Game 19: DAL (5-13) @ MIA (11-6) | 6:30 PM CT

[Hooper21]

Let’s also not forget ALL teams look bad when their star players sit. For example , the Mavs had an all-time record of 71-81 in games where Dirk Nowitzki did not play. (This record includes all games he sat out, whether due to injury, illness, rest, or other reasons.)

So, Dirk averaged missing 7 games per season.  AD is already behind the curve.

[Chicagojk]

Only a little more of a quarter, but I really hope Nembhard gets a real chance at consistent minutes.  Things just run better with him on the floor.   Even if he has had a few stinkers earlier in the year.   This is just the made baskets but he made several other good passes that did not lead to makes.   I just love the few passes to the bigs.  It has been a big frustration for me this year.  Neither Gaff or Lively are offensive hubs, but they rarely get touches inside the paint.   Nembhard will get them touches.   

His size is an obvious limitation.  Teams will also play the pass which will limit him in the halfcourt early on.   I loved how Coop was moving much more with Nembhard too.  I think Coop is much better when he is in motion, rather than getting the ball and then deciding to move.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGAh4dnJJMo

[F Gump]

Only a little more of a quarter, but I really hope Nembhard gets a real chance at consistent minutes.  Things just run better with him on the floor.   Even if he has had a few stinkers earlier in the year.   This is just the made baskets but he made several other good passes that did not lead to makes.   I just love the few passes to the bigs.  It has been a big frustration for me this year.  Neither Gaff or Lively are offensive hubs, but they rarely get touches inside the paint.   Nembhard will get them touches.   

His size is an obvious limitation.  Teams will also play the pass which will limit him in the halfcourt early on.   I loved how Coop was moving much more with Nembhard too.  I think Coop is much better when he is in motion, rather than getting the ball and then deciding to move.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGAh4dnJJMo

Nembhard helps in some areas. He's good at the running the offense. But that is only part of the package, and he hurts in other ways. Not only is he small (causing defense issues), but his shooting so far has been awful (causing offense issues). His ability to make passes when the defense really doesn't have to worry about guarding him is promising -- if he can learn to shoot in the NBA setting.

I was expecting him to play more with the Legends to work on his game, but he has only played 1 game for them (and was very good 26p 10a) so not sure what their plan might be for getting him up to NBA level. But he needs work.

There's also a big-picture issue with him. He's on a limitation as to how many NBA games he can be on the active list - you can only choose 50 (for him to be ACTIVE at all), so you have to pick which 50 you think will be most useful for his own benefit as well as for the team. So far he's used up 12 of his active games. Do you use them more now when he is meh, or later when he hopefully has improved? I dunno.

[mvossman]

Nembhard helps in some areas. He's good at the running the offense. But that is only part of the package, and he hurts in other ways. Not only is he small (causing defense issues), but his shooting so far has been awful (causing offense issues). His ability to make passes when the defense really doesn't have to worry about guarding him is promising -- if he can learn to shoot in the NBA setting.

I was expecting him to play more with the Legends to work on his game, but he has only played 1 game for them (and was very good 26p 10a) so not sure what their plan might be for getting him up to NBA level. But he needs work.

There's also a big-picture issue with him. He's on a limitation as to how many NBA games he can be on the active list - you can only choose 50 (for him to be ACTIVE at all), so you have to pick which 50 you think will be most useful for his own benefit as well as for the team. So far he's used up 12 of his active games. Do you use them more now when he is meh, or later when he hopefully has improved? I dunno.

My guess is the plan is to play him more now while Kyrie is out.

[F Gump]

My guess is the plan is to play him more now while Kyrie is out.

Perhaps. But if this is "more" then it's hard to imagine what "less" will look like. He's only played a TOTAL of 62 minutes in his 12 active games (and he's also not using up his active games very fast either, as he is on track to continue to be available until the last week of the season). From that data my guess is that he isn't playing because his game is generally not up to NBA level as a whole, and they are working between games to help him get better so he can play more. I guess we'll see how it plays out.