Game 27: Dallas Mavericks (10-16) vs. Utah Jazz (9-15)

[Chicagojk]

Pj is a frustrating player. Some awesome stuff but then stuff that drives you crazy.

Oh well Mavs had the game in good standing but Jazz made a late push and Mavs offense got stagnant.

Why is the defense so bad? They are missing AD but Flagg, Christie, pj and Marshall should at least be solid. I don’t think you can blame nervy who gets licked on and our lack of center size. Those wings need to be better. They lose containment way to much.

[GATA]

Bad loss. Really missed Williams tonight. Nembhard is just too small to be on the court that many minutes

[Jakeospikez]

excellent ethical developmental loss.

[Mavs2021]

42-7-6 and 14-4-11 from your rookies and a clutch win. Moving up three spots in the standings with one win. Beautiful night. Also despite the loss, once these Utah f***** get Dybantsa, they´ll suddenly win 42 games next year.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Quality loss

[ballsrchr]

Situations like this are why this team needs a PG. they have been unbelievably unorganized down the stretch. Nembhard might be an answer, but not standing in the corner.

I agree.  I haven't liked several player's positional usage or substitutions for awhile now.

[Chicagojk]

So when do the Jazz tell Lauri to stay home?  Seems like an annual rite of passage.

First time seeing K George play this year.   Looks good.  Trying to figure out if he is a similar player to Anferenee Simons or if there is something more for a good team.

Utah must be happy to finally get some good play from Cody Williams and Hendricks.  Williams is raw and Hendricks is recovering from an injury but both have not been good.  Both are top 10 picks too.   

Jazz should have played Kyle Anderson more if they really wanted to lose.

[michaeltex]

Frustrated by Mavs leaving size on the bench at the end and during OT. Lauri and Filipowski where just too much. Gafford only got 13 minutes (I realize he's dealing with the ankle thing) but neither Cisse or Powell were out there at the end or in OT. Felt like there was no rim protection or rebounding help.

Happy to see Flagg put on a show, but it felt like the rest of the team couldn't respond similarly. Shades of Luka?

They must have AD packaged in 3 layers of bubble wrap. Plays several games where you see him hit the floor multiple times each game, but a collision with a teammate gives him a calf bruise he can't play through? I guess if it keeps him from over compensating and creating an Achilles problem...

Oh well, SLC has always been a place for weird games as far as DAL is concerned. Hope the win screws up Ainge's lottery odds.

[Chicagojk]

They must have AD packaged in 3 layers of bubble wrap. Plays several games where you see him hit the floor multiple times each game, but a collision with a teammate gives him a calf bruise he can't play through? I guess if it keeps him from over compensating and creating an Achilles problem...

It is weird.  He runs into Max and then several days later can't play.  I think he needs about a month off to get his body right

I mean since he has been back he has a calf contusion, his finger thing, and bumping knees.  In addition, falling down 3-4 times a game where he looks like he was shot.

[Dahlsim]

Pj is a frustrating player.  Some awesome stuff but then stuff that drives you crazy.

Oh well Mavs had the game in good standing but Jazz made a late push and Mavs offense got stagnant.

Why is the defense so bad?  They are missing AD but Flagg, Christie, pj and Marshall should at least be solid.  I don’t think you can blame nervy who gets licked on and our lack of center size.  Those wings need to be better.  They lose containment way to much.

Why is the defense so bad? 

You, gave the reasons.  Certainly you can blame the lack of size at center and point, lack of rim protection to support the wings. 

No AD or Lively and less than 13 minutes of Gaff = Jazz 7 footers Lauri & Flip feast for 33pts triple double and 25pts near triple double.  
No B. Williams, or D'Lo means 5'11" rookie Nembhard for 38+min backed by non-defender Hardy. That recipe = 6'4" Keyonte George 37pts.  

Even the with best wings, lacking rim protection and size at the point is a big hole.  Look how much Wemby changed the defensive dynamic for the Spurs.  Mavs on the season miss not only Kyrie but the loss of Dante Exum was also a significant impact on expectations for the roster this season.

[Chicagojk]

So the Jazz pick is top 7 protected?  Anything later the freaking Thunder get it.  Are you kidding me?  They may get this pick because they took on Derrick Favors contract back in the day.  Just amazing.

[KillerLeft]

No AD or Lively and less than 13 minutes of Gaff = Jazz 7 footers Lauri & Flip feast for 33pts triple double and 25pts near triple double.  

I think, to be fair, Gafford hasn't been right physically all year. He has played super, super hard all season, and should be commended for that, and has looked good at times. It's possible that the minor injuries contributed to him having a rough night last night in terms of mobility. But having said that, "less than 13 minutes of Gaff" was a choice, and probably the right one, because the defense with him out there was worse last night, not better. The Jazz were simply getting him switched onto their ball-handler and going right by him. Over and over and over. 

Jason Kidd liked the defense more last night with Powell and eventually even Cisse on the floor, and I believe he was correct.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Jason Kidd liked the defense more last night with Powell and eventually even Cisse on the floor, and I believe he was correct.

I agree... And it's a problem for Gafford.

[Chicagojk]

Yeah Gafford has struggled this year.   He has tried to play a lot when it was probably best to take more time.  He was on a minutes restriction last night.  Personally he may not have been better than either Powell or Cisse this year.  I hope he isn't doing more damage.  I would prefer to get him fully right.   Maybe he is close but the conditioning is not quite there.   Although, he has not been very good yet this year.

[Chicagojk]

You, gave the reasons.  Certainly you can blame the lack of size at center and point, lack of rim protection to support the wings. 

No AD or Lively and less than 13 minutes of Gaff = Jazz 7 footers Lauri & Flip feast for 33pts triple double and 25pts near triple double.  
No B. Williams, or D'Lo means 5'11" rookie Nembhard for 38+min backed by non-defender Hardy.  That recipe = 6'4" Keyonte George 37pts.  

Even the with best wings, lacking rim protection and size at the point is a big hole.  Look how much Wemby changed the defensive dynamic for the Spurs.  Mavs on the season miss not only Kyrie but the loss of Dante Exum was also a significant impact on expectations for the roster this season.

I do get that and that plays a large part.    Although, it still feels like we are a lot of times a step slow on rotations or just a bit too far off from shooters.   It seems like teams are getting good looks even without getting to the rim.  With most of our players they should be able to switch off on a lot of players.   Jazz was just getting wide open looks.

[michaeltex]

I think, to be fair, Gafford hasn't been right physically all year. He has played super, super hard all season, and should be commended for that, and has looked good at times. It's possible that the minor injuries contributed to him having a rough night last night in terms of mobility. But having said that, "less than 13 minutes of Gaff" was a choice, and probably the right one, because the defense with him out there was worse last night, not better. The Jazz were simply getting him switched onto their ball-handler and going right by him. Over and over and over. 

Jason Kidd liked the defense more last night with Powell and eventually even Cisse on the floor, and I believe he was correct.

I agree, and with the Lively and AD injuries, he's probably felt an urgency to make himself available. 

My gripe is that the lack of bigs at the end was a killer move by Kidd & Co. The team basically had to fill a 20/10 hole with AD out. The lack of consistent play at center has doomed a lot of games this year. Feels like a continuation of last spring.

BWill's absence didn't help as his speed may have taken advantage of the twin tower style Utah employed.

Longer term, Kyrie's return might help, if he's ready to play at full speed again. We keep hearing teases, but nothing indicates a time line.

[Mavs2021]

So the Jazz pick is top 7 protected?  Anything later the freaking Thunder get it.  Are you kidding me?  They may get this pick because they took on Derrick Favors contract back in the day.  Just amazing.

Doesn´t matter. Draft picks are useless.   

The worst part is that the Thunder will never stop. They have build such a strong war chest they can just roll this over and over. They´ll get a likely (worst case) All-Star to add to their core already. 

Mavs could have done this same thing from 2011 to 2020. Every year eaten sh*t contracts for draft picks and I guarantee you they would still have been whooped in the 1st round the same way it actually happened. Only they gave up draft pick after draft pick for Rondo, Odom, Porzingis and signed all those bums like Kaman, Dalembert, Matthews and Jordan with capspace in free agency. Meanwhile the Thunder probably ate Favors contract, got a pick and he still played better than any Mavs center in the post championship Dirkocalypse.

[FireNicoHarrison]

It's not easy draft a ready player every year to replace who can't be resigned... OKC can be a dinasty but not like GSW.

[Dahlsim]

It's not easy draft a ready player every year to replace who can't be resigned... OKC can be a dinasty but not like GSW.

Yup.  Ultimately they can't pay all the good players, but they can restock them on rookie contracts.  Only the CAP/CBA has any chance to quiet down the Thunder ....