Game 13: LAC (3-8) @ DAL (3-9) 7:30 PM CT

[KillerLeft]

Some good DLO moments.  I just feel in his two best shooting games (this one and Detroit) I just don't care.  When he is hot he is exciting, but I just find it boring and short term.  Maybe just me.

It's not just you. 

To be fair, the offense has been so dysfunctional and the lineups have been so experimental that I think the ball-handlers are having just as much trouble getting acclimated as everyone else, so I think he'll look better as things progress, especially now that he and Williams are all the way in the rotation, but...what's the point?

The allure of DLO was based on the idea that the team might be good. I don't think we realized around here (maybe we should have, in hindsight) that he'd almost have to be the REASON they were good for that to happen. He was literally getting an extra defender thrown at him down the stretch last night. The other team figuring out they can beat you if they can get the ball out of DLo's hands is just not a great place to be (lol). Honestly, there were a couple of possessions when he should have taken the hint and given the ball up, but that brings us back to the reality that DeAngelo Russell is the only experienced PG on a team that told us with a straight face they were trying to contend. 

The contract is a good one, and if DLO was playing behind some real NBA guards with experience and chemistry, he'd be helpful (again, on THIS contract). We don't talk about it much, but I'd look for him to be a fairly popular name at the TDL.

[burekemde]

I'm not sure why anyone should have expected firing the GM would change a single thing in how the players play. The roster did NOT change.

Exactly and I totally agree. In fact as much as that is the only correct decision given how awful GM he is, it might have really impacted negatively the players as Nico was the one beleiving in this roster construction. After his firing we certainly see no positive effect, this might be even worse performance than what we have seen before his firing. But at least the fans are more happy. I think you are right, without Luka this is just not a great roster. It has to be dissasembled in order to move on. As long as AD is here, the trade will always in everyone thoughts.

Even Nowitzki is negative towards the franchise. Ive never seen him negative and criticising Mavs. When he is like that then things are really bad. We also see how important Luka was, his greatness is visible now more than ever. 14-3 was the team last season before Lukas injury, best team in NBA at that point, and even getting one of leagues best players in AD, we now see the difference between Luka and AD. After that trade Mavs are the worst team in NBA. You could never imagine in million years a Luka team being with this record, tanking at this time in the season. Even when he started playing with Dwight Powel we were a playoff team. You replace Luka with AD, and this team is contender. Its difference between the worst and best team in the NBA. Its so dramatic that there is no other trade in history this bad. Hopefully the team will start playing better and it will fuel some positivity. I think some trades, in particular involving AD might help to turn things around somehow.

[hakeemfaan]

All these young players like Flagg and Christie have Wes Matthews syndrome. They are all clueless how to score in the mid range and make plays around the basket. All they are taught is shooting threes. That´s what makes Luka and Brunson so special, the brains, touch and improvisation.

I don't get this criticism at all for Flagg.

What we will see at 21 will be different from 18, but at 18 itself he has made quite a few plays for himself and for others around the basket.  His FT and mid range percentages were why he was considered the consensus #1 pick, because it bodes well for the one weakness that he currently has which is that he is not a bonafide scorer.  He has already had quite a few floaters and some in clutch situations as well around the paint area.  Heck he even hit a left handed floater over McClung. I know McClung is short, but I can point to many more highly touted veterans who have not hit a floater with their off hand..EVER.  Anyone who can hit floaters IMO has an offensive touch and are not just rigid 3 point shooters. 

I'm not saying Flagg will be Pippen or Tatum.  Those are lofty goals and unfair and folks saying they'll be disappointed if that's his ceiling, are massively underrating what level of talent it takes to be like those 2.  I have made a lesser comparative role model in Wiggins and if Flagg can be a more aggressive version of that, I will be content.  Anything more is a bonus.

As for Luka, I can remember myself making plenty of posts early on in his career that he was taking long shots or posting up but that he needs to work on a mid range game.  Maybe he always had it but he went to it much more extensively after a few years, as opposed to Brunson.  In any case, comparing those 2 with Flagg is also a disservice to him. Luka is a savant. Brunson might be the most crafty player in the game. However, both of them are defensively weak, and the team has to work around their weaknesses. Flagg is easier to plug in. Again, I'm not saying his impact will ever be at their levels, but just that you're picking the weakest part of his game to compare against superstars, but overlooking their weaknesses where Flagg compares better.


Christie is who he is.  A 3&D role player off the bench. Nothing wrong with that either.

[myconsumerclub]

The tank is in play guys we already know that it has to happen or we lose out on a chance to get a high pick in what many say is the best draft in ages. After this next draft I ask you when do we get any more decent picks?

Nico screwed the team over, he traded away the future to make himself look better then he pulled the rug out from under us by trading Luka.

You need more picks to build around Cooper or he will get to that point he is here and seeing nothing done to make this team better and sorry guys I am out of here is almost guaranteed to happen when he turns into a FA.

You do not gamble and simultaneously shit on your teams future by trading away picks you need to use so you can keep your developing super stars engaged and if not when they are free agents you lose them to better teams.

Guys that had trouble hitting 3's are starting to hit more of their shots now. Great right when we are almost nearly guaranteed to be eliminated from the play offs they decide to grow up and be professionals.

Max, Klay, Naji, & Hardy are now who we can expect to hit at a good rate.

PJ needs to join that group and I feel like he will sooner or later. Any word on when he should be back not like he is needed we can tank without him and lose plenty more games.

Cooper is going to get his 3 pointer falling in sooner or later as well so I expect us to improve over the year when that happens and even DLO can hit 3's.

When Irving gets back the master will return and bring the team back to life but by then we will be out of the playoffs even more certainly.

I have mixed emotions but I am a realist because I recognize the return of losing as a bad thing. Depending on how many picks we can get for AD and Klay and DLO I am okay with keeping Irving here. He connects us to our last finals appearance and there is a continuity to connect us to winning traditions through his playing here after we make those moves to return to being guys that need to try to win instead of tank.

It is not Kyries fault that Nico was an evil SFB moron DAMF Cork soaking AH. He was an ugly SOB too. So glad his ugly A is out of here.

Stupidity turns into evil when you get so stupid everyone around you knows your stupid and you continue to do stupid shit and you fool yourself into thinking your not stupid because you think you are getting away with being stupid and so you just continue on with it and you think you will pay no penalty and can be as stupid as possible and never get labeled as being super stupid because its not your fault, I mean if you are stupid, you are too stupid to get anything right and that is not your fault?

WRONG it is your fault you are F'ING stupid and you are supposed to be a grown up and you are still acting like a kid then that situation means you are officially evil at that point because you refused to improve yourself and start behaving like a grown up man and so you cross over from being stupid into being a total failure in life that can provide us any reason at all for tolerating your SFB idiocy.

When Nico knew he was in over his head and talking to us about the possibility of being fired he was pretty much admitting to us all he was a clueless idiot and just playing at being professional so at that point we were all duty bound to see to it he was fired becasue he was subconsciously admitting he was a moron and crying out for help.

Dumont is also responsible as well he allowed it to happen and he showed us he was either lazy or he was afraid of doing the right thing to stand up to that evil SOB because he thought it might make Nico angry, and so he failed to speak up and be the man when some freak of stupidity suggested we trade our only super star for a nearly washed up injured all the time, has been on the back end of his career, going into the downward spiral of being less less of a player that he once was and somehow we need to tolerate that idiocy. AS FANS WE DESERVE WAY BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A real man which we all know Nico was not otherwise he would have grown a pair and he would have got in front of Luka and said WTF fatso you are taking a huge shit on your career by not taking better care of yourself.

Your injured body and bad health are telling on you. When are you going to wake up lose some weight you fat FK and grow up and stop being a DA kid.

Here there are all kinds of books I can share and recommend are you going to learn how to master your health now or wait till your body falls apart and just trash your career till you get kicked out of the greatest life anyone could ever have as a professional athlete making hundreds of millions of dollars in the NBA?

You have to talk to these spoiled brats and make them understand the time to grow up and be responsible for what is going on in their life began as soon as they turned 18.

At that point you are either getting on with life as an adult or dragging on with still being a child and not growing up and there is no excuse for anyone to be like that.

Your Mom is not coaching you. Hey maybe a career in the NBA is something you do not want to enjoy, if that is the situation then retire now and go find something else to do that you love but save us all the headache and heartache of watching your career become one big downward spiral into meh.

That conversation with Luka should have happened before Nico turned into a P#ssy that could not talk like a man with his star player and he took the easy way out and tried to trade him.

[ThisIStheYear]

I don't get this criticism at all for Flagg.

What we will see at 21 will be different from 18, but at 18 itself he has made quite a few plays for himself and for others around the basket.  His FT and mid range percentages were why he was considered the consensus #1 pick, because it bodes well for the one weakness that he currently has which is that he is not a bonafide scorer.  He has already had quite a few floaters and some in clutch situations as well around the paint area.  Heck he even hit a left handed floater over McClung. I know McClung is short, but I can point to many more highly touted veterans who have not hit a floater with their off hand..EVER.  Anyone who can hit floaters IMO has an offensive touch and are not just rigid 3 point shooters. 

I'm not saying Flagg will be Pippen or Tatum.  Those are lofty goals and unfair and folks saying they'll be disappointed if that's his ceiling, are massively underrating what level of talent it takes to be like those 2.  I have made a lesser comparative role model in Wiggins and if Flagg can be a more aggressive version of that, I will be content.  Anything more is a bonus.

As for Luka, I can remember myself making plenty of posts early on in his career that he was taking long shots or posting up but that he needs to work on a mid range game.  Maybe he always had it but he went to it much more extensively after a few years, as opposed to Brunson.  In any case, comparing those 2 with Flagg is also a disservice to him.  Luka is a savant. Brunson might be the most crafty player in the game.  However, both of them are defensively weak, and the team has to work around their weaknesses.  Flagg is easier to plug in.  Again, I'm not saying his impact will ever be at their levels, but just that you're picking the weakest part of his game to compare against superstars, but overlooking their weaknesses where Flagg compares better.


Christie is who he is.  A 3&D role player off the bench. Nothing wrong with that either.

I hope Cooper, the top American prospect since Davis, is better than Wiggins. Wiggins is the 4th best player on a championship team. Cooper needs to be a 2 at least.

[hakeemfaan]

I hope Cooper, the top American prospect since Davis, is better than Wiggins. Wiggins is the 4th best player on a championship team. Cooper needs to be a 2 at least.

Prospects come and go. In this day and age everyone is ready to crown someone as the next generational player based on a few clips.  Dirk became generational based on his play. Curry became generational based on his play. Edit: I totally forgot about Giannis and Jokic. Other higher picks have not panned out.

When I saw Cooper's highlights from Duke, I didn't see an obvious 'generational' player.  To me that tag implies someone can go get his.  That was true even in past eras, let alone now when scoring is what the game is mostly about.  Again it doesn't mean he can't become one based on his play like I said with Curry and with Dirk.   However, what I did see offensively with Cooper is that he is a big guy with excellent handles and above average vision for his size. A player like that has a high floor in this league even if he might never reach the ceiling you hope for.  I also saw that he has participated against his peers at every level be it against Harper at Rucker park or against Dybantsa, and never looked like he didn't belong on the same court as they did.

It's not Cooper's fault how people have hyped him or his burden to bear.  Wiggins is a fine player. He was also a big part of when they stopped Luka from getting to his first Finals.  What has held him back from being a perennial all-star  is the lack of constant aggression.  An aggressive version of Wiggins would be a terrific player indeed.  Would it satisfy the hype that came with Cooper? No.  However, again at least for me, that is not his burden to bear.

[KillerLeft]

Prospects come and go. In this day and age everyone is ready to crown someone as the next generational player based on a few clips.  Dirk became generational based on his play. Curry became generational based on his play. Other higher picks have not panned out.

When I saw Cooper's highlights from Duke, I didn't see an obvious 'generational' player.  To me that tag implies someone can go get his.  That was true even in past eras, let alone now when scoring is what the game is mostly about.  Again it doesn't mean he can't become one based on his play like I said with Curry and with Dirk.   However, what I did see offensively with Cooper is that he is a big guy with excellent handles and above average vision for his size. A player like that has a high floor in this league even if he might never reach the ceiling you hope for.  I also saw that he has participated against his peers at every level be it against Harper at Rucker park or against Dybantsa, and never looked like he didn't belong on the same court as they did.

It's not Cooper's fault how people have hyped him or his burden to bear.  Wiggins is a fine player. He was also a big part of when they stopped Luka from getting to his first Finals.  What has held him back from being a perennial all-star  is the lack of constant aggression.  An aggressive version of Wiggins would be a terrific player indeed.  Would it satisfy the hype that came with Cooper? No.  However, again at least for me, that is not his burden to bear.

I agree with all this, as a general concept, and I respect your longevity as a basketball fan. The perspective you've accumulated as a longtime observer has benefited me (and the rest of this board, I assume) many times. 

Having said that, in Flagg's case, I think it's pretty obvious that he's going to be way better than Wiggins. I think he's MORE able to "go get his" already, right now as an 18 year old, than I expected. He's a better passer than I expected, a better ball handler than I expected and even a better 1-on-1 defender than I expected, despite all the hype. I'm not worried about his future at all.

[hakeemfaan]

I agree with all this, as a general concept, and I respect your longevity as a basketball fan. The perspective you've accumulated as a longtime observer has benefited me (and the rest of this board, I assume) many times. 

Having said that, in Flagg's case, I think it's pretty obvious that he's going to be way better than Wiggins. I think he's MORE able to "go get his" already, right now as an 18 year old, than I expected. He's a better passer than I expected, a better ball handler than I expected and even a better 1-on-1 defender than I expected, despite all the hype. I'm not worried about his future at all.

Killer...I totally hope Cooper is not just better than Wiggins, but that he becomes a generational player. I'm just trying to keep the hype train down because to me it's very unfair, especially when someone is not a natural scorer.  I'm just saying if he becomes a more aggressive Wiggins (note that is not saying Wiggins as we know him is the benchmark, because Wiggins as we know him and a more aggressive version of Wiggins are different players), I'll be extremely happy.  Of course, my wish is for him to become much much more.

[cow]

Cooper is a bit of an odd one to me. The two attributes that stand out the most is his touch around the rim with both hands and he isn't afraid of the moment. I think Skin said last night that they want to see more of him with his back to the basket and my immediate thought is that he usually needs to make one or two more moves than I'd expect to get to the shot he wants when he does have his back to the basket. He can also look like a baby dear taking its' first steps in those moments, but he does figure out a way to make it work because of his touch. His handles are good for his size, but not nearly enough to play the point. He also has a long way to go with his decision making above the free throw line. There was a possession last night where he drive from the top of the key to the free throw line and instead of pulling up for the open jumper, hesitated which allowed a defender to close, missed a wide open Naji on the wing to throw it to the other wing (D'Lo I think). Overall, I think he's doing well and has the overall dysfunction and poor roster construction holding him back. I have to remind myself how young he is, but I'd be lying if I told you my expectations weren't higher based on his hype. If I had to make a way too early guess, I don't think he's going to be the centerpiece to an organization, but rather a really good second banana. The good news is that I'm usually wrong about this things.

[KillerLeft]

Killer...I totally hope Cooper is not just better than Wiggins, but that he becomes a generational player. I'm just trying to keep the hype train down because to me it's very unfair, especially when someone is not a natural scorer.  I'm just saying if he becomes a more aggressive Wiggins (note that is not saying Wiggins as we know him is the benchmark, because Wiggins as we know him and a more aggressive version of Wiggins are different players), I'll be extremely happy.  Of course, my wish is for him to become much much more.

Well, that's what I'm saying, though. I actually think he IS a natural scorer, just not a natural PG. It has been like 10 years since we've seen Dirk at his peak around here, and I think a lot of the fan base has forgotten what's involved in getting a "scorer" like that involved in the offense. Even before Luka, they were trying to make the PG's into score first guys, and I kind of get why Kidd (or Harrison?) would want to try that with Flagg right out of the gate. PG or not, he's going to need an on-ball component to his game to thrive in the modern NBA, obviously. 

When you say he's not a natural scorer, you might mean he's not great with a live dribble above the break and a lot of time on the shot clock. If that's what you mean, I agree, but I think he'll get better. But, you also might mean that he's not super aggressive when the ball gets to him later in the possession, after a couple of other guys have touched it, and if so, I vehemently disagree with that. In that situation, I've seen a kid who's super aggressive looking to score and unafraid to go at anyone. Maybe you mean that he's not great at making himself available in the right spots to receive the ball at that point, but if so, I'd refer you to point #1 about Dirk and suggest that maybe that particular shortcoming should be shared by his teammates and even the offensive system. 

It's certainly true that he's got a way to go in terms of shotmaking, which has been hit and miss in bigger moments, but I'm officially and publicly not worried about that in the least.

I think it was unfair of people to expect him to have the impact of year 2 Luka right away (even Luka in year 1 didn't really impact winning), and I don't think that unfair expectation was mitigated or helped at all by throwing Flagg out there as a PG for the first 5-6 games (maybe that will make sense eventually, but not now), but ever since that ended I've been super thrilled by his progress.

[hakeemfaan]

Cooper is a bit of an odd one to me.  The two attributes that stand out the most is his touch around the rim with both hands and he isn't afraid of the moment.  I think Skin said last night that they want to see more of him with his back to the basket and my immediate thought is that he usually needs to make one or two more moves than I'd expect to get to the shot he wants when he does have his back to the basket.  He can also look like a baby dear taking its' first steps in those moments, but he does figure out a way to make it work because of his touch.  His handles are good for his size, but not nearly enough to play the point.  He also has a long way to go with his decision making above the free throw line.  There was a possession last night where he drive from the top of the key to the free throw line and instead of pulling up for the open jumper, hesitated which allowed a defender to close, missed a wide open Naji on the wing to throw it to the other wing (D'Lo I think).  Overall, I think he's doing well and has the overall dysfunction and poor roster construction holding him back.  I have to remind myself how young he is, but I'd be lying if I told you my expectations weren't higher based on his hype.  If I had to make a way too early guess, I don't think he's going to be the centerpiece to an organization, but rather a really good second banana.  The good news is that I'm usually wrong about this things.

IMO a big part of his indecisiveness is that he is still not 100% confident about his shot.  There are moments where he comes on a fast break and lets it fly and then there are moments where he is wide open and hesitates to shoot.  Even the game winner against the Pelicans, it seemed like he was in two minds whether to shoot it or take one more step and dunk it, and he threw up a weird shot where he didn't look fully balanced. 

Again the hope is that the FT% you see which bodes well for his jump shot,  the confident Cooper you see at times, is what you will get more consistently as he keeps working and improving his shot.

[Ghello]

Gosh I miss Luka.

[hakeemfaan]

Well, that's what I'm saying, though. I actually think he IS a natural scorer, just not a natural PG. It has been like 10 years since we've seen Dirk at his peak around here, and I think a lot of the fan base has forgotten what's involved in getting a "scorer" like that involved in the offense. Even before Luka, they were trying to make the PG's into score first guys, and I kind of get why Kidd (or Harrison?) would want to try that with Flagg right out of the gate. PG or not, he's going to need an on-ball component to his game to thrive in the modern NBA, obviously. 

When you say he's not a natural scorer, you might mean he's not great with a live dribble above the break and a lot of time on the shot clock. If that's what you mean, I agree, but I think he'll get better. But, you also might mean that he's not super aggressive when the ball gets to him later in the possession, after a couple of other guys have touched it, and if so, I vehemently disagree with that. In that situation, I've seen a kid who's super aggressive looking to score and unafraid to go at anyone. Maybe you mean that he's not great at making himself available in the right spots to receive the ball at that point, but if so, I'd refer you to point #1 about Dirk and suggest that maybe that particular shortcoming should be shared by his teammates and even the offensive system. 

It's certainly true that he's got a way to go in terms of shotmaking, which has been hit and miss in bigger moments, but I'm officially and publicly not worried about that in the least.

I think it was unfair of people to expect him to have the impact of year 2 Luka right away (even Luka in year 1 didn't really impact winning), and I don't think that unfair expectation was mitigated or helped at all by throwing Flagg out there as a PG for the first 5-6 games (maybe that will make sense eventually, but not now), but ever since that ended I've been super thrilled by his progress.

What I meant was his jump shoot didn't look pure to me.  I am not saying you have to be a Curry or a KD or a Luka or a Jokic to whom scoring comes too easily, but let's take someone like Bron who has an ugly shot but his fadeway is totally money.  Let's look at Duncan who had a super consistent bank shot that you could go to the well again and again.  Even Derik Queen or Bailey seem like much more natural scorers, though Flagg with his defense will hopefully have a much better overall impact than either of those two. 

So it was not knowing whether you could go to Flagg over and over again and have him still score that is telling me to not burden him with the hype  At least not yet. However, I didn't see the floaters either before they drafted him.  That left handed floater he hit off McClung made me go 'woah'.  Also he has shown confidence in taking shots on the break as I mentioned to cow. I am super hopeful.

[cow]

IMO a big part of his indecisiveness is that he is still not 100% confident about his shot.  There are moments where he comes on a fast break and lets it fly and then there are moments where he is wide open and hesitates to shoot.  Even the game winner against the Pelicans, it seemed like he was in two minds whether to shoot it or take one more step and dunk it, and he threw up a weird shot where he didn't look fully balanced. 

Again the hope is that the FT% you see which bodes well for his jump shot,  the confident Cooper you see at times, is what you will get more consistently as he keeps working and improving his shot.

I'm 100% with you in that his odd hesitation at times is lack of confidence in the shot, but he doesn't always make great reads either.  I guess my hope for him is to be Draymond Green but with a much better ability to score the ball and more high flying athleticism.  That's not a knock, I love Draymond.  I just don't see offensive greatness, but like you mentioned, that can't always be judged well out of the gate.

[hakeemfaan]

I'm 100% with you in that his odd hesitation at times is lack of confidence in the shot, but he doesn't always make great reads either.  I guess my hope for him is to be Draymond Green but with a much better ability to score the ball and more high flying athleticism.  That's not a knock, I love Draymond.  I just don't see offensive greatness, but like you mentioned, that can't always be judged well out of the gate.

We forget that Dirk, for all the good things he did offensively, took many years to become a solid passer out of double teams, while Shaq right off the bat was a great passer out of double teams. Everyone is different.  Again, I'm with you that at least of now I don't see him being a scorer you can ride to death during a game, but the kid has clear offensive talent and let's see where he stands come year 3.

[cow]

We forget that Dirk, for all the good things he did offensively, took many years to become a solid passer out of double teams, while Shaq right off the bat was a great passer out of double teams. Everyone is different.  Again, I'm with you that at least of now I don't see him being a scorer you can ride to death during a game, but the kid has clear offensive talent and let's see where he stands come year 3.

Interesting that you mention Dirk and Shaq, as one thing I don't worry about with Cooper is that like Dirk and unlike Shaq, he seems to be a worker who is going to maximize his potential.  Shaq is always my go to guy for didn't come close to maximizing his potential, but was still amazing.

[Kidnova]

Exactly and I totally agree. In fact as much as that is the only correct decision given how awful GM he is, it might have really impacted negatively the players as Nico was the one beleiving in this roster construction. After his firing we certainly see no positive effect, this might be even worse performance than what we have seen before his firing. But at least the fans are more happy. I think you are right, without Luka this is just not a great roster. It has to be dissasembled in order to move on. As long as AD is here, the trade will always in everyone thoughts.

Even Nowitzki is negative towards the franchise. Ive never seen him negative and criticising Mavs. When he is like that then things are really bad. We also see how important Luka was, his greatness is visible now more than ever. 14-3 was the team last season before Lukas injury, best team in NBA at that point, and even getting one of leagues best players in AD, we now see the difference between Luka and AD. After that trade Mavs are the worst team in NBA. You could never imagine in million years a Luka team being with this record, tanking at this time in the season. Even when he started playing with Dwight Powel we were a playoff team. You replace Luka with AD, and this team is contender. Its difference between the worst and best team in the NBA. Its so dramatic that there is no other trade in history this bad.  Hopefully the team will start playing better and it will fuel some positivity. I think some trades, in particular involving AD might help to turn things around somehow.

Nowitzki was negative towards Nico, not the Mavs.  Did you read his comments?  

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/11/mavs...flagg.html

Those were not leveled at the organization generally, it was anti-trade and anti-Nico.  Just like everybody not in the ownership group, he expected Nico to be gone before the season started.  This was something that everybody knew had to happen and it can only be a relief for the entire organization that it's done. 

That doesn't change the fact that this team isn't very good when their best two players are injured.

[FireNicoHarrison]

We need more Dirk in the organization

[burekemde]

Nowitzki was negative towards Nico, not the Mavs.  Did you read his comments?  

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/11/mavs...flagg.html

Those were not leveled at the organization generally, it was anti-trade and anti-Nico.  Just like everybody not in the ownership group, he expected Nico to be gone before the season started.  This was something that everybody knew had to happen and it can only be a relief for the entire organization that it's done. 

That doesn't change the fact that this team isn't very good when their best two players are injured.

Agree, and if you think deeper about it, Nico was the main part of the organization. he traded Luka, he assembled this squad. he got AD. Etc. Etvc. So basically most about this roster is Nico. And just by firing him, doesnt mean that his vision is gone, as he has done quiet many moves and disrupted the organization. Like trading away your generational player that comes once in a century. So that Nowitzki is so critical and negative about it, tells everything I need to know, and I fully agree with him. If he is negative, so should I be.

[Chicagojk]

Clippers lost to Boston today. they were an overtime win away from an 8 game losing streak. I know they are missing Kawai, but that didn't look like a good team to me when we played them.