MAVS NEWS:

[omahen]

The problem with this is that the conceptualization that the three stars on the team aren't going to start and finish games is profoundly wishful thinking in today's NBA. I agree that they're going to stagger those guys throughout the rest of the game, but there's zero conceivable way they ever play less than around 12 mpg together. That's simply not how it works. Which is not to say it's going to work.

Agree. I think overall the team is better than last season and I would hope they spend less energy in the regular season. New additions will hopefully take some load off the stars to bring them as healthy as possible to playoffs. I hope we will not have again extended stretches of games with Luka playing 40+ minutes on a nightly basis when Irving is out (which is likely, according to his injury history). I expect SD to be a good enough addition in times when injuries/rest to one of the stars so that we will not need to overload the other one. I expect offense to be good and I think a combo of Thompson/Grimes/Naji is much better than a combo of Green/DJJ/THJ. I think better offense and additional player depth and versatility will overweight a likely drop in defense in regular season and make Mavs have an easier job. I will be dissapointed if they don't finish top4, assuming reasonable health, of course. 

While I think Mavs will be better in the regular season, I am not sure if they will be better in the offseason. With now three players on likely heavy minutes and none of them being a great defender, they might become easier to target and even more difficult to hide. There will be even more minutes in playoffs when all three of Luka/Kyrie/Klay will be on the court together. Looking forward to see how they make it work