk meeting. Cooper looks a little nervous meeting. Dirk. Pretty cool

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOjJrL6jU...Z4anV1NWQy

[mvossman]

For all the idiocy of the AD/Luka trade, there's only one way Nico would have done it: put AD at his most comfortable/effective.  AD is get some burn at C, but again, only situational.

I'm not sure his most comfortable and most effective are the same thing.  I can't find it but somebody showed numbers where he has been more effective at the 5 than at the 4, especially in the playoffs.  I figure this to be more the case as he gets older and more the case against better teams that can space the floor well.  My guess is they will finish a lot of games with an AD/PJ frontcourt.  In my mind this is one of the biggest questions of the season, finding out what works with all of the frontcourt players.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I'm not sure his most comfortable and most effective are the same thing.  I can't find it but somebody showed numbers where he has been more effective at the 5 than at the 4, especially in the playoffs.  I figure this to be more the case as he gets older and more the case against better teams that can space the floor well.  My guess is they will finish a lot of games with an AD/PJ frontcourt.  In my mind this is one of the biggest questions of the season, finding out what works with all of the frontcourt players.

Take it with a grain of salt, but 82games.com has 2025 Mavs +/-PER at +18.7(PF) and +1.4©.  He really did thrive at PF.

[Chicagojk]

No open up old wounds, but found it interesting they guy who had the rug pulled out for him and traded had more empathy for his old team then the current owner/gm did. 

[WSJ] Luka Dončić on his trade to the Lakers in February: “I didn’t know how to react, how to act, what to say. It was a lot of shock. I felt Dallas was my home. I had many friends there. The fans always supported me. I didn’t want to upset Dallas fans. And I didn’t want to upset Laker fans.”

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Take it with a grain of salt, but 82games.com has 2025 Mavs +/-PER at +18.7(PF) and +1.4©.  He really did thrive at PF.

And even without a true center to platoon with, his numbers in LAL last year were +15.0(power forward) and +10.8(center)

IMO there isn't much of an argument that AD will get the the majority of his minutes with DLive and Gaff on the floor (when everyone is healthy).

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

In looking at AD's stats, dude is insanely good (when healthy). If we get 65 >= games from each, the front court of DLive, Gaff, AD, PJ, Flagg, and Naji gets you 50 games. Insert Kyrie around Christmas, and this is a dangerous playoff matchup.

I've decided it's time to just accept AD and get over the trade. Flexing that emotional IQ. If the Mavs are to be successful the next 2 years it'll be through AD.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Pablo Torre is teasing an upcoming Jalen Brunson bomb bigger than KL.

[KillerLeft]

Pablo Torre is teasing an upcoming Jalen Brunson bomb bigger than KL.

If true, that one will make me happy. 

Still not over losing Brunson for nothing.

[DallasMaverick]

Pablo Torre is teasing an upcoming Jalen Brunson bomb bigger than KL.

…I can just imagine all the public apologies to Mark Cuban that guys here will be offering…