(07-03-2024, 07:30 PM)Smitty Wrote: If that’s the case is everyone happy with the roster?
Luka | Exum
Irving | Grimes | Hardy
Klay | Naji | Omax
PJW | Marcus | Markieff
Lively | Gafford | Maxi | Powell
I'd be reasonably happy but I'm skeptical about its chances in a 7-game series against the Celtics or OKC.
There's 7 players in there who I expect to "do things" (Luka, Kyrie, PJW, Lively, Gafford, Klay, Grimes)... some doubtfuls who have to prove they can do things in the playoffs (Naji, Hardy).... and you probably can't count on the remainder to do anything in the playoffs due to age, injuries, inexperience or ineptness (Kleber, Exum, O-Max, Marcus, Markieff, Dwight).
The addition of just 1 of a particular player would change me from skeptical to positive about the team's chances against the best... Terance Mann. I'm being a stuck record... but I'm fixated on Mann for now, after hearing that LAC could trade him in a package for Miles Bridges... because when I look at the roster and the gaps it has or may potentially have, I think he fills most of the gaps very, very nicely. Strong and mobile defender, good all-around player, plays bigger than his 6'5"... he can fit alongside any combo of two players from Luka, Kyrie, Klay, Grimes, Hardy in 3-Guard lineups... and he can even step in to act as a temporary playmaker/scorer if Luka needs time off during the regular season to heal.
G: Irving............... Hardy
G: Grimes............. Klay
F: Luka................. Mann
F: PJW.................. Naji
C: Lively............... Gafford
Mavs will have 8 players they can count on, and it won't matter if Naji and Hardy don't have an impact.
+ Exum, Markieff, O-Max, Dwight (I'm not counting on these for much against teams like Celtics, Thunder)